Chargers Hosting TE Tyler Conklin
It’s a bit surprising that veteran tight end Tyler Conklin remains unsigned at this point in free agency. The sure-handed 29-year-old has established himself as a dependable, though not electric, tight end over his seven-year career. As the top remaining free agent tight end, Conklin is sure to be receiving some calls in the coming days, but he’ll start with the Chargers, who are hosting him, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. 
Conklin was already one of the top free agent tight ends when free agency opened, along with Juwan Johnson, Zach Ertz, Tommy Tremble, and Austin Hooper. All of Johnson, Ertz, Tremble, and Hooper re-signed with their most recent teams to come off the board, as did Ertz’s teammate John Bates, leaving Conklin alone as the best available tight end.
As a fifth-round pick out of Central Michigan in 2018, it took Conklin a few years to catch on in Minnesota. Coming in as a rookie behind established veteran Kyle Rudolph, Conklin didn’t get much run time, even falling behind Irv Smith Jr. on the depth chart during his sophomore campaign. Rudolph’s departure from the Vikings and a torn meniscus for Smith shoved Conklin into the limelight in the final year of his rookie contract.
That contract year, in which he caught 61 balls for 593 yards and three touchdowns, saw Conklin earn a three-year, $20.25MM deal with the Jets. Conklin’s first two seasons in New York saw him finish as the team’s second-leading receiver behind only Garrett Wilson. In 2024, quarterback Aaron Rodgers utilized his old receivers a bit more, spreading the ball between Wilson, Davante Adams, and Allen Lazard. Conklin (449 yards, four touchdowns) finished fifth on the team in receiving yards, behind those three and running back Breece Hall, and fourth in receiving touchdowns behind Wilson, Adams, and Lazard.
In Los Angeles, the Chargers have their leading tight end, Will Dissly, under contract for another two seasons. Dissly’s two backups from last year, Stone Smartt and Hayden Hurst, both saw their contracts expire this offseason, so Conklin would add some much-needed depth to the position. Neither Dissly nor Conklin are high-volume tight ends, so they may split time together at tight end well in Los Angeles.
The Jets are set to head into 2025 with Jeremy Ruckert and Smartt, signed in free agency from the Chargers, as their top tight ends. It was reported that they had no intention of retaining Conklin, but they’ve since expressed interest in his return. We’ll see where his free agency progresses after his visit to Los Angeles.
Bears, Jets, Titans, Vikings On Rondale Moore Radar
Traded straight up for Desmond Ridder last March, Rondale Moore suffered a season-ending injury that kept him from playing a down as a Falcon. Now out of contract, the former Cardinals slot receiver is generating considerable interest despite his recent setback.
The Vikings brought in the young slot target for a visit last week, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets; that was the first stop on a Moore tour. The Bears then met with the former second-round pick, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, while ESPN’s Field Yates indicates the Jets huddled up with Moore on Tuesday. A Titans-Moore summit is on tap today, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets.
This is a rather interesting market, as Moore went down early during Falcons training camp last year. While that timing did provide an extended rehab period, Moore missing a full season could have diminished him on a market that still includes Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen and Tyler Lockett. Though, the veteran wing of the receiver market does not stand to impact Moore. A slot weapon and gadget presence, the 24-year-old WR is looking to rebound after the Cardinals bailed on him. The Purdue alum did bring some intrigue while in Arizona, as teams are lining up to determine a fit.
At just 5-foot-7, Moore presents limitations but operated as a Cardinals supporting-caster for Kyler Murray (and others) during his rookie contract. Drafted to play in Kliff Kingsbury‘s spread attack, Moore caught 54 passes for 435 yards and a touchdown as a rookie. During a 2022 season in which Murray went down in early December, Moore posted a 41/414/1 line. Current Cardinals OC Drew Petzing used Moore as a runner extensively, and he posted 178 rushing yards (on 28 carries) to go with 40 catches for 352 through the air in 2023. The Cards still used Moore as a trade chip to acquire a passer they eventually cut before Week 1.
Allen has shown interest in returning to the Bears, and they have already added slot option Olamide Zaccheaus in free agency. With Jalen Nailor supplementing Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, Minnesota has a crowded receiving situation as well. The Jets signed Tyler Johnson as a supplementary option, but their receiving corps has questions post-Davante Adams. Moore would not exactly answer them, but he would provide some Garrett Wilson support. The Titans have not re-signed Tyler Boyd, though they did add five-year vet Van Jefferson as a potential Calvin Ridley sidekick.
