NFC Contract Details: Phillips, Saints, Evans, Bears, Cowboys, Packers, Giants, Cardinals, Eagles
We covered a batch of contract details from the AFC earlier today. Here are the numbers from some of the NFC’s biggest deals from free agency’s first wave:
- Jaelan Phillips, OLB (Panthers). Four years, $120MM. Of Phillips’ $80MM guarantee, $60MM is locked in at signing (per SI.com’s Albert Breer). Phillips secured an early guarantee as well, according to OverTheCap, with $20MM of his 2028 base salary becoming guaranteed on Day 3 of the 2027 league year.
- David Edwards, G (Saints). Four years, $61MM. Edwards secured $45MM guaranteed, according to ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell, with $40MM at signing (via OverTheCap). The Saints gave Edwards — who was tied to a two-year, $6MM Bills deal from 2024-25 — guarantees through 2028, with Terrell indicating $10MM of the guard’s $15MM 2028 base salary is locked in at signing (Edwards’ full guarantee ranks sixth among guards). The remaining $5MM in 2028 compensation vests on Day 3 of the ’28 league year, per OverTheCap. Edwards is also due a $1MM roster bonus on Day 3 of the 2029 league year, Terrell adds.
- Mike Evans, WR (49ers). Three years, $42.5MM. Evans will receive $14.3MM guaranteed at signing, according to OverTheCap. Two nonguaranteed option bonuses are included in the deal, per ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner, who indicates a $12.05MM option bonus is in place for 2027 and a $10.95MM bonus for 2028. Four void years are in place on the deal, which includes $4.25MM, $7.31MM and $9.7MM cap numbers. Essentially, this is a one-year, $14.3MM accord with team options.
- Coby Bryant, S (Bears). Three years, $40MM. Bryant landed $25.75MM fully guaranteed, Wilson tweets. Bryant secured a Year 2 fully guaranteed base salary ($12.25MM), SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets. A $500K roster bonus is due on Day 5 of the 2028 league year.
- Jermaine Eluemunor, RT (Giants). Three years, $39MM. Eluemunor secured a $25.45MM guarantee at signing, Wilson adds. (This comes after he played out a two-year, $14MM deal.) Eluemunor received $12.15MM of his $12.4MM 2027 salary guaranteed (via OverTheCap).
- Kaden Elliss, LB (Saints). Three years, $33MM. Of that total, Terrell notes $23MM is fully guaranteed. Both Elliss’ 2026 and ’27 base salaries are fully guaranteed; his 2028 compensation is nonguaranteed.
- Sean Rhyan, OL (Packers). Three years, $33MM. Per Packers non-QB norms, Rhyan’s signing bonus ($11MM) represents his only fully guaranteed money. Green Bay included a $6.65MM roster bonus, which ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky is due on Day 3 of the 2027 league year. A $3MM roster bonus is due on Day 3 of the ’28 league year, Demovsky adds.
- Isaac Seumalo, G (Cardinals). Three years, $31.5MM. Seumalo secured $19MM guaranteed, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, with $15MM fully guaranteed. Semualo received $3MM of his 2027 base salary ($8MM) guaranteed at signing; another $4MM of the 2027 salary locks in on Day 3 of the 2027 league year, per OverTheCap.
- Javonte Williams, RB (Cowboys). Three years, $24MM. Williams scored $16MM at signing. His 2026 and ’27 base salaries are locked in, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. There are $3MM — $1MM per year — in per-game roster bonuses.
- Riq Woolen, CB (Eagles). One year, $12MM. The deal is fully guaranteed, according to OverTheCap. Seeing as this is the Eagles, there are four void years included in this contract. If he is not re-signed before the deal voids in 2027, the Eagles would be hit with $8.59MM in dead money.
Cowboys, Javonte Williams Agree To Deal
The Cowboys will keep pending free agent running back Javonte Williams from hitting the open market. The two sides have agreed to a three-year, $24MM contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports. The deal includes $16MM in guarantees, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Williams will also receive a $6MM signing bonus, Todd Archer of ESPN relays.
Williams’ new pact easily trumps the one-year, $3MM agreement he reached with the Cowboys in free agency last March. The former Bronco settled for a prove-it deal after a dip in rushing production over the previous couple of seasons.
As a 2021 second-round pick from North Carolina, Williams made a quick impact with 1,219 total yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie. He rushed for 903 yards on 4.4 per carry that year, but suffering ACL and LCL tears in Week 4 of his second season temporarily threw his career off course. While the 5-foot-10, 220-pounder returned to play in 33 of of 34 games from 2023-24, he averaged a lackluster 3.7 yards per carry on a combined 356 attempts.
