Jets To Sign DT Leki Fotu
Leki Fotu is heading to New York. The Jets are expected to sign the former Cardinals defensive tackle, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.
It’s a one-year deal worth $2.5MM, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The deal can hit $4MM via incentives and/or bonuses.
With Quinton Jefferson, Solomon Thomas, and Al Woods all hitting free agency, the Jets have been hunting for some reinforcement at defensive tackle. The team already agreed to a deal with former 49ers defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw, and now they’re adding another former NFC West option.
Fotu was a fourth-round pick by the Cardinals in 2020 and had spent his entire career in Arizona. He started only 21 of his 56 appearances with the organization but was consistently playing around 40 percent of his team’s defensive snaps. He started nine of his 11 appearances in 2023, finishing with 28 tackles and a career-high 2.5 sacks.
As ESPN’s Rich Cimini passes along, Fotu had a run-stop percentage of 6.7 percent last season, which ranked 22nd among 117 defensive tackles. That number would have ranked second on the Jets behind Quinnen Williams, the team’s lone holdover at the position.
Colts To Sign DT Raekwon Davis
The Dolphins have Zach Sieler locked down via the extension he signed last year, but they are losing their other two defensive line starters. Following Christian Wilkins‘ defection to the Raiders, Raekwon Davis is leaving as well.
Davis is heading to Indianapolis, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting the young D-tackle is signing a two-year deal worth $14MM in base value. A four-year Dolphins cog, Davis started 48 games for the team. Despite the Colts re-signing Grover Stewart on Monday to stay in place alongside DeForest Buckner, the Colts evidently viewed this as a big enough need, and another notable veteran contract became necessary.
Davis only graded as Pro Football Focus’ 79th interior defender among 130 qualifiers, far behind Buckner (12th) and Stewart (22nd). Still, the free agent addition was better than the Colts’ DT3 from last season, as Taven Bryan ranked 99th on that same list.
Bryan is currently a free agent, so Davis will likely slide into his spot in the depth chart. Bryan, Eric Johnson, and Adetomiwa Adebawore accounted for 740 snaps last season, so Davis could see a significant role on Gus Bradley’s defense, even as a backup.
With Wilkins and Davis gone (and Emmanuel Ogbah having been released), the Dolphins are lacking depth on their defensive line. Other than Sieler, former UDFA Brandon Pili is the only other player who played defensive tackle for the Dolphins last season, and he was limited to 30 snaps (all coming in the first four weeks). Miami will surely look to add reinforcement either via free agency or the draft.
Bears To Sign S Jonathan Owens
After a season in Green Bay, Jonathan Owens observed the Packers give Xavier McKinney a monster contract. A day later, Owens is committing to join the team’s top rival.
The Bears are bringing in Owens, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. While best known as Simone Biles’ husband, Owens has become a safety regular after starting his career as a special-teamer from the Division II ranks. He has worked as a starter for most of the past two seasons. Owens will sign a two-year deal worth $4.5MM, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets.
This contract would suggest the Bears are eyeing Owens for a depth role. Chicago agreed to terms with Kevin Byard recently, and 2022 second-round pick Jaquan Brisker remains in place. Although Owens started 28 games over the past two seasons — with the Texans and Packers — Pro Football Focus has graded him as a lower-end safety. That said, Owens made 125 tackles with the Texans in 2022 and notched a fumble-six with the Packers last year.
Using Owens as a starter in 11 games last season and both their playoff contests, the Packers gave McKinney a four-year, $68MM contract to help shore up the position. McKinney is now tied to the NFL’s third-most lucrative safety deal. The Bears recently shed their high-end safety contract — Eddie Jackson‘s — but will spend a bit extra to acquire an experienced backup.
Biles Soldier Field cameos can probably be expected, as the former Olympic champion made regular Lambeau Field appearances. Even if Owens is destined for a backup role in Chicago, he will make more than he did last season ($1MM). Undrafted out of Missouri Western, the 28-year-old defender has a runway to push his career to the eight-year mark.
Rams Place Second-Round RFA Tender On LT Alaric Jackson
Alaric Jackson served as the Rams’ starting left tackle in 2023, upping his value considerably. He was a pending restricted free agent, but Los Angeles has ensured he will not reach the market. 
The Rams announced on Tuesday that Jackson has received the second-round RFA tender. As a result, he will be tied to a one-year deal worth $4.89MM unless he signs an unmatched offer sheet from an outside team. That figure represents a considerable raise compared to his career earnings across his first three seasons with the team.
Jackson had made only 12 appearances and six starts heading into the 2023 campaign. Having been used primarily at guard, the 25-year-old Canadian was not initially slated to take on blindside duties. Los Angeles had re-signed Joseph Noteboom on a $40MM to serve as the successor to Andrew Whitworth in 2022. That did not go according to plan, however, with Noteboom being limited to six games that season. That opened the door to Jackson winning the LT gig.