The Bears also worked out Mecole Hardman previously, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero adds (h/t Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams). Hardman has since signed with the Packers. Chicago GM Ryan Poles was in Kansas City when the Chiefs drafted Hardman in the 2019 second round.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/17/25
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: LS Scott Daly
Detroit Lions
- Re-signed: LB Mitchell Agude
Houston Texans
- Signed: FB Jakob Johnson
- Released: CB Anthony Averett
- Waived: S Brandon Hill (failed physical), WR Kearis Jackson
Indianapolis Colts
- Re-signed: CB David Long Jr.
Las Vegas Raiders
- Re-signed: CB Darnay Holmes
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DL Jonah Williams
New York Jets
- Signed: DT Jay Tufele
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Re-signed: DL Isaiahh Loudermilk
The Raiders are retaining a key rotational cornerback in Darnay Holmes. After spending the first four seasons of his career with the Giants, the former fourth-round pick joined Las Vegas at the end of the 2024 preseason. He ended up getting into 16 games for his new squad, collecting 30 tackles and three passes defended while appearing in about 28 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.
With Nick Caley now installed as Houston’s new offensive coordinator, the former TE/FB coach was obviously going to bring in a player at the position. He landed on a familiar face, as Caley coached Jakob Johnson when the two were together in New England. The veteran fullback has appeared in 70 career games, although he was limited to only three appearances in 2024 while bouncing on and off the Giants’ roster.
Jets Still Interested In Tyler Conklin?
The Jets are interested in re-signing Tyler Conklin, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini, though the veteran tight end is still available after a week of free agency.
Cimini’s report was from the first day of the legal tampering period and also mentioned that Conklin was “one of the more coveted TEs on the market.” Since then, Juwan Johnson re-signed with the Saints, Zach Ertz re-signed with the Commanders, and Evan Engram signed with the Broncos. The Jets, meanwhile, have only added ex-Charger Stone Smartt and saw 2024 backup Kenny Yeboah sign with the Lions.
That leaves Conklin as the best veteran option for the Jets, who have no tight ends with significant experience behind 2022 third-rounder Jeremy Ruckert.
New York has plenty of cap space to accommodate another contract for Conklin, who earned $6.75MM per year on his last deal. The team could be planning to invest in a strong tight end draft class and may not want to make a long-term commitment with the 29-year-old Conklin.
Still, he has been a reliable contributor to an unstable Jets offense over the last three years, making 50 appearances with 43 starts and averaging 3.4 receptions and 32.4 receiving yards per game. He was less productive in the red zone, scoring only seven touchdowns while in New York, but he remains a solid blocker and veteran presence in the locker room.
Jets Sign DT Derrick Nnadi
The Jets have signed former Chiefs defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler was first to report. Kansas City selected Nnadi in the third round of the 2018 draft, and he had spent his entire career with the club, winning three Super Bowl titles along the way.
From his rookie season through 2023, Nnadi primarily operated as a starter, and he also established a reputation for durability. As ESPN’s Rich Cimini notes, the soon-to-be 29-year-old defender has missed only two games due to injury in his seven-year career.
However, he did not hit the open market with much momentum. Nnadi was relegated to a reserve role in 2024 and saw just 221 defensive snaps, which was by far a career-low mark. In that limited sample, he also earned an abysmal 35.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which was even worse than his 40.6 grade in 2023.
The Jets, though, do not necessarily need Nnadi to be a world-beater. The club saw Javon Kinlaw parlay a one-year pillow contract to work as Quinnen Williams‘ primary sidekick on the interior of the defensive line into a three-year, $45MM deal with the Commanders — this despite a mediocre 53.2 PFF grade — and the hope is that Nnadi can provide a similar steady presence at a fraction of the cost.
Although financials have not yet been disclosed, Nnadi’s performance over the past several seasons would suggest New York is not breaking the bank here. As such, the signing will surely not preclude the club from pursuing additional upgrades in the draft, with Cimini classiyfing Nnadi — along with recent adds Byron Cowart and Jay Tufele — as a depth piece (we had not previously written on Tufele’s acquisition).
Phidarian Mathis — a former second-round pick of the Commanders whom the Jets claimed off waivers late in the 2024 campaign — remains in the mix as well. The entire group, of course, will take a backseat to Williams, one of the game’s best interior players who is coming off his third straight Pro Bowl season.