The move to Dallas led to a renaissance for Williams, who emerged as a key cog in the NFL’s second-ranked scoring offense. Playing his age-25 season, Williams started in all 16 appearances and logged career highs in carries (252), yards (1,201), YPC (4.8) and touchdowns (13; 11 rushing, two receiving). A three-time 40-catch back in Denver, Williams chipped in 35 more last season, though he averaged just 3.9 yards per grab.
The Cowboys, who identified Williams as a priority free agent early in the offseason, now have him under wraps for reasonable money. Williams’ new contract places him 13th among running backs in total money, 14th in guarantees and 16th in average annual value. Had Williams become a free agent for the second straight year, he could have joined Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker III and Travis Etienne among the top RBs available. With Williams off the board, teams in need of an upgrade in the backfield now have one fewer starting-caliber option to consider.
Locking up Williams checks off one important offseason task for the Cowboys, who feature arguably the game’s best soon-to-be free agent in wide receiver George Pickens. The Cowboys are expected to place the franchise tag on Pickens by March 3. The question is whether he’ll follow Williams in landing a multiyear deal this offseason.
Cowboys Hope To Keep George Pickens, Javonte Williams; Team Has Met With Williams
Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens and running back Javonte Williams were among the top performers on one of the NFL’s most prolific offenses in 2025. With Pickens and Williams now a few weeks from hitting free agency, the team unsurprisingly wants to retain both players.
“Obviously, there’s guys that we want to keep from last year,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said (via Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram). “Whether it’s George Pickens or it’s Javonte [Williams], those are all guys that play into the free agency picture.”
The Cowboys and Pickens’ camp have not met yet this offseason, according to Harris, but Jones revealed the team “has certainly visited with Javonte.”
The Cowboys and Williams are aiming for a multiyear agreement, per Harris. That may be more realistic than a long-term arrangement with Pickens, who will be the No. 1 receiver available if he reaches the open market. After the former Steeler ranked top 10 in the NFL in receptions (93; eighth), yards (1,429; third) and touchdowns (nine; eighth) in his first season as a Cowboy, a contract worth upward of $30MM per year may be in the offing.
The Cowboys, who must address a defense that ranked among the dregs of the league this season, already have a lot of money tied up in wideout CeeDee Lamb. With Lamb making $34MM per annum, the Cowboys may be hesitant or unable to authorize a second mega-contract for a receiver. If a multiyear pact isn’t in the cards in the coming weeks, they’ll have the option of slapping the less expensive franchise tag on Pickens by March 3 (he’ll turn 25 the next day).
While the tag would still be costly (around $28MM), there’s a “strong belief” the Cowboys will take that route, Todd Archer of ESPN writes. That jibes with multiple reports that came out during the season. Tagging Pickens would give the Cowboys the option of keeping him for another year, trading him or signing him to a longer deal by the July 15 deadline.
The tag won’t be on the table for Williams, but the soon-to-be 26-year-old is in far better position than he was when he hit free agency last March.
After Williams rushed for just 513 yards on 3.7 per carry in 2024, his second full season since suffering ACL and LCL tears in 2022, the ex-Bronco inked a one-year, $3MM guarantee with the Cowboys. The move couldn’t have worked out much better for either side. Williams started in all 16 appearances and put up personal bests in carries (252), yards (1,201), YPC (4.8) and touchdowns (13; 11 rushing, two receiving).
