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Bears Extend OL Jonah Jackson

March 13th, 2025 at 7:25pm CST by Ben Levine

Jonah Jackson was traded to the Bears last week, and the lineman earned an extension along the way. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Jackson got a one-year extension that will keep him in Chicago through the 2027 season.

[RELATED: Rams, Bears Agree To Jonah Jackson Trade]

Besides handing Jackson a contract for the 2027 campaign, Garafolo notes that the Bears also guaranteed more of the player’s 2026 salary. This includes $7MM fully guaranteed and an additional $5.25MM for injury. Jackson is set to earn all of the $17.5MM he was attached to in 2025, part of the three-year, $51MM pact he signed with the Rams last offseason.

Jackson has clearly landed on his feet following a forgettable stop in Los Angeles. There were high hopes for the free agent acquisition, but he quickly landed on IR with a fractured scapula. When he returned, he saw time at both guard and center, but he was eventually benched towards the middle of the season. The Rams quickly looked to move on from the veteran, as the organization granted him permission to seek a trade.

Ben Johnson is more than familiar with the former Lions standout, and the new Bears head coach is showing his faith in the trade acquisition. The team was expected to actively seek reinforcement along the interior of the O-line, and it’s no surprise that the organization landed on a player who’s familiar with Johnson’s offensive approach.

Assuming Jackson returns to his former production, the Bears will be more than happy with their good-faith extension. Jackson started all 57 of his appearances with Detroit, including 2020 and 2021 campaigns where he topped 1,000 offensive snaps. He’s been hit by injuries in each of the past few seasons, but the Bears are clearly hoping he’s past his injury woes.

Bears To Sign WR Olamide Zaccheaus

March 13th, 2025 at 5:52pm CST by Ben Levine

After going all-in on their offense in 2024, the Bears are taking a more measured approach in 2025. While the organization won’t steal headlines with their latest move, they’re still adding an experienced wide receiver coming off a career season. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Bears have added wideout Olamide Zaccheaus.

A former UDFA out of Virginia, Zaccheaus avoided journeyman status thanks to a four-year stint in Atlanta to begin his career. The wide receiver never put up huge numbers during his stint with the Falcons, but he did manage to improve in each of his four campaigns. This culminated with a 2022 season where Zaccheaus hauled in 40 catches for 533 yards.

The receiver caught on with the Eagles for the 2023 campaign but struggled to carve out a role on a relatively deep depth chart. He finished his lone season in Philly with 10 receptions.

He joined the Commanders last offseason, a move that reunited him with former Falcons head coach Dan Quinn. In Washington, Zaccheaus had a bounce-back season, finishing with a career-high 45 catches for 506 yards and three touchdowns (he added another seven catches in three playoff games). The 27-year-old also had a role on special teams, returning 17 punts for 179 yards.

Keenan Allen is a free agent, so Zaccheaus could easily slide in next to D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze atop the depth chart. Barring another notable addition at the position, Zaccheaus should be in line for plenty of snaps, as he’ll be competing with the likes of Maurice Alexander, Tyler Scott, and Samori Toure.

Contract Details: Allen, Bills, Bears, Giants, Adebo, Packers, Hobbs, Chiefs, Saints

March 13th, 2025 at 2:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Starting with one monster Bills extension and another big-ticket deal, here are the latest contract details from around the NFL:

  • Josh Allen, QB (Bills): Six years, $330MM. Classified as a two-year add-on that provides the reigning MVP with a roughly $90MM raise, the deal includes some key dates. On fully guaranteed salaries in 2025 and ’26, Allen will see all of his 2027 pay become fully guaranteed on Day 5 of the 2026 league year, per OverTheCap. On Day 5 of the 2027 league year, Allen’s 53.5MM salary locks in. $14MM of Allen’s 2029 roster bonus ($22.3MM) becomes guaranteed on Day 5 of the 2028 league year. Allen will be due a $35MM roster bonus on Day 5 of the 2029 league year. He is tied to a $41.3MM cap number in 2025, but restructures are likely coming; his cap hit spikes to $61.4MM in 2026.
  • Gregory Rousseau, DE (Bills). Four years, $80MM. Rousseau will see $49MM guaranteed at signing, OverTheCap notes, while his 2025 and ’26 base salaries are fully guaranteed. The Bills are providing guarantees into Year 3, as KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes that $5MM of Rousseau’s $16.41MM base is locked in already. The rest will shift from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the 2027 league year. A $3MM roster bonus is also in place on Day 5 of the 2029 league year.
  • Paulson Adebo, CB (Giants). Three years, $54MM. The young cornerback will see $34.75MM guaranteed at signing. Despite Adebo only signing a three-year deal, that full guarantee ranks 10th among corners. The Giants guaranteed $13.5MM of Adebo’s $17.25MM 2026 salary, ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell tweets. The rest becomes guaranteed on Day 5 of the 2026 league year.
  • Dayo Odeyingbo, DE (Bears): Three years, $48MM. The ex-Colt will see $29.5MM guaranteed at signing, per OverTheCap. $13MM of Odeyingbo’s $15.5MM 2026 base salary is guaranteed at signing, with Wilson adding the rest locks in on Day 3 of the 2026 league year. A $1MM roster bonus is also due on Day 5 of the 2027 league year; Odeyingbo’s 2027 base is nonguaranteed.
  • Nate Hobbs, CB (Packers). Four years, $48MM. While Hobbs is guaranteed $16MM at signing, the general Packers contract structure resurfaces here. Reminding of Josh Jacobs‘ 2024 deal (also 4/48), his former Raiders teammate has no guarantees beyond that $16MM signing bonus, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes. A $6.25MM roster bonus is due on Day 3 of the 2026 league year, Wilson tweets. The Packers typically do not guarantee second-year salaries, but they would be out $12MM in dead money if they move in on 2026 — due to signing bonus prorations.
  • Darius Slayton, WR (Giants). Three years, $36MM. Now on a third Giants contract, Slayton will receive $22MM at signing, Wilson tweets. That is $10MM more than his second contract was worth in total. Slayton’s 2026 salary is mostly guaranteed, with Wilson adding $9.75MM of that $12.25MM is locked in. A $2.5MM roster bonus in place on Day 5 of the 2027 league year.
  • Juwan Johnson, TE (Saints). Three years, $30.75MM. Johnson will see $21.25MM at signing, with Wilson adding his 2025 and ’26 base salaries are guaranteed. Johnson’s 2027 paragraph 5 number ($7.5MM) is nonguaranteed, but a $2MM roster bonus is due on Day 5 of the 2027 league year.
  • Jaylon Moore, T (Chiefs). Two years, $30MM. The Chiefs are guaranteeing their new left tackle hopeful $21.24MM at signing. A career-long 49ers backup, Moore will see $7MM of his $14.24MM 2026 base salary guaranteed at signing, Wilson tweets.

Contract Details: Horn, Pats, Pack, Vikings

March 12th, 2025 at 11:26am CST by Sam Robinson

It’s that time of year. It is time to begin sorting through the contracts agreed to early in free agency. We will start with some of the biggest deals to emerge this week.