The latter was charged with one sack and 39 pressures allowed in 2023 by PFF. That resulted in an overall grade of 66.2, which ranked 43rd amongst qualifying tackles. Improved play would help the Rams repeat their success from last season while also upping Jackson’s market value ahead of 2025. If an offer comes in this offseason, L.A. would have the right to match it or, if not, receive a second-round pick as compensation.
The Rams were one of the teams which made a major splash on the O-line market yesterday, agreeing to a three-year, $51MM deal with guard Jonah Jackson. That, in turn, came not long after the team retained Kevin Dotson on a lucrative deal of his own. With those pacts worked out and Jackson in place, the Rams figure to have a continuity and a strong offensive front next season.
Buccaneers To Re-Sign LB Lavonte David
A retention-based Buccaneers offseason will continue with one of the best players in team history. Lavonte David is staying in Tampa on another one-year deal.
The standout linebacker will stick around on a contract including $9MM in base value, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. This will represent a raise on David’s one-year agreement from 2023, which produced a $4.5MM payout.
This marks David’s fifth contract with the Bucs. A long-term extension in 2015 gave way to two- and one-year deals in 2021 and ’23. Despite moving toward his mid-30s, the 12-year starter has maintained his place as one of the game’s top off-ball linebackers. After the Bucs franchise-tagged Antoine Winfield Jr. and re-signed Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield, they are circling back to David — their longest-tenured player and one of the longest-serving Bucs in franchise history.
One of this era’s best off-ball ‘backers, David’s Pro Bowl count is lacking (one) due to the NFL still grouping rush linebackers and non-rush ‘backers together. David, however, is a three-time All-Pro who is the team’s second-leading tackler. Only Derrick Brooks (1,713) has more than David (1,480) among Buccaneers.
David played 15 games last season, rating as Pro Football Focus’ No. 28 overall linebacker. David’s 134 tackles were his most since 2015. On a Bucs team that saw Winfield contribute six sacks, David added 4.5 to help the cause.
Following his role on the team’s Super Bowl LV-winning effort, the stalwart defender has been central in the Bucs’ run of NFC South titles. As Devin White gradually fell out of favor despite a strong start, David has remained at the forefront at linebacker. With White likely leaving — presumably for a “prove it” pact — the Bucs will rely on David once again; the Nebraska alum is going into his age-34 season.
David did not sound especially interested in testing the market, indicating his decision was Buccaneers or retirement. The Bucs will run it back for at least one more year, allowing David to continue his run as one of the best players in team history.
Giants To Add DB Jalen Mills
For a second straight offseason, the Giants have lost a starting safety. Xavier McKinney following Julian Love out of New York creates a void. They will bring in Jalen Mills to help fill it.
The former Patriots and Eagles defender is joining the Giants, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Mills has experience at safety and cornerback but played more on the back line last season. The Giants need more help at that spot.
The former seventh-round pick quickly burst onto the scene in 2016, but after missing only one game through his first two seasons in Philly, he was limited to 17 games between 2018 and 2019. When he returned in 2020, he was playing safety, and he proceeded to have one of the most productive seasons of his career, finishing with a career-high 74 tackles.
That performance earned him a four-year, $24MM contract from the Patriots in 2021. He started all 26 of his appearances through his first two seasons in New England, mostly playing cornerback. He was cut and re-signed last offseason and transitioned back to safety, where he got into 17 games (eight starts). He only graded 75th among 95 qualifying safeties on Pro Football Focus, although the site did give him one of the highest grades at his position in run defense.
The Giants do have some continuity among their safeties corps with Jason Pinnock. Mills will likely be in the mix for the other safety spot, competing with the likes of former fourth-round pick Dane Belton for reps.
Commanders To Sign S Jeremy Chinn
Jeremy Chinn will join Frankie Luvu in making the trek from Charlotte to Washington. The Commanders continue their run on defensive additions with the ex-Panthers safety, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz tweets.
The four-year Carolina starter will be tied to a one-year deal that can max out at $5.1MM. Considering where Chinn’s value stood going into last year, this is a bit of a disappointment. But the former second-round pick will have a chance to reestablish his value in Washington.
It is certainly interesting the Carolina-to-Washington pipeline will continue without Ron Rivera, though ex-Panthers GM-turned-Commanders exec Marty Hurney was in place when Chinn was drafted in 2020. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up has seen his stock dip, falling out of favor with the Panthers. But he generated trade interest following Matt Rhule‘s firing. At 27, Chinn should still have some time to prove he can return to his early-career level.
Working in a hybrid role that featured extensive linebacker work, Chinn combined for 224 tackles (eight for loss) and three forced fumbles from 2020-21. An injury slowed Chinn in 2022, and he did not prove a good fit in Ejiro Evero‘s defense. The Panthers reduced Chinn’s workload a month into last season, and even though he made two starts down the stretch, the 2-15 team kept his snaps low. Chinn will be looking to bounce back.