On the heels of a career year, Williams is hoping to cash in, Clarence Hill of All City DLLS relays. If Williams doesn’t re-up with the Cowboys before free agency opens March 11, he’ll be part of an unsigned class of running backs that could also include Kenneth Walker, Breece Hall, Travis Etienne, J.K. Dobbins, Rachaad White and ex-Cowboy Rico Dowdle, among others.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/3/26
After the final standard gameday practice squad elevations of the 2025 regular season, the three-game elevation limit resets for the postseason, so only players getting signed to the 53-man roster because of the limit will be noted today. Saturday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed from practice squad: WR Tejhaun Palmer
- Elevated: CB Jaden Davis, WR Steven Sims
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: P Trenton Gill
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: WR Keith Kirkwood, CB Amani Oruwariye
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: LB Keonta Jenkins, DE Matt Judon
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: TE Nikola Kalinic, LB Ty Summers
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Howard Cross III, CB Bralyn Lux
Cleveland Browns
- Signed from practice squad: LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
- Elevated: TE Sal Cannella
- Placed on IR: LB Carson Schwesinger
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from IR: RB Phil Mafah
- Activated from reserve/PUP: CB Josh Butler
- Signed from practice squad: LB Justin Barron
- Elevated: G Nick Leverett
- Placed on IR: G T.J. Bass, RB Malik Davis, RB Javonte Williams
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: LB Levelle Bailey
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: TE Zach Horton, OL Chris Hubbard
- Placed on IR: OL Trystan Colon
Green Bay Packers
- Signed from practice squad: WR Jakobie Keeney-James, G Lecitus Smith
- Elevated: TE Drake Dabney, LB Jamon Johnson
- Placed on IR: OL Donovan Jennings, WR Savion Williams
Houston Texans
- Elevated: DT Leki Fotu, S Kaevon Merriweather
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: QB Seth Henigan, TE Sean McKeon
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: TE Patrick Herbert
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: WR Jason Brownlee, WR Jimmy Holiday
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: LB Jamin Davis, T Dalton Wagner
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed from practice squad: S Marcus Maye
- Elevated: G Branson Taylor, QB DJ Uiagalelei
- Placed on IR: CB Nikko Reed
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: LB Derrick McLendon, RB Jeff Wilson
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: WR Jeshaun Jones, LB Sione Takitaki
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: TE Treyton Welch
- Elevated: QB Jake Haener, RB Nyheim Miller-Hines
New York Giants
- Signed from practice squad: CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse, WR Xavier Gipson, RB Dante Miller
- Elevated: TE Tanner Conner, DT Casey Rogers
- Placed on IR: CB Cor’Dale Flott, DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr., WR Wan’Dale Robinson
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: QB Hendon Hooker, DE Kingsley Jonathan, G Kohl Levao
- Elevated: RB Raheem Blackshear, CB Samuel Womack III
- Placed on IR: RB Isaiah Davis, OL Xavier Newman-Johnson, TE Mason Taylor
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: LS Charley Hughlett, S Brandon Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: CB D’Shawn Jamison
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: LB Eric Kendricks, T Brandon Parker
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers, CB Tyler Hall
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: OLB Ali Gaye, WR Bryce Oliver
- Signed from practice squad: CB Kemon Hall
- Elevated: TE Cole Turner
- Placed on IR: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (story), WR Van Jefferson
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: DT Ricky Barber, WR River Cracraft
The Browns made it known yesterday that they were shutting down Schwesinger and tight ends David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr. for the final week of the season, but the Defensive Rookie of the Year-favorite is the only one to land on IR.
In Dallas, Williams failed to practice this week as he dealt with shoulder and neck issues. With Davis also being placed on IR, the Cowboys will rely on rookie fifth-rounder Jaydon Blue and the recently activated Mafah, a seventh-round rookie, in Week 18. The team used their eighth and final IR activation to bring Mafah back for a potential NFL debut.
Because Green Bay didn’t elevate recently signed practice squad quarterback Desmond Ridder, it appears either Malik Willis will be healthy enough to back up Clayton Tune or Jordan Love will serve as the potential QB2 for the Packers in Week 18.
Judon is set to make his Bills debut in the team’s regular season finale after signing to their practice squad two weeks ago.
With Saints backup quarterback Spencer Rattler not practicing this week with a finger injury, Haener gets the call to back up rookie Tyler Shough.
Hall in Tennessee had already been called up as a standard gameday practice squad elevation three times this season. In order for him to appear in the Titans’ regular season finale, the move to the 53-man roster was necessary.
Cowboys RB Javonte Williams Addresses Knee Recovery
Javonte Williams showed plenty of potential during his rookie season. A 2022 knee injury which included ACL and LCL tears has proven to be a major hindrance since then, however. 
Williams was limited to just four games in his second Broncos campaign as a result of the injury, and he was unable to regain his previous efficiency during the 2023 and ’24 seasons (3.6, then 3.7 yards per carry). While the former second-round wanted to remain in Denver, it came as little surprise when he departed in free agency. The Cowboys added him on a one-year, $3MM pact as part of their backfield renovations.
The terms of that deal illustrate the extent to which Williams’ value was impacted by the injury and its lingering effects. The 25-year-old managed to play 16 games in his first season upon returning to action and he appeared in every contest last year. Williams nevertheless feels better now than he did at any point over the past two years.
“I feel completely like myself,” he said (via the team’s website). “I probably can get more flexible and things like that, but as far as healing up, that I feel like is done. It just depends on who you are, it depends on your body… mine might take this amount of time, but somebody else might be different.”
