Odell Beckham Jr. To Sign With Ravens
Odell Beckham Jr. has made his decision on where he will play next, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The star free agent will be catching passes in Baltimore next season as a member of the Ravens, news he hinted at on his own Instagram account. 
The three-time Pro Bowler has agreed to a one-year deal reportedly worth up to $18MM with $15MM guaranteed, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero provided a further breakdown that shows the guaranteed amount to be composed of a $13.84MM signing bonus and a base salary of $1.17MM, making up the exact amount Beckham requested at the league’s recent owners’ meetings in Arizona. The remaining $3MM of potential worth in the contract comes in the form of incentives.
Most reports seemed to have Beckham’s decision narrowed down to the Jets and Ravens with many believing New York to be the favorite to land the veteran’s services. Baltimore had reportedly submitted an offer to Beckham earlier in the week, the first of many teams expected to vie for his services. The Jets, on the other hand, decided to take one more big swing at the free agent with a visit that was set to take place this evening. Despite those plans, the Ravens secured Beckham before he had a chance to revisit the Jets.
New York’s meeting this weekend was intended to be an incredibly deep dive on the potential of Beckham joining the team. They had planned a multi-faceted approach that would not only include “a physical but also a thorough discussion of what to expect in an Aaron Rodgers-led offense with a deep WR room,” according to Rapoport. The team was set to return last year’s top receivers, Garrett Wilson and Corey Davis, while adding Rodgers’s favorite target from last year, Allen Lazard, and versatile former Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman. Many of these efforts have been made under the continuing expectation that Rodgers will be quarterbacking the team in 2023 as the result of a trade that has yet to materialize. Beckham reportedly gave the Jets one last chance to match Baltimore’s offer, according to Julia Stumbaugh of Bleacher Report, but New York balked at the high price tag.
The Ravens have their own questions at the quarterback position as they continue to deal with the situation surrounding Lamar Jackson, who reportedly requested a trade from Baltimore early last month. The saga with Jackson has gone on for some time now after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on an extension. The team franchise tagged Jackson, allowing him to negotiate with other teams, but nothing ever resulted from Jackson’s supposed availability. Rapoport recently gave his opinion on the Pat McAfee Show that the situation would end rather anticlimactically with Jackson playing out the 2023 season on the franchise tag in Baltimore as the two sides continue to negotiate. Now, the Ravens have made a move that only emphasizes their desire to retain their star quarterback.
If Jackson returns, he will be throwing to a new-look wide receiving corps led by Beckham, Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay, and Nelson Agholor. Bateman showed promise to begin his sophomore season before a Lisfranc issue ended his year. Duvernay, fresh off All-Pro returning honors in 2021, had his best offensive season to date last year, finishing as the second most productive receiver in Baltimore last season behind Demarcus Robinson. The team’s receiver room also includes James Proche, Tylan Wallace, Andy Isabella, Shemar Bridges, and Mike Thomas.
Beckham’s road back to the Super Bowl starts now. The 30-year-old played out his rookie contract with the Giants then spent two and a half seasons with the Browns before winning a Super Bowl ring with the Rams. Unfortunately for Beckham, he didn’t get to finish Los Angeles’s Super Bowl victory, leaving the game in the second quarter with a newly torn ACL that would keep him recovering for all of the offseason. It appeared likely that a few teams may take a swing at Beckham as a potential addition for a playoff run, but nothing developed from those conversations last season. Instead, Beckham sat out the entire 2022 season as his free agency extended in to 2023.
Now, though, Beckham has found his newest home, signing with a franchise that has seen plenty of success in signing veteran free agent wide receivers such as Derrick Mason, Anquan Boldin, Steve Smith, and Mike Wallace. He’ll see both the Rams and Browns in 2023 and will have the chance to play his old team in Cleveland twice a year for however long he is a member of the Ravens.
Panthers To Sign DL John Penisini
John Penisini‘s time in the NFL appeared to be over after only two seasons played, but that may no longer be the case. The defensive lineman is set sign with the Panthers this coming week, as noted (on Twitter) by his agent David Canter. 