This agreement may soon lead to Kamren Curl departing. The young safety came into the tampering period as one of the top defenders available, but the team still has 2023 second-round pick Quan Martin and Darrick Forrest. With Xavier McKinney signing for $17MM per year, Curl will likely be targeting a deal in that neighborhood. It will be interesting to see if another team will consider that kind of contract for a safety, given the cheaper options available. But Curl is probably the best option left.
Bills To Sign LB Nicholas Morrow
Nicholas Morrow‘s Eagles stock bounced up and down last year, but the veteran linebacker ended up playing a bigger-than-expected role. The Bills took interest and will bring in the longtime starter. 
Buffalo will sign the former Raiders, Bears and Eagles ILB, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo, who notes the sides agreed on a one-year pact Tuesday. Morrow started 12 games for the Eagles last season. He did so while operating as Philadelphia’s defensive signal-caller, so his absence will be missed in 2024.
Taking on a major role with the Eagles’ defense, Morrow made 95 tackles; that represents the second-highest total of his career. The former UDFA had topped 100 stops in 2022 with the Bears, but that production only landed him a one-year accord last offseason. After having a hand in a defense which struggled mightily down the stretch in the Eagles’ NFC title defense, Morrow will again find himself on the move via a short-term agreement.
Buffalo lost Tremaine Edmunds in free agency last year, creating a major vacancy at the linebacker spot. 2022 third-rounder Terrel Bernard took on a starting role as a result, racking up 143 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Tyrel Dodson also logged a notable defensive workload, although he was also used heavily on special teams (as has been the case in previous years for him). The latter is a pending free agent, and his departure could be foreshadowed by Morrow’s addition.
In any case, the 28-year-old will offer considerable experience alongside Bernard and veteran Matt Milano. Morrow has 94 games (58 starts) to his name, and he recorded three sacks, five pass deflections and a forced fumble with the Eagles last season. He will look to replicate (or better) those figures in Buffalo while aiming to avoid the late-season letdown experienced in Philadelphia.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Panthers To Sign DT A’Shawn Robinson
The Panthers made a pair of major investments on the offensive line yesterday, and the team is now committing a long-term deal to the other side of the ball. Veteran defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson has agreed to a three-year, $22.5MM contract with Carolina, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. 
[RELATED: Panthers To Trade Brian Burns To Giants]
Garafolo notes Robinson received an endorsement from Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. The pair were together when Robinson played with the Rams. That three-year stint saw him start 24 of 35 games between 2020 and ’22, although it was not sufficient to land him a multi-year deal in free agency last offseason.
Robinson joined the Giants on a one-year deal in 2023. That pact was worth up to $8MM in incentives, although the 28-year-old ultimately wound up earning its base value ($5MM). He has secured a much more lucrative investment this time around, and he will likely have a significant role to play in Carolina moving forward.
The Panthers have Derrick Brown in place as a foundational member of their D-line. The former top-1o pick enjoyed a career year in 2023, earning his first Pro Bowl nod. Brown is eligible for an extension, and talks on that front have begun. A new deal for the 25-year-old will be costly, and the overlap (starting in 2025) with Robinson’s accord will make the DT position one using up considerable cap resources.
Robinson started 13 of 17 games in New York last year, racking up 62 tackles (the second-highest mark of his career). The Alabama product was a non-factor in the passing game with no sacks and only one QB pressure, but his ability on early downs will be welcomed by Evero and Co. Carolina struggled in a number of capacities last season, including against the run. Improvement in that regard will be a key offseason goal, and the Robinson accord is one aimed at achieving it.
Eagles To Bring In WR DeVante Parker
Following his Patriots release, DeVante Parker will land on his feet. The former first-round pick is heading to Philadelphia on a one-year deal.
Parker is signing a fully guaranteed contract worth $4.69MM, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes. Due to offset language in his Patriots deal, the Eagles are only picking up $1.2MM of this tab. This helps the Patriots regarding dead money, and the Eagles will take a flier on the nine-year veteran to see how he fits alongside A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
The Patriots agreed to terms on an extension with Parker last year, but after another down aerial season in New England, the team changed course. New England dangled Parker in trades recently but found no takers. The Eagles, who were in on Parker when the Dolphins made him available in 2022, will step in with a low-risk signing.
Philly has not been able to rely on a No. 3 wide receiver since assembling its Smith-Brown duo in 2022. Quez Watkins gave way to stopgap Julio Jones, brought in during the 2023 season. The Eagles also signed Olamide Zaccheaus last year. Jones, Watkins and Zaccheaus are out of contract, giving the Birds some work to do to staff this auxiliary job.
At 31, Parker still represents a risky bet — even alongside a potent starting duo. The former Dolphins starter has one 1,000-yard season on his resume, being a perennial trade candidate in Miami, and is coming off a 394-yard showing in his second Patriots slate. That said, Parker averaged 17.4 yards per catch with the 2022 Patriots and finished with 539 yards and three TDs. The Eagles receiving that kind of production would be a boon. If nothing else, Parker could provide a possession target for Jalen Hurts — even if the big-bodied target is not an above-average separator.