  • Jaycee Horn, CB (Panthers). Four years, $100MM. Horn’s Carolina extension covers $72MM in total guarantees (second among CBs) and $46.7MM at signing (first). Horn’s 2025 and ’26 base salaries are fully guaranteed; his $15.74MM 2027 base salary will shift from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Day 3 of the 2026 league year, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Additionally, $7.1MM of Horn’s $21.7MM 2028 base is already guaranteed for injury, per Wilson. That amount will shift to a full guarantee on Day 3 of the 2028 league year.
  • Milton Williams, DT (Patriots): Four years, $104MM. Williams will see $63MM in total guarantees and $51MM at signing, per OverTheCap. Williams’ 2027 base salary ($27MM) is guaranteed for injury; it will shift to a full guarantee if he remains on New England’s roster on Day 3 of the 2027 league year, Wilson tweets.
  • Aaron Banks, G (Packers). Four years, $77MM. Only a $27MM signing bonus is guaranteed, via OverTheCap, as the Packers do not usually include guaranteed salary beyond Year 1. Banks is due a $9.5MM roster bonus on Day 3 of the 2026 league year, Wilson notes. The same structure is in place for 2027, with another $9.5MM bonus due. These represent future guarantee dates on this year-$20MM-AAV accord, though the Pack — as they do with Josh Jacobs — will have a natural out after Year 2 of the deal.
  • Byron Murphy, CB (Vikings): Three years, $54MM. This is significantly lower than initially reported (via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo), as Murphy can only reach the $22MM-AAV number through incentives. Murphy’s first two base salaries are fully guaranteed, per Wilson. Rather than being the NFL’s fourth-highest-paid CB, Murphy is tied for 13th after the true AAV emerged.
  • Charvarius Ward, CB (Colts): Three years, $54MM. This one had the correct value from the start, as Murphy’s subsequent Vikings deal matched these terms. Ward will see $27MM at signing. To reach the $34.98MM total guarantee, he must remain on Indianapolis’ roster past Day 5 of the 2026 league year. As $5MM of Ward’s $12.98MM 2026 base salary is guaranteed at signing, the rest locks in on that March 2026 date, Wilson tweets.
  • Jonathan Allen, DL (Vikings): Three years, $51MM. This also checks in lower (via Garafolo) than initially reported, which is not uncommon. Half of Allen’s $16MM 2026 base salary is guaranteed at signing, with the other half (via Wilson) locking in if the D-lineman is on Minnesota’s roster come Day 3 of the 2026 league year.
  • Jamien Sherwood, LB (Jets). Three years, $45MM. The Jets are guaranteeing $30MM, as ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini notes this is the second-biggest LB guarantee the team has authorized (after C.J. Mosley‘s then-record FA deal in 2019). The Jets included a $7.5MM option bonus due at any point before Week 1 of the 2026 season, Wilson notes. This, along with three void years, will reduce Sherwood’s cap hits; he will not carry a figure north of $11.5MM until 2027.
  • Drew Dalman, C (Bears): Three years, $42MM. $26.5MM of Dalman’s $28MM guarantee comes at signing, giving the ex-Falcons center the second-biggest center guarantee (passing Lloyd Cushenberry‘s 2024 Titans FA deal). $9.5MM of Dalman’s $11MM 2026 base salary is fully guaranteed at signing, per Wilson. The other $1.5MM vests if/once he is on Chicago’s roster on Day 3 of the ’26 league year. Dalman’s 2027 salary is nonguaranteed.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/11/25

March 11th, 2025 at 10:23pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are today’s minor moves from around the NFL:

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Anger is a 13-year veteran who has spent the last four years in Dallas, which included Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors in 2021 and 2023. He will stay with the Cowboys on a two-year deal, per ESPN’s Todd Archer.

Tonyan had a few strong seasons in Green Bay earlier in his career, but he has struggled to produce over the last two years. He spent 2024 in Minnesota, but only played 15 snaps on offense with zero targets. He will add tight end depth in Kansas City.

Stoops received a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s Performance-Enhancing Substances Policy, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He will be eligible to participate in training camp and preseason games, but will be sidelined for the first two games of the regular season.

McNichols is staying in Washington on a one-year deal, according to Pelissero. The seven-year veteran appeared in 17 games for the Commanders in 2024 and rushed for 261 yards and four touchdowns on 55 attempts. McNichols will likely continue as Washington’s RB3 behind Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/10/25

March 10th, 2025 at 10:41pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s minor NFL moves that may have been missed during an otherwise extremely busy first day of the tampering period:

Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

DT Grady Jarrett To Land With Bears

March 10th, 2025 at 2:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

Grady Jarrett has rebounded swiftly from cap-casualty status. Hours after the Falcons released him, the veteran defensive tackle is joining the Bears on a deal fairly comparable to his previous Atlanta pact.

Chicago is adding Jarrett on a three-year, $43.5MM deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds $28.5MM will be guaranteed at signing. This represents a win for the 10-year Falcon, who is going into an age-32 season.

This signing comes after the Falcons had offered Jarrett a reduced deal, but ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler indicates the interior D-lineman believed his market value would produce a better contract. He appears to have been right. Jarrett will join a Bears team that has been busy along its lines. After trading for Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney, Chicago agreed to bring in Drew Dalman at center and Dayo Odeyingbo at DT.

While Dalman and Odeyingbo are first-time free agents, Jarrett and Thuney are closer to the end of their respective careers. The two faced off back in Super Bowl LI, a breakout night for Jarrett that included three sacks of Tom Brady. Thuney has maintained a higher performance level, earning back-to-back first-team All-Pro nods, but Jarrett has fared well contractually. This is his third veteran contract, after the Falcons had paid the former fifth-rounder in 2018 and 2022.