Penisini began his career as a Lions draftee. In his rookie campaign, he started 12 of 16 games and logged a snap share of 51%. His level of play while logging such a notable workload raised expectations for him in the future, but things took a turn for the worst in the subsequent offseason. The former sixth-rounder underwent surgery to remove large masses from each of his shoulders.
Penisini was able to suit up for 16 contests in 2021, but saw his playing time drop dramatically. He had been unable to recover as hoped from the shoulder issues, and announced his retirement last June. The Lions thus placed him on the reserve/retired list for an extended stretch, though they waived him last month. That left the Utah product free to sign with any team in the event he felt a comeback was possible.
That is obviously now the case, with a Carolina deal in place. Aged 25, Penisini could have plenty of productive time available to him if he were able to remain healthy moving forward. This contract will provide him with the opportunity to compete for a roster spot in training camp, and a rotational role along the team’s defensive front if things go according to plan.
Carolina has Derrick Brown, Bravvion Roy and recently re-signed Henry Anderson in place as holdovers from their 2022 d-line. Matthew Ioannidis remains a free agent, but the Panthers have added Shy Tuttle on a three-year, $19.5MM deal. Penisini will look to carve out a role amongst that group as he eyes an NFL return.
Contract Notes: Jaguars, Singletary, Packers
The Jaguars reworked safety Rayshawn Jenkins‘ contract earlier this week, creating a chunk of cap space. Per Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com, the team converted more than $6.4MM of Jenkins’ salary into a signing bonus and added three void years to the contract. As a result, the team dropped the defensive back’s cap number from $10.5MM to $5.3MM, thus opening more than $5MM in cap space.
Jenkins’ 2024 cap number will rise by more than $1MM. In the event the Jaguars eventually move on from the player, they’ll be left with a dead cap hit of $5.1MM in 2024 or $3.85MM in 2025.
We’ve collected more contract notes below:
- Calais Campbell‘s one-year, $7MM deal with the Falcons includes a $4MM guaranteed salary and a $3MM signing bonus, per Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter). He can earn another $2MM via incentives, including marks for sacks and playing time. According to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein (on Twitter), $500K of Campbell’s incentives are likely to be earned.
- Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins inked a one-year, $1.16MM deal with the Cowboys that also includes an $152K signing bonus, per Wilson (on Twitter). After starting 116 of his 117 appearances between 2014 and 2021, Hankins only started four of his 10 appearances for the Raiders and Cowboys last season.
- Running back Devin Singletary‘s new deal with the Texans includes up to $1MM in incentives, per Wilson (on Twitter). Half of those bonuses come via playing time incentives, and he can earn another $500K for certain statistical milestones above 1,000 yards from scrimmage.
- Dallin Leavitt’s one-year contract with the Packers is worth $1.4MM, including a $1.08MM base salary, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky (on Twitter). He can earn up to $170K in roster bonuses, all via $10K per-game roster incentives. Demovsky also passes along that Justin Hollins got an $155K signing bonus and $45K workout bonuses from the Packers, while Eric Wilson got an $152K signing bonus.
- Defensive lineman Carlos Watkins got a one-year, $1.67MM deal from the Cardinals, according to Howard Balzer (on Twitter). This includes a $250K signing bonus, an $1.08MM signing bonus, and up to $340K in per-game roster bonuses. That all results in an $1.57MM cap hit.
- Jordan Phillips‘ contract with the Bills is for one year worth $3MM, per Ryan O’Halloran of The Buffalo News (on Twitter). He’ll earn $1.22MM in guaranteed money, and he can earn up to $4.6MM thanks to incentives.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/7/23
Today’s lone minor move in the NFL:
Baltimore Ravens
- Re-signed: LB Kristian Welch
Welch, 24, has been in Baltimore since 2020. He has made 43 appearances over his Ravens tenure, including all 18 regular and postseason contests in 2022. Of his more than 900 NFL snaps, only 44 have come on defense, however, as the Iowa product has cut his teeth on special teams. Welch was not tendered as a restricted free agent earlier this offseason, but he will now be able to continue his career in Charm City as he looks to further his effectiveness in the third phase.
