Saints To Sign RB Jamaal Williams
Jamaal Williams is staying in the NFC. The free agent running back is signing with the Saints, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).
Williams is inking a three-year deal with the Saints, according to Schefter. The three-year pact is worth $12MM, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). The deal includes $8MM in guaranteed money.
There was some initial hope that the veteran would end up returning to Detroit next season, but those hopes were seemingly eliminated when the Lions pivoted to David Montgomery. Most recently, Williams was connected to a number of potential suitors, including the Bills, Bengals, Panthers, and Bears, per Tyler Dunne on Twitter.
Instead, Williams will land in a bit of a surprising spot in New Orleans, although he appears to be a natural fit behind Alvin Kamara. Backup running backs Mark Ingram and David Johnson are both free agents, and Williams provides much more upside than that duo either as a change-of-pace RB or as a fill-in to the starter.
Williams made a name for himself in Green Bay, collecting at least 600 yards from scrimmage in each of his four seasons with the Packers thanks in part to his pass-catching ability. He joined the Lions prior to the 2021 campaign and had modest success during his first season with the organization, compiling 758 yards from scrimmage.
The RB was a touchdown machine in 2022. Williams ended up leading the NFL with a whopping 17 rushing touchdowns while adding a career-high 1,066 rushing yards on 262 carries. The Saints shouldn’t expect that kind of production in 2023, although the team will be much less reliant on the RB’s production than the Lions were in 2022.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/14/23
Today’s minor transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Re-signed: RB Corey Clement
Baltimore Ravens
- Claimed off waivers (from Raiders): CB Trayvon Mullen
Buffalo Bills
- Re-signed: LB Tyrel Dodson
Denver Broncos
- Signed: FB Michael Burton
- Waived: WR Victor Bolden, WR Freddie Swain
Detroit Lions
- Re-signed: OL Matt Nelson
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: DE Derek Rivers
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Robert Spillane
- Re-signed: FB Jakob Johnson
New England Patriots
- Signed: OT Calvin Anderson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: G Aaron Stinnie
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Luke Gifford
Lions To Sign RB David Montgomery
The Lions are snagging a running back from a division rival. Detroit has agreed to terms with running back David Montgomery, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).
Montgomery is signing a three-year deal worth $18MM, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). The deal includes $11MM in guaranteed money, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).
The former third-round running back was handed the full-time starting gig in 2020 and was more than productive, finishing with 1,508 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns, with more than 400 of those yards coming via 54 receptions.
After topping 1,000 rushing yards during that 2020 campaign, Montgomery wasn’t able to eclipse that mark in 2021 nor 2022, averaging 825 rushing yards between those two seasons. Thanks to his receiving ability, he was still able to top 1,000 yards from scrimmage in each of the past two years, but his sub-4.0 yards per rush still left plenty to be desired.
In Detroit, Montgomery won’t necessarily be leading the traditional rushing attack, as the organization could still look to squeeze some production out of D’Andre Swift. Instead, it sounds like this signing could spell the end of Jamaal Williams‘s tenure in Detroit, per Pelissero (on Twitter). Earlier tonight, Tyler Dunne tweeted that Williams and the Lions were far apart on a deal.
The Bears gave former sixth-round pick Khalil Herbert a look last season, and there’s a chance the team continues to add to the position.
Lions To Re-Sign DB Will Harris
The Lions’ secondary will look a bit different next season, but they’re hanging on to one of their key defensive backs. The team has agreed to a one-year contract with defensive back Will Harris, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
[RELATED: Lions To Sign CB Cameron Sutton]
Harris, a 2019 third-round pick out of Boston College, has spent his entire four-year career in Detroit. He’s spent time switching between safety and cornerback throughout his career, but as Birkett notes, he played his best football when serving as the Lions’ slot cornerback last season.
The 27-year-old finished the campaign having started 10 of his 15 appearances, finishing with 57 tackles and four passes defended. He only graded out as Pro Football Focus’ 64th cornerback (among 118 qualifying players), although the site did grade him close to the top-third at the position in coverage. Harris will likely continue in his slot role in 2023, but his versatility does provide the Lions with some options.