Jarrett has three double-digit TFL seasons, with his most recent slate coming in 2022. That marked Jarrett’s last season before an ACL tear, which marred his 2023 campaign. While Jarrett returned to action on time last year, he only accumulated 2.5 sacks. Though, the Falcons have continually offered Jarrett little support in terms of edge pressure. He has still racked up 77 TFLs and 36.5 sacks. Teaming with Odeyingbo and Montez Sweat presents a better situation than Jarrett has enjoyed in many years.

The Bears had used former second-round pick Gervon Dexter as a primary starter at DT, but it appears the 2022 draftee will be sliding to the second team soon. Fellow starter Andrew Billings remains under contract as well, but Jarrett and Odeyingbo will supply a high-priced tandem to help Chicago after its defense ranked 27th in yards allowed last season. The Bears were 28th against the run.

Bears To Sign DL Dayo Odeyingbo

March 10th, 2025 at 1:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bears have made three major moves along the offensive line this offseason, and their defensive front is also undergoing changes. Dayo Odeyingbo is headed to the Windy City, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.

This will be a three-year deal, Biggs adds. $48MM represents the overall value of the pact, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. $32MM is guaranteed in full, according to his colleague Ian Rapoport.

PFR’s No. 12 overall free agent, Odeyingbo will parlay his work in multiple D-line roles in Indianapolis into an upper-middle-class D-tackle deal in Chicago. Odeyingbo became a bit too pricey for the Colts to retain, as they already have D-line commitments to DeForest Buckner, Samson Ebukam and Grover Stewart; the team also has first-rounders Kwity Paye and Laiatu Latu under contract.

Throwing out his injury-delayed rookie season — which came after a pre-draft Achilles tear — Odeyingbo totaled 21 tackles for loss and 45 QB hits in his career. He posted eight sacks in 2023, playing 210 snaps on the inside (compared to 162 in 2024), as the Colts finished with 51 sacks – fifth-most in the league. The young D-end combined for eight sacks between the 2022 and ’24 seasons and has forced four fumbles over the past two years.

Odeyingbo will bring a power component opposite Montez Sweat‘s pure pass-rushing skillset, though the former has extensive experience sliding inside to rush on passing downs. Grady Jarrett is now in place on the Bears’ D-line as well, giving Sweat much better complementary rushers than he enjoyed last season. Bears 2024 trade acquisition Darrell Taylor is now a free agent.

No Bears player surpassed six sacks last season, as Sweat’s total dropped significantly from 2023. The additions of Odeyingbo and Jarrett should add some muscle to Chicago’s defense, thus helping Sweat receive better opportunities. Sweat’s presence also will free up Odeyingbo. After operating as an auxiliary pass rusher with the Colts, the Purdue alum will be expected — via this $16MM-per-year deal — to be a consistent producer. Odeyingbo’s three-year contract will allow for a potential second lucrative payday down the road, should he deliver on this initial accord.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Bears To Sign C Drew Dalman

March 10th, 2025 at 11:22am CST by Adam La Rose

Drew Dalman is on the move, and his destination comes as no surprise. A deal is in place between the top center on the market and the Bears.

Chicago is set to add Dalman on a three-year, $42MM deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The pact includes $28MM in guarantees. Once the contract is signed, the Bears will have completed their renovation along the interior of the offensive line.

Dalman expressed a desire to remain with the Falcons after playing out his rookie contract, with team and player meeting at the Combine. In the wake of those talks, though, it seemed the 26-year-old would at least explore outside options. The Bears were named as a suitor to watch as it became clear Dalman would have a strong market. Now, a lucrative pact has been worked out.

After barely seeing any playing time as a rookie, Dalman served as the Falcons’ starting center for each of the past three years. His consistent performances in that role helped outweigh the fact he was limited to only nine games in 2024. Expectations will be high upon arrival in the Windy City as the Bears look to find a permanent solution at center after cycling though several options in recent years.

Chicago entered the 2025 offseason with questions everywhere along the O-line aside from right tackle Darnell Wright. Both guard spots have already been addressed, though, with trade agreements being worked out with the Rams for Jonah Jackson and with the Chiefs for Joe Thuney. Those two, along with Dalman, should represent a notable upgrade compared to where things stood last year.