Chiefs To Sign WR Richie James
Richie James joined the Giants last offseason without much in the way of expectations. His career-year in 2022 has led a new pact sending him to one of the league’s best offenses, however. The veteran receiver is signing with the Chiefs, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link). 
James started his career with the 49ers, putting up sparse numbers on offense during his first two seasons there. He demonstrated strong abilities as both a punt and kick returner during that span, however, and saw a major jump in playing time in 2020. During that campaign, he racked up 394 yards and one touchdown. A knee injury cost him the subsequent season, though, and led to his San Francisco release.
The 27-year-old headed to New York during his first opportunity at free agency, a decision which paid off for both player and team. James comfortably set new career-highs in 2022, recording 569 yards and four touchdowns on 57 catches. Each of those figures ranked him second or in a tie for first on the team in those categories, despite James logging a snap share of only 46%.
While the Middle Tennessee State product was a key member of the Giants’ passing game, the team turned elsewhere at the position with respect to in-house options who were retained. Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, Sterling Shepard and Jamison Crowder have all re-upped with New York, whose lone outside addition to date has been Parris Campbell. More moves – either in the form of a veteran signing or a high-end prospect being added via the draft – are expected for the team.
In Kansas City, James will join the league’s No. 1 passing attack and scoring offense from last season. The Chiefs have lost JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman so far in free agency, leaving a vacancy for at least a depth addition. James will be compete for a role alongside Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney in the WR room, one which could also see a more notable name brought in at some point in the near future.
Titans, Jeffery Simmons Agree On Extension
2:46pm: As expected, Simmons’ deal will move him between Donald and the field at defensive tackle. Simmons’ four-year contract is worth $94MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). The extension, per Davenport (on Twitter), comes with $66MM in guarantees, which include a $24MM signing bonus. In terms of total guarantees, Simmons now leads the clubhouse at D-tackle. Donald’s three-year Rams raise includes $65MM guaranteed in total.
2:13pm: Months into his GM tenure, Ran Carthon has locked down one of his new team’s top players. The Titans agreed to an extension with Jeffery Simmons on Friday, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
The standout defensive lineman was going into his fifth-year option season. This is believed to be a four-year extension pact, Davenport adds. During an offseason in which Carthon has moved some Titans mainstays off the roster, Simmons sticking around on a second contract represents a big win for the rookie GM. This deal will tie Simmons to the Titans through the 2027 season.
Simmons and the Titans engaged in talks on a new deal ahead of free agency, and the young talent said in February he wanted to stay in Tennessee. The former first-round pick has earned Pro Bowl nods in back-to-back seasons and has become one of the NFL’s best defensive linemen. Given Simmons’ path, it should be expected this deal will check in behind only Aaron Donald‘s among interior D-linemen.
A second-team All-Pro in each of the past two seasons, Simmons has combined for 16 sacks and 30 QB hits during that span. For a Titans team that has seen numerous starters go down with injuries, Simmons has remained healthy and productive. This stretch will set up the Mississippi State alum financially, and the Titans should anticipate this contract to cover much of Simmons’ prime years. Simmons is heading into his age-26 season.
This represents the second domino to fall in what should be an interesting offseason for the defensive tackle position. The Commanders franchise-tagged Daron Payne but quickly agreed to terms on a $22.5MM-per-year re-up. That still trails Donald’s outlier deal (three years, $95MM) by more than $9MM in AAV, but it comes in ahead of the previous second tier at the position. Simmons resided among the contingent of young D-tackles entering contract years. Quinnen Williams and Dexter Lawrence joined him; each will be awaiting the terms of the Titan standout’s accord. As will Chris Jones, who has a strong case to earn near-Donald-level dough from the Chiefs on his third contract.