The Lions have been busy reworking a unit that finished last in total defense last season. The team made one of the biggest splashes of free agency when they signed cornerback Cameron Sutton, and they’ve also added former 49ers cornerback Emmanuel Moseley.
Lions To Re-Sign DL John Cominsky
A fourth of the league submitted waiver claims for John Cominsky last year. The ex-Falcon generating interest turned out to precede a solid season with the Lions, and Cominsky’s most recent NFL employer is keeping him in the fold.
The Lions are re-signing the veteran defensive lineman on a two-year deal worth $8.5MM, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets, adding that $4MM is guaranteed. Another $1MM is attached to the deal through incentives, and the Lions will follow through on their goal to bring back their 2022 addition.
When the Falcons cut Cominsky last May, the Lions beat out the Commanders, Colts, Browns, Texans, Cardinals, Vikings and Bengals on the waiver wire. That staggering number of teams wanted him on their 90-man offseason rosters, but Cominsky showed in 2022 he was more than just a fringe roster player. The 27-year-old Cleveland native proceeded to reward Detroit with his most productive season. The Division II product registered four sacks, batted down three passes and tallied 12 quarterback hits during his first Lions season.
The interior defensive lineman was on the Lions’ re-signing radar, and he will join D-lineman Isaiah Buggs in being back with the team for the 2023 season. This represents a nice bounce-back story for Cominsky, who saw the Falcons bail on his rookie contract last year. Atlanta used Cominsky in just four games in 2021, with then-DC Dean Pees not viewing him as a good fit for his system. Aaron Glenn plugged the young defender into his 4-3 scheme, and although the Lions have plenty of work to do, they will have one of their keeper candidates in the fold as they attempt to move on from a rough defensive slate.
Lions To Sign CB Emmanuel Moseley
The Lions have now agreed to terms with two free agent cornerbacks. They are bringing in Emmanuel Moseley, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter).
A former 49ers starter, Moseley is coming off an injury-shortened season. He suffered an ACL tear in October. The Lions are giving him a one-year, $6MM deal, per Schefter. This follows Detroit’s Cameron Sutton signing.
While Sutton profiles as a high-value get, given his market, the Lions have been a bit more cautious regarding their other defensive additions. They have now added Moseley and re-signed three of their own — defensive linemen Isaiah Buggs and John Cominsky and linebacker Alex Anzalone — as they attempt to move on from a season in which Aaron Glenn’s unit ranked last in scoring defense.
Moseley stayed in San Francisco on a two-year, $9.4MM contract back in 2021, and he played a starting role for the first of the team’s back-to-back 2020s seasons that ended in the NFC championship game. Moseley, who turns 27 next week, started a career-high 11 games that season. He added three postseason starts that year, but the ACL tear sustained the following season squashed the momentum he was building.
Had that ACL setback not occurred, this $6MM price may not come too close. A 49ers UDFA find, the 5-foot-11 cover man allowed passer ratings — as the closest defender in coverage — of 65.6 and 66.9 in 2021 and ’22. Pro Football Focus also viewed the young defender well, ranking him just outside the top 30 in both 2019 and ’21. He notched a pick-six for San Francisco’s No. 1-ranked defense prior to going down last season.
Moseley will join Sutton in attempting to elevate Detroit’s cornerback crew. The team still has Bob Quinn-era draftee Jeff Okudah on its payroll, though the Ohio State product has not panned out as expected. Once on the extension radar, Amari Oruwariye is now a free agent. The Lions ranked 30th against the pass last season; they might not be done augmenting their corner contingent.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/13/23
Today’s tender decisions from around the NFL:
RFAs
Tendered:
- Jets: DE Bryce Huff
- Panthers: S Sam Franklin
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Broncos: OL Quinn Bailey, ILB Jonas Griffith, P Corliss Waitman
- Lions: LS Scott Daly, DL Benito Jones, LB Anthony Pittman, TE Brock Wright, TE Shane Zylstra
- Rams: DL Michael Hoecht
Did not tender:
- Broncos: OLB Jonathan Kongbo
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/13/23
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Re-signed: CB Cameron Lewis
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: S Michael Thomas
Cleveland Browns
- Re-signed: CB A.J. Green
Denver Broncos
- Signed: TE Chris Manhertz
Detroit Lions
- Re-signed: RB Craig Reynolds
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: CB Keisean Nixon
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: DE Tershawn Wharton
New York Giants
- Re-signed: OL Wyatt Davis, LS Casey Kreiter
New York Jets
- Released: G Dru Samia
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OL Brett Toth
Nixon was a first-team All-Pro returner for the Packers this year. He’s signed to a new one-year deal with a maximum value of $6MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Wharton’s new one-year deal is reportedly worth $2.03MM, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. The contract has a guaranteed amount of $850,000 consisting of a $500,000 signing bonus and $350,000 of the base salary (worth $1.01MM total).