Nnadi has amassed 233 tackles, five sacks, and a forced fumble in his regular season career. He has contributed 38 tackles and a sack in 18 games of postseason work.
Extensions For Jets’ 2022 First-Rounders Not Imminent; Team Unlikely To Explore Early Extension For RB Breece Hall
There are myriad reasons why the Jets have failed to post an above-.500 record since 2015, but the top of their 2022 draft class is not one of them. CB Sauce Gardner (No. 4 overall pick in 2022), WR Garrett Wilson (No. 10), and DE Jermaine Johnson (No. 26) form a talented young foundation that could help lead the club back to playoff contention, and that trio is now extension-eligible for the first time.
Gardner, 24, took a step back last year after earning First Team All-Pro acclaim in each of his first two pro seasons. Still, a player who possesses his youth and talent and who plays a premium position can command a massive second contract, and the Cincinnati product has made clear his desire to sign such a contract with the Jets.
“I want to be part of this for a long time,“ Gardner said back in January. “I want to be part of the change in this organization.“
Wilson, also 24, seemed a bit more reticent about his future with New York, at least partially because of perceived tension with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and competition for targets with 2024 deadline acquisition Davante Adams. However, with the club having released both of the former Packers standouts, it is believed Wilson is more amenable to a long-term relationship with Gang Green (which could be especially true now that he has been reunited with college teammate Justin Fields; ESPN’s Rich Cimini details the close relationship the former Buckeyes enjoy).
Johnson, 26, was limited to just two games in 2024 due to an Achilles tear, though he totaled 7.5 sacks, 25 pressures, and a forced fumble in 2023, his first season as a full-time starter. The Jets are expected to exercise his fifth-year option for 2026, and Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic (subscription required) confirms that the team plans to exercise the option for all three of its 2022 first-rounders (picking up the Gardner and Wilson options is a particularly easy call for new GM Darren Mougey to make).
Naturally, the players themselves want to land lucrative extensions sooner rather than later, while the Jets may not feel as pressured since they can keep all three under club control through 2026 via the fifth-year option and can put the franchise tag on one of them for the 2027 season. On the other hand, as Connor Hughes of SNY.tv observes, locking up a player when they are first eligible sends a positive message to the player and the team as a whole, and it can get a second contract out of the way before markets for certain positions soar even higher.
Hughes believes Mougey is more amenable than his predecessor, Joe Douglas, to entertain an early extension. Douglas was not necessarily adverse to the idea; in order for him to green-light such a deal, though, he wanted certain concessions from the player (lower guarantees, longer contract term, etc.). Mougey may not be as demanding in that regard.
That could spell good news for the Gardner/Wilson/Johnson triumvirate. But Hughes – in a piece that was published before free agency got underway – said no extensions are imminent.
At this year’s scouting combine, in response to a question about whether he would sign off on extensions for Gardner and Wilson, Mougey said, “[t]he to-do list is to keep good young players on the team and add good players, so yeah” (via Cimini).
Cimini observes that Mougey did not set a concrete date for talks to commence, and he also points out that cornerbacks and wide receivers have not generally received new deals prior to their fourth NFL season. That said, recent contracts authorized for players like Patrick Surtain II, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith could indicate the league is changing its modus operandi.
According to Hughes, the negotiations for Gardner are expected to be straightforward. Despite not earning any Pro Bowl or All-Pro accolades for his 2024 work, there is no doubt he will reset the CB market. Wilson will be trickier, because although he is a terrific player, it could be difficult to pinpoint exactly where he falls in the league’s WR hierarchy (and of course he could value himself differently than the Jets do).
None of the writers cited above mention Johnson’s name in connection with an extension in the near future. His Achilles injury certainly muddies the waters a bit, and player and team may prefer to wait to see how he rebounds before engaging in substantive contract talks.
Similarly, Rosenblatt says it is unlikely the Jets pursue an early extension for running back Breece Hall (who, as a 2022 second-rounder, is is not subject to a fifth-year option and is therefore eligible for free agency in 2026). Hall was electric in his rookie season, turning 80 carries into 463 yards (5.8 YPC) and four rushing TDs. ACL and meniscus tears ended that promising showing early, and while he rebounded to play a full 17-game slate in 2023, he was not quite as explosive (though his 4.5 YPC average was still strong).
His efficiency dipped again in 2024, as he posted a 4.2 YPC rate over 209 carries. He continues to be a valuable receiving weapon, as he has notched 133 receptions for 1,074 yards and seven receiving scores over the past two seasons, but the dynamo that took the league by (an admittedly brief) storm in 2022 has not resurfaced.