The Titans have taken some risks in the first round recently. While some of them have not panned out, ex-GM Jon Robinson‘s 2019 call — taking Simmons despite a pre-draft ACL tear — certainly has. Simmons rehabbed in time to debut during the 2019 season, helping the Titans to the AFC championship game as a rookie. Displaying durability since that delayed debut, Simmons has since been a central contributor to Tennessee’s rise. Although the Titans lost their 2021 playoff opener as the AFC’s No. 1 seed, they sacked Joe Burrow nine times in that divisional-round game. Simmons was responsible for three of those. That spree came two months after he sacked Super Bowl LVI’s other starting QB — Matthew Stafford — thrice during a Sunday-night game.
Simmons did not participate in Tennessee’s minicamp last year, staging a hold-in of sorts. The pass-rushing dynamo did not have much leverage at that point. Teams rarely extend first-round non-quarterbacks with more than two seasons of control remaining. Simmons resurfaced soon after and played 15 games for the Titans last season, representing a bright spot for a team that somehow ran into worse injury trouble than it did in 2021. Pro Football Focus graded Simmons as the NFL’s 10th-best interior D-lineman last season. Every front office would probably move him closer to the top five at the position overall, if not within the top five.
The Titans lost Harold Landry to an ACL tear just ahead of Week 1, and Bud Dupree missed more time. The disappointing free agent signing is now off the roster. But the Titans are set to have Landry and Simmons teaming up for the first time in two years come September. Both accomplished pass rushers are now on veteran contracts. Landry agreed to a five-year, $87.5MM extension just before free agency in 2022.
Tennessee lost DeMarcus Walker in free agency but still has Denico Autry under contract. Autry, whom the Titans signed in 2021, has combined for 17 sacks over the past two seasons. The team gave D-tackle Teair Tart a second-round RFA tender in March. Simmons will remain the anchor of this group, one that should be better-positioned going into the 2023 season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/6/23
Thursday’s minor moves:
Los Angeles Chargers
- Re-signed: OL Will Clapp
New York Giants
- Signed: OL J.C. Hassenauer
Both teams have added depth with starting experience on their offensive lines. Clapp spent the 2022 season with Los Angeles after a four-year stint with the Saints. The 27-year-old filled in at center when Corey Linsley was sidelined, logging three starts and appearing in every game in the regular season. He has experience at guard as well, giving the Chargers versatility along with familiarity.
Hassenauer, 27, began his career with the Falcons but has only ever seen game action with the Steelers. In three years in Pittsburgh, the Alabama product totaled seven starts and 45 games played. It comes as no surprise that he is headed to New York, since the Giants hosted him for a workout last month. Hassenauer will give the team much-needed depth in the middle after starter Jon Feliciano departed in free agency.
Panthers Sign DB Eric Rowe
The Panthers have added veteran depth to the back end of their defense. The team announced on Thursday that they have signed defensive back Eric Rowe. 
The 30-year-old began his career as a corner, upon entering the league with the Eagles in 2015. His time in Philadelphia lasted only one season, however, as he was traded to New England to begin a three-year stint with the Patriots. Rowe was a part of two Super Bowl winning squads during that time, though his playing time took off after his next career move.
The former second-rounder played on a one-year deal in Miami in 2019. It was during that campaign that he began spending significant time as a safety and nickel corner. That trend continued in subsequent seasons, something made possible by the three-year, $18MM extension he signed with the Dolphins. In 2020, Rowe put up career-highs in interceptions (two), pass deflections (11) and tackles (91).
Since then, however, his playing time has fallen off. Rowe logged snap shares of 57% and 60% over the past two seasons, as 2021 second-rounder Jevon Holland emerged as a highly productive Swiss Army knife-type player. Rowe still managed to rack up 127 stops, six pass breakups and a pair of sacks over that span, however. The Dolphins have added DeShon Elliott to their safety group so far in free agency, a move which followed the blockbuster acquisition of corner Jalen Ramsey.
In Carolina, Rowe will join a secondary which already added former Bengals starter Vonn Bell on a $22.5MM pact. The latter can be expected to take on a first-team role alongside Xavier Woods. Rowe’s experience in a number of positions will also help the Panthers use Jeremy Chinn in various formations and alignments. If Rowe is able to find significant playing time in 2023, he could earn himself a starting role next offseason or at least an extended stay in Charlotte.