There are of course plenty of examples of players enjoying a true return to form during their second season after a major injury like an ACL tear. Williams’ underwhelming showing in 2024 (859 scrimmage yards, four total touchdowns) came about while he handled a similar snap share to the other three years of his career, however. With a drop in workload not contributing to his statistical output, the North Carolina product will aim to spark a resurgence in Dallas another year removed the injury.
The Cowboys also inked Miles Sanders to a one-year pact, meaning he will look to help replace Rico Dowdle‘s production in 2025. Rookies Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah will provide depth to a backfield which is unlikely to see any further additions at this point in the offseason. If Williams is able to rebound this year, a much more lucrative free agent market will await him next spring.
Cowboys To Sign RB Javonte Williams
6:58pm: As it turns out, this signing does look like it will send Dowdle elsewhere. The Williams move is expected to ensure the Cowboys move on from their primary 2024 starter, the Dallas Morning News’ David Moore tweets. Dowdle has spent the past five years with the Cowboys.
6:22pm: The Cowboys took plenty of heat for running back apathy last year. They will attempt to change course early this offseason, as a young starter is coming in on Day 1 of free agency.
Javonte Williams is relocating from Denver to Dallas, with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reporting the former second-round pick will do so on a one-year deal worth $3MM. The contract can max out at $3.5MM.
Although Williams expressed interest in staying with the Broncos, they were not expected to bring him back. After a promising rookie season, Williams suffered ACL and LCL tears during an October 2022 game in Las Vegas. While the North Carolina alum made it back by Week 1 of the ’23 season, he did not quite resemble his previous version. With Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime signed, the Broncos will part ways with a player they traded up for in 2021.
Williams’ rookie season brought 1,219 scrimmage yards, even as he had to share time with Melvin Gordon. That season included Angry Runs recognition for a carry against the Cowboys, a game in which the Broncos upset the favored hosts. Williams’ 111-yard day in Dallas notwithstanding, he saw his role reduced in Denver during Sean Payton’s second season. The bruising runner averaged 3.6 and 3.7 yards per carry, respectively, over the past two seasons. He did reach 1,002 scrimmage yards in 2023 and 859 in ’24, but there is a reason the Cowboys have him locked into this modest rate.
Dallas received a decent season from Rico Dowdle, who quickly usurped the re-signed Ezekiel Elliott as the team’s primary rusher. Dowdle is unsigned, and this Williams deal would not seem to impede a reunion. The two would bring complementary skillsets. The Cowboys have shown interest in keeping Dowdle, but it will be interesting to see if a player who can blend a quality season with low mileage can fetch notable offers elsewhere.
Broncos Notes: Sutton, Williams, Nix, Staff
Courtland Sutton and his agent have let the Broncos know he will not play on the final year of this contract, which calls for a $13.5MM base salary. That amount will not become guaranteed until just before Week 1. The Broncos are preparing eventual Sutton extension talks, and a potential price range has circulated. A rumor that emerged earlier this offseason pointed to a deal worth upwards of $25MM per year, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline writes. This would mark a significant raise for Sutton, who signed a $15MM-AAV extension in 2021.
A $25MM AAV would place Sutton in a tie for 11th among receivers. That might be a bit lofty for a two-time 1,000-yard going into an age-30 season, but the cap continues to spike and the Broncos relied on him to both coax improved play from Russell Wilson (in 2023) and quick development from Bo Nix (2024). Sutton finished with 1,081 receiving yards last season and has caught 18 TD passes over the past two. A $25MM-per-year deal would put Sutton ahead of emerging Texans standout Nico Collins while matching him with DeVonta Smith. It would stand to reason the Broncos would aim to have his third contract come in lower than $25MM on average, but that number emerging early is interesting.
Here is the latest out of Denver:
- Sean Payton confirmed at the Combine (via the Denver Post’s Troy Renck) running back and tight end will be priorities soon; the third-year Broncos HC mentioned this during a Kay Adams interview earlier this month as well. Denver rosters little of note at tight end, having seen its Greg Dulcich miss prove costly ahead of an in-season cut, but does return Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime in the backfield. Javonte Williams wants to stay, but recent rumors had the former second-rounder more likely to depart. George Paton said (via DenverSports.com) there is “a chance” Williams stays, noting that the once-productive back will be another year removed from the ACL and LCL tears he sustained in October 2022. Williams has not been the same player since that malady, however, his return would limit the Broncos from a potential upgrade — particularly a player who could be the coveted “joker” performer Payton regularly mentions.
