Minor NFL Transactions: 3/25/26
Here are Wednesday’s minor NFL transactions:
Detroit Lions
- Signed ERFA tender: K Jake Bates
Los Angeles Rams
- Re-signed: RB Ronnie Rivers
Bates just finished his second season as the Lions’ placekicker and as the NFL’s leader in made point after attempts, thanks to a potent Lions offense scoring enough touchdowns to put the league lead within reach. The Arkansas product converted 64 extra point attempts and 54 more this year, though he has missed five in the NFL’s lengthened format.
In field goals, Bates took a bit of a step back in Year 2. Converting 26 of 29 tries last year, Bates more than double his misses in his sophomore campaign, increasing his number of conversions to 27 but on 34 tries. All of those misses have been from distance, though, as Bates has been perfect from inside the 30-yard line (aside from PATs). He’ll get another season to try and earn a big contract with today’s signing.
WR Denzel Boston To Visit Steelers
The Steelers made a notable receiver addition when they acquired and extended former Colt Michael Pittman Jr. on March 9. Despite landing Pittman, the Steelers could also make a significant investment at the position in April’s draft. Washington receiver Denzel Boston, a potential first-round pick, will visit the Steelers in April, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
This will be the second summit between Boston and Pittsburgh, who met at the Combine in February. The 22-year-old has also booked visits with the Browns and 