Bears, DL Rasheem Green Agree To Deal
The Bears passed on big-ticket defensive line additions in free agency, but the organization will add another rotational option to Matt Eberflus‘ unit. Rasheem Green agreed to terms with Chicago on Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
A former Seahawks and Texans pass rusher, Green will sign a one-year deal. The sixth-year edge rusher will follow DeMarcus Walker to the Windy City. While the Bears should be expected to use one of their early-round picks on a sack artist, they have added two experienced options since free agency’s outset.
[RELATED: Bears Host Jalen Carter On Visit]
Green will come over from Houston, where he recorded 3.5 sacks in 2022. His most productive year came in 2021 with the Seahawks, who used the former third-round pick as a starter. That season, Green totaled 6.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hits. That campaign marks the only time Green started more than five games in a season; mostly, Seattle used the 6-foot-4 defender as a backup. Green, however, has topped a 50% defensive snap rate in each of his past four seasons. The Bears will see if the USC alum, who played in a 4-3 scheme as a Seahawk, can replicate that form in Eberflus’ 4-3 setup.
Last season brought a step back for Green, who played nearly 300 fewer defensive snaps compared to his 2021 Seattle contract year, when he logged 846. Green totaled 24 pressures in 2021; he finished last season with 12. The Texans have now let Green and Obo Okoronkwo depart in free agency, lining DeMeco Ryans‘ team up for significant edge additions in the draft. Okoronkwo signed with the Browns.
Going into his age-26 season, Green will join Walker as modest investments for a Bears team that broke up its high-priced Khalil Mack–Robert Quinn edge duo last year. The team finished last in the league in sacks in 2022. As should be expected, edge-rushing additions will be targeted. Green appears more of a flier than a solidified front-four presence, but he presents an interesting depth option for the rebuilding squad.
Jets To Sign QB Tim Boyle
Another former Packer is joining the Jets. Ex-Aaron Rodgers backup Tim Boyle agreed to terms with the team Thursday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. It is a one-year deal.
The Jets remain expected to acquire Rodgers from the Packers, but terms have not yet been finalized. Boyle will rejoin Allen Lazard and ex-Green Bay OC Nathaniel Hackett in New York. Boyle, who backed up Rodgers for three seasons (2018-20), spent last year with the Lions and Bears.
How this addition will affect Zach Wilson may be its most important component. The Jets considered re-signing Mike White, but the popular veteran opted for a two-year Dolphins deal. White had overtaken Wilson last season, and the Jets have planned for a reset year for the former No. 2 overall pick. Boyle’s presence will help on that front, considering his experience under Hackett. Boyle joined the Packers during Mike McCarthy‘s final year but played two seasons under the Hackett-Matt LaFleur duo.
Boyle, 28, also presents an option for the Jets during their offseason program. These slow-moving trade talks have transpired for weeks. Boyle never made a start as a Packer, but the former UDFA would give the Jets an option to run Hackett’s offense during OTAs and potentially minicamp. Rodgers skipped the past two Packers OTA sessions, and it is not a lock he will be with the Jets for that portion of the offseason calendar anyway. As Wilson learns Hackett’s scheme, Boyle will be there to aid the Jets.
The Packers’ 2020 Jordan Love pick led them to non-tender Boyle as an RFA in 2021. As Love continued his extended apprenticeship, the Lions signed Boyle. Boyle’s only three starts came as a Lion — for a struggling 2021 Detroit edition. Boyle completed 65% of his passes, at just 5.6 yards a clip, for the Lions that year and threw six interceptions (compared to three touchdown passes) in three losing efforts. The Lions moved Boyle to their practice squad last year, and the Bears poached him in November. Boyle, whose lone season of full-on starter work came at Eastern Kentucky in 2017, enjoyed a brief Bears in-game cameo but played behind Justin Fields and Trevor Siemian.
Gang Green also rosters Chris Streveler, which does not lock in Boyle to a roster spot. But Boyle’s experience in Hackett’s system probably gives him a leg up ahead of what would be his sixth NFL season.