Two 2024 draftees, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, are under contract through 2027 and could represent the Jets’ long-term future at the RB position.
Jets To Sign WR Tyler Johnson, CB Kris Boyd
The Jets have added some depth on both sides of the ball. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston reported early this morning that the Jets were signing wide receiver Tyler Johnson. Wilson also reported that the team was adding cornerback Kris Boyd.
Johnson made a name for himself as Tom Brady‘s WR4 or WR5 in Tampa Bay. The former fifth-round pick spent two seasons with the Buccaneers, including a 2021 campaign where he hauled in 36 catches for 360 yards. Since getting cut at the end of the 2022 preseason, the wideout has bounced around a bit, spending time with the Texans, Buccaneers (second stint), Raiders, and Rams.
As the Rams dealt with injuries in 2024, Johnson had occasional opportunities to step up. He had a standout Week 1, hauling in five catches for 79 yards. He maintained a role in the offense through the first half of the season, but he saw a massive drop in snaps once Cooper Kupp got settled back into the offense. Johnson finished last season with 26 catches for 291 yards and a score.
There should be some snaps to soak up behind Garrett Wilson in New York, especially if the Jets are able to move on from Allen Lazard. Johnson is joining a depth chart that also includes the likes of Xavier Gipson, Irvin Charles, and Malachi Corley.
Boyd got an extended look on defense in Minnesota, including a 2020 campaign where he started five of 10 appearances while getting into about half of his team’s defensive snaps. Since then, the veteran has settled into more of a special teams role. He emerged as a key special teamer for the Texans in 2024, appearing in 365 ST snaps while finishing the year with eight total tackles.
Vikings Considering Aaron Rodgers Push; Giants Have Submitted Best Offer?
The Aaron Rodgers market has persisted long enough that Russell Wilson is taking visits. Appearing to sit behind his former 2014 NFC championship game opponent the aging QB pecking order, Wilson has attempted to shake things up with Browns and Giants meetings. Wilson is meeting with Big Blue today.
But the Giants have done plenty of work on Rodgers. Linked to the 41-year-old cap casualty for several days, the Giants may also be leading the way in terms of offers. Although the Steelers have also made Rodgers an offer, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini indicated during her Scoop City podcast (h/t Steelers Depot) that New York is believed to have submitted a better offer.
Considering the earnings Rodgers has put together, the Giants offering a bit more probably would not move the needle enough. If the former Packers and Jets starter were to join the Giants, fit would most likely be the top box to check. Money is not believed to be the driver of Rodgers’ delay with the Steelers, so it would stand to reason no Giants offer would be pushing him in either direction. That said, a sizable gap forming between the two teams’ proposals could serve as a tiebreaker of sorts.
The Jets discussed Rodgers with “five or six” teams since the Combine, The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson tweets, but they had previously determined they were moving on. It would appear that Gang Green made a last-ditch attempt to trade Rodgers, but nothing transpired on that front. Rodgers became a post-June 1 release Wednesday, saddling the Jets with $49MM in dead money through 2026. The Jets’ new regime making the call to move on from an all-time QB talent only to see three more teams swoop in is rather interesting, and the wild-card suitor here may be helping drive the delay.
Rodgers was viewed as being intrigued by a Vikings partnership — in what would be an eerily similar move to some late-2000s activity involving the Packers’ previous starting quarterback — but SI.com’s Albert Breer adds that, as of Thursday night, the Vikes were merely considering diving into the Rodgers market. Going a bit further here, Russini notes that the Vikings are “seriously” considering Rodgers, who is giving the NFC North team time to make its decision. That extra piece of information from Russini may do the best to explain this delay; the Vikings appear to be holding up the Steelers and Giants’ QB plans.
In addition to completing the Brett Favre arc, a Rodgers-to-Minnesota storyline would leave the Steelers and Giants scrambling at QB. While the Giants hold the No. 3 overall pick — and likely would still be connected to using it to acquire a QB even if Rodgers signs — the Steelers reside at No. 21. Rodgers choosing Pittsburgh would stand to give him the best chance of finishing the 2025 season as a starter, but he has clearly shown respect for what the Vikings have put together under Kevin O’Connell.