Lions To Re-Sign LB Alex Anzalone
The Lions have already made one major addition to their defense today, but a key returning member of the unit will remain in place. Linebacker Alex Anzalone is re-signing in Detroit on a three-year, $18.75MM contract (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network). 
The 28-year-old was set to earn a considerable raise on the open market this year, after his previous time in Detroit consisted of modest, one-year pacts. It was reported after the season ended that a more long-term deal would likely be necessary to keep him in the Motor City. This new contract will comfortably exceed his previous earnings from throughout his career.
Anzalone began his career with the Saints, but he never saw more than a rotational role in New Orleans. That changed immediately upon his first Lions deal, where he saw a snap share of 87%. That figure jumped to 95% in 2022, the first season in which he topped 1,000 snaps. The Florida product responded with a new career-high in tackles (125), adding 1.5 sacks and one interception.
Adding on defense has universally been seen as Detroit’s top priority this offseason, given the shortcomings of the unit in 2022 compared to their efficient offense. The Lions have been active on that side of the ball on Monday, re-signing defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs and agreeing to terms on a deal with Cameron Sutton, one of the top corners available in this year’s free agent class. Keeping Anzalone in the fold represents moves made at all three levels of their defense.
Anzalone will remain atop the linebacker depth chart for Detroit in the coming years, with not much else in place in terms of financial commitments at the position. While that could leave the door open to future additions in free agency or the draft, the team’s top decision amongst their LBs has likely already been made.
Lions To Sign CB Cameron Sutton
Ending last season with the NFL’s worst-ranked defense, the Lions are adding one of the top cornerbacks available. They are picking up former Steelers corner Cameron Sutton, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Sutton, who has spent his entire career in Pittsburgh, will head to Detroit on a three-year, $33MM deal featuring $22.5MM guaranteed. Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports (via Twitter) that Sutton will also receive a $10.9MM signing bonus.
A former third-round pick, Sutton will do far better on his third NFL contract compared to his second. He just finished out a two-year, $9MM deal — agreed to just prior to free agency in 2021. The Steelers received quality work from Sutton last season; he was by far their most dependable corner. Sutton finished in the top five in passer rating allowed as the closest defender, per Next Gen Stats, last season (among corners) and ended the year with a career-high 15 passes defensed.
The Lions, meanwhile, ranked 30th in pass defense and have not been able to rely on Bob Quinn-era draftee Jeff Okudah just yet. The new addition will now be a centerpiece player for Aaron Glenn‘s defense in 2023. The seventh-year veteran will attempt to fill a void on the outside in Detroit, though Sutton also brings extensive slot experience as well. That will give Glenn options as he attempts to pick up the pieces ahead of his third season as DC.
Detroit did not roster a cornerback that ranked inside Pro Football Focus’ top 60 at the position last season. Despite Okudah being the highest-drafted corner (No. 3 overall) since 1997, he has not shown sufficient consistency. The team is almost definitely targeting upgrades at other defensive positions as well, though Sutton will qualify as a significant improvement at corner.
The Steelers have T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick tied to top-market deals at their respective positions, and Cameron Heyward is on an upper-tier interior defensive line pact as well. The team has not devoted much in the way of financial resources to the cornerback spot since passing on a third Joe Haden contract last year. Pittsburgh rolled into the 2022 season with no corner tied to a deal north of $4.5MM per year. The team has since signed Patrick Peterson to a two-year agreement, but it can be assumed the aging veteran’s contract will not qualify as a high-end accord.