Ryan Neuzil is in place as a potential Dalman successor in Atlanta. Today’s news likely means he will step into a starting role on a full-time basis as part of a Falcons unit which already includes big-money deals for guard Chris Lindstrom, right tackle Kaleb McGary and – most recently – left tackle Jake Matthews. Left guard Matthew Bergeron is also in place for next year, but the center spot will look different in 2025.

Free Agency Rumors: Raiders, Murphy, Holland, Jets, Dalman, Bears, Falcons, OL

March 9th, 2025 at 10:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

Byron Murphy was on the 2023 market, but the four-year Cardinals starter settled for a midlevel two-year deal. After a productive Vikings run, the former No. 33 overall pick has set himself up for a second payday. On a market featuring a host of third-contract-seeking corners, Murphy may be in the best shape due to going into an age-27 season. A suitor has emerged for the six-year vet in the Raiders, with The Athletic’s Tashan Reed labeling him a top priority for the Silver and Black. Murphy has set a high asking price, potentially up to $20MM per year, though the Vikings are exploring a second contract.

Elsewhere in the Raiders’ secondary, the team still wants to keep Tre’von Moehrig. With Moehrig expected to do well on the market, the Raiders may need a backup plan. Identifying Moehrig as the most difficult of Las Vegas’ in-house free agents to retain, Reed mentions Murphy teammate Camryn Bynum as a player to watch for a potential addition. Evidently viewing the Vikings’ secondary as a well-run unit, the Raiders have both starting safeties (Moehrig, Marcus Epps) hitting the market. Moehrig landed 24th on our top 50 free agents list, Bynum 36th. Bynum joins Murphy in going into an age-27 season and as a player who played a key role in helping Minnesota form a top-five defense.

Here is the latest from the free agent market:

  • Jevon Holland has been tied to the Panthers and Titans, with the Dolphins not giving up hope — reminding of their Christian Wilkins and Robert Hunt final hours — of retaining him. The Jets should be a team to monitor for Holland as well, SNY’s Connor Hughes tweets. No. 6 on our FA list, Holland has been linked to potentially commanding as much as $20MM per year. The Jets have Chuck Clark, Jalen Mills and Ashtyn Davis due for free agency. Holland would be a much pricier replacement, but the Jets have a veteran secondary coach (Aaron Glenn) as HC now. Glenn just had considerable success developing Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch.
  • The Jets are not expected to retain Tyler Conklin, Hughes adds. Conklin played three seasons with the Jets, outdoing C.J. Uzomah after both were signed in the same offseason. Conklin, 29, could do reasonably well on the market. This is a thin TE market, with Juwan Johnson and now Evan Engram profiling as the top options. Mike Gesicki scored a three-year, $25.5MM Bengals deal. Conklin has been more consistent. He was oddly more productive with Zach Wilson, posting a career-high 621 yards in 2023; he tallied 449 and a career-high four TDs last year.
  • Extending Jake Matthews stands to create some cap space for the Falcons, but Drew Dalman will draw a strong market, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz notes. A three-year Falcons center starter, Dalman looks to be the top snapper available ahead of his age-27 season. The Bears are being mentioned as a team to monitor for Dalman, Schultz adds. Chicago has been busy revamping its interior O-line in Ben Johnson‘s first weeks on the job, trading for Joe Thuney and ex-Lions starter Jonah Jackson. Dalman would fetch an upper-crust center deal, but the Bears do have two rookie tackle salaries (for now) and Caleb Williams‘ rookie-scale deal around which to build.
  • Dan Moore Jr. has been set to leave Pittsburgh for a while, as the Steelers used back-to-back first-round picks on tackles. The four-year Pittsburgh LT is expected to command at least $15MM on the open market, with Schultz adding a high-teens AAV may be required. Ronnie Stanley landed a $20MM-per-year deal from the Ravens. The more accomplished tackle is four years older and more injury-prone than Moore. In what would be a more surprising free agency market, Schultz adds the 49ers’ Jaylon Moore may score a deal on the same level as the more experienced Moore. Jaylon Moore, a 2021 fifth-rounder, filled in for Trent Williams last season and has 15 starts on his resume. With Stanley and Alaric Jackson off the board, the Moores and Cam Robinson stand to do well.
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