Minnesota has now been connected to Rodgers for nearly a week, with the Steelers being in play a bit longer. Both Sam Darnold and Vikes contingency plan Daniel Jones committed elsewhere. Jones was down to a Minnesota-or-Indianapolis choice; had the late-season Vikings addition chosen to stay in the Twin Cities, we might have a Rodgers answer by now. Jones, however, signed with the Colts to push Anthony Richardson. It will be interesting to see if either the Giants or Steelers blink and go with Wilson, whose free agency is in an interesting position at this point.
While it remains interesting Rodgers has this much sway after a wildly underwhelming Jets tenure, the glaring needs the Giants and Steelers bring partially explains it. One member of this trio will be left without Rodgers or Wilson, providing serious complications about 2025 viability. The Falcons have not let Kirk Cousins out of his contract (yet), and the Browns’ interest in Wilson provides another wrinkle here.
The Vikings are still preparing to give the keys to J.J. McCarthy, but a true entrance into the Rodgers derby would seemingly throw a wrench into the 2024 draftee’s timetable. Minnesota’s confidence in McCarthy would also stand to give Rodgers pause, but for now, he appears genuinely intrigued about see what the team’s sales pitch would be.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/14/25
Friday’s minor NFL moves after a busy week of transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Simi Fehoko
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Keith Taylor
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: G Kendrick Green
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Kenny Yeboah
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: S M.J. Stewart, T Zachary Thomas
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Corey Ballentine
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Del’Shawn Phillips
Los Angeles Rams
- Re-signed: DT Larrell Murchison
Miami Dolphins
- Re-signed: WR Dee Eskridge
New York Giants
- Signed: DT Jeremiah Ledbetter
New York Jets
- Signed: P Austin McNamara
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Kylen Granson, LS Charley Hughlett, LB Patrick Johnson, RB Avery Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-signed: WR Cody White
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: P Jack Browning
Tennessee Titans
- Re-signed: C Corey Levin
Washington Commanders
- Signed ERFA tender: RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Jets Re-Signing RB/KR Kene Nwangwu
It wasn’t long ago that running back Kene Nwangwu was named a second-team All-Pro. Although the 27-year-old only saw two games of action last year with the Jets, New York has made the decision to re-sign the dynamic return man for a second season with the team, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. 
Nwangwu has been a return specialist since getting drafted by the Vikings in the fourth round out of Iowa State in 2021. In his three years with the team, Nwangwu only registered 27 carries for 88 rushing yards and six receptions for 30 receiving yards without registering an offensive touchdown.
Now, that doesn’t mean he’s been held out of the end zone. In those three years in Minnesota, Nwangwu was an immediate threat in the return game. Despite not appearing in the first six games of his rookie season, he racked up 579 yards on only 18 kick returns, including two in which he returned the kick for a touchdown. His 32.2 yards per return would’ve have ranked as the highest in the league that season if he had registered enough returns to qualify for the stat.
The following year, saw a bit of a dip in production for Nwangwu, as his average return yardage dropped to 26.3, but he registered a league-high 35 returns and logged another return touchdown. In 2023, he began the year on injured reserve and averaged a career-low 25.3 yards per return while being held out of the end zone for the first time in his career. Nwangwu was waived in final roster cuts before this past season and was claimed by the Saints the following day. Unfortunately, the day after that, he was waived again with a failed physical designation.
He would sign to the Jets’ practice squad about two weeks later, though not debuting for the team until December. In his first game as a practice squad callup, Nwangwu returned his first kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. He was promoted to the active roster the next day but only played in the next game without recording a stat. He was placed on IR shortly after with a broken hand.
In New York, the Jets return both their leading returners from last year, wide receiver Xavier Gipson and running back Isaiah Davis. Gipson is the team’s exclusive punt returner, with no other player longing a punt return last season, and he led the team with 17 kick returns for 489 yards (28.8 yards per return). Davis logged nine returns for 232 yards (25.8). In Nwangwu’s one game of action, even if you took out his 99-yard return touchdown, he would’ve averaged 29.0 yards per return.
It’s tough to see how exactly the room will play out in 2025. With Davante Adams, and potentially Allen Lazard, departing in free agency, Gipson could end up being more of a factor in the receiving game. Despite only logging 39 yards last year as a receiver, Gipson would be the third-leading returning wide receiver behind Garrett Wilson and Lazard. Davis’ RB3 role won’t likely change much behind Breece Hall and Braelon Allen.
If Nwangwu is healthy, though, he is clearly more effective as a kick returner and could easily be an improvement over Davis, should New York put two men back, consistently. After injury limited the dynamic returner in the past two seasons, Nwangwu will get a chance to prove his worth with the Jets once again.