- Although Nix dealt with a transverse process fracture, the QB’s back was not the area his recent surgery addressed. Rather, an ankle procedure took place, 9News’ Mike Klis adds. Nix skipped the Pro Bowl Games, as an alternate invitee, to deal with an issue that nagged him before last season. It affected him at the 2024 Combine, per Renck, who notes the Oregon prospect was dealing with turf toe at that time. That explains why Nix threw at the event but did not run the 40-yard dash. The Broncos benefited from the QB’s mobility last season, and he may be in better form in Year 2 after this surgery.
- Vacillating between edge rusher and inside linebacker during his career, Drew Sanders will be focusing on the latter area in his third season. Payton said (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) he considers the 2023 third-round pick an ILB moving forward. After suffering an Achilles tear last spring, the Arkansas alum will be in line to help a Broncos team that has regular LBs Cody Barton and Justin Strnad due for free agency.
- Sanders’ former position coach has run into some trouble, however. Broncos OLBs coach Michael Wilhoite was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault in connection with an incident at the Denver International Airport on Sunday, Klis reports. A Denver police officer working on assignment told Wilhoite he could not leave his car unattended at a departure terminal. After allegedly cursing at the officer, Wilhoite bumped his chest into him. After the officer is alleged to have pushed Wilhoite, the former linebacker is accused of punching him in the face. The officer then used his taser, but Wilhoite still drove off before being apprehended soon after. Wilhoite, 38, has been released on bail. A former Saints assistant, Wilhoite has coached the Broncos’ OLBs for two seasons.
Broncos QB Jarrett Stidham Amenable To Denver Return; Team Unlikely To Retain QB Zach Wilson, RB Javonte Williams
Less than a year ago, the Broncos were said to be leaning toward opening the 2024 season with Jarrett Stidham – who was entering the second year of a two-year, $10MM deal – as their starting quarterback. The subsequent acquisition of Zach Wilson via trade may not have changed that plan, but the selection of Bo Nix in the first round of the 2024 draft certainly did.
Nix, of course, beat out both Stidham and Wilson for the QB1 job, and he piloted Denver to a 10-7 record and a postseason appearance. After his impressive rookie showing, the Broncos are no longer in need of a starting signal-caller, though the club will need to address the other QB spots on the depth chart since Stidham and Wilson are both out of contract.
Stidham, 28, is amenable to a Denver return, as Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette writes. While the free agent quarterback market will feature some high-profile names (Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, etc.), those players come with their share of question marks, and this year’s QB draft class is considered a weak one. As such, Stidham – who still sees himself as a starter-caliber player – could theoretically get a look elsewhere to compete for a QB1 role.
If such an opportunity does not materialize, however, the Broncos may be his best landing spot given his familiarity with the offense and relationship with Nix (who says the Patriots draftee has been a key part of his development). Unsurprisingly, Tomasson believes Wilson — who was not active for any games in 2024 — is unlikely to be retained.
The same goes for running back Javonte Williams. Although the free agent-to-be recently expressed his desire to remain with the Broncos, Tomasson says the 2021 second-rounder will probably not get his wish.
Williams’ performance as a rookie seemed to put him on track to operate as the lead running back for the Broncos over the long term, as his 2021 timeshare with Melvin Gordon appeared to be a temporary arrangement. Unfortunately, the ACL and LCL tears Williams suffered in 2022, which limited him to four games that season, altered his career trajectory.
While the North Carolina alum tallied a career-high 217 carries in 2023, he posted just 3.6 yards per carry, and his efficiency remained a problem in 2024 (3.7 YPC). He also shared the load with 2023 UDFA Jaleel McLaughlin and 2024 fifth-rounder Audric Estime, both of whom remain attached to rookie deals. Williams did offer much more production in the passing game than his younger counterparts (52 catches for 346 yards), but McLaughlin and Estime outperformed him in the running game in terms of per-carry average.
Per Tomasson, the Broncos will seek out a true RB1 in free agency or the draft.
RB Javonte Williams Wants To Re-Sign With Broncos
Javonte Williams’ performance as a rookie seemed to put him on track to operate as the lead running back for the Broncos over the long term. His timeshare with Melvin Gordon appeared to be a temporary arrangement, but the team’s backfield plans were altered once Williams suffered ACL and LCL tears in 2022. 
The former second-rounder was limited to four games in Year 2 as a result of the injury, and questions were raised about his ability to return to his previous form. Expectations remained relatively high based on Williams’ rookie campaign (1,219 scrimmage yards, seven total touchdowns), but in 2023 he did not stand out as hoped. While playing on a Broncos offense which generally lacked efficiency, Williams averaged only 3.6 yards per carry (although he did surpass 1,000 total yards in the process).
Entering the current campaign, the matter of how head coach Sean Payton and the Broncos would approach the backfield setup was a key storyline. Williams found himself in an open competition with the likes of returnees Samaje Perine and Jaleel McLaughlin along with fifth-round rookie Audric Estime and UDFA Blake Watson. In the end, Perine did not survive roster cuts, a development which helped Williams occupy a significant role on Denver’s RB depth chart at times in 2024.
The 24-year-old logged a full 17-game campaign, handling double-digit carries on six occasions. Both McLaughlin and Estime have emerged as regulars in the backfield, though, leaving Williams with his smallest workload to date in a healthy season. Given his status as a pending free agent, his future has remained uncertain over the course of the year.
Williams’ name came up in advance of the trade deadline, but the playoff-bound Broncos elected to keep him in the fold. As Denver’s wild-card matchup approaches, it remains to be seen if Sunday will mark his final game with the team. If Williams has his way, though, he will continue playing in the Mile High City in 2025 and beyond.
“I’d love to be in Denver (next season)” the North Carolina product said (via Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette). I love the coaches. I love the city, my teammates. I love everything about it but I understand it’s a business and however it shakes out I just got to do what I got to do.”
With a yards per attempt average of 3.7, Williams’ 2024 efficiency has left plenty to be desired. That could steer the Broncos toward letting him depart, especially with Estime under team control for three more years and McLaughlin on the books for next season as well. Denver is currently projected to be mid-pack in cap space for the offseason, one in which comparatively few starters (a group led by linebacker Cody Barton) are in need of a new contract. Whenever their season ends, it will be interesting to see if the Broncos match Williams’ desire to work out a new contract.
Trade Rumors: Slayton, Lattimore, Broncos
Rumblings about the Steelers pursuing both Courtland Sutton and Darius Slayton surfaced days before the deadline. While no real traction has come out regarding Sutton — one of the NFL’s 2020s trade-rumor pillars — Slayton is still in play to be moved. The Giants wide receiver indeed came up during a Steelers push that concluded with a Mike Williams addition, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler noting Pittsburgh “took a hard look” at the sixth-year New York pass catcher.
Slayton has shown ability as a deep threat in the Big Apple, helping the Giants after a few of their past WR plans have gone awry. We are in crunch time for Big Blue regarding a trade of either Slayton or Azeez Ojulari, with the deadline looming in less than two hours. Slayton is finishing up a two-year, $12MM deal but is attached to barely $1MM in remaining salary. The Giants keeping Slayton would open the door to a potential compensatory reward if he leaves as a 2025 free agent.
Here is the latest from the trade market:
- The Ravens also explored a trade for Marshon Lattimore, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. The Chiefs and Chargers joined the Commanders in being in on the Pro Bowl cornerback, but a three-pick package sent him to Washington. Baltimore has Marlon Humphrey and used a first-round pick on Nate Wiggins. Pro Football Focus, however, has graded boundary starter Brandon Stephens 95th overall at the position this season. Lattimore, his injury trouble notwithstanding, would have been an upgrade on Stephens in a Humphrey-fronted position group. Both Lattimore and Humphrey entered the NFL as 2017 first-round picks.
- Although the Broncos are likely to see another deadline pass without dealing Sutton, some around the league are wondering about Javonte Williams‘ status. The fourth-year back has not quite looked the same since his ACL and LCL tears in 2022, though he has produced at points for this year’s 5-4 team. Still, execs are wondering about Williams’ trade availability, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano, due to rumors Denver is planning to give rookie Audric Estime a bigger workload. Estime, however, has fumbled twice — despite logging only 15 carries. Williams has also lost two fumbles, and given his form since the injury and Estime being signed through 2027, teams may be touching base with the Broncos about their contract-year RB.
- Rodney McLeod does not want to be part of a Browns exodus. Announcing before the season he intends to retire, McLeod said (via cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot) he does not want to be moved off the 2-7 team’s roster. “I’m riding with this team,” McLeod said. “I’m in the boat. I’m not looking to escape.” The Browns have traded Amari Cooper and Za’Darius Smith and cut Quinton Jefferson. They may well be done for the day, however, with Fowler adding talks about other players have not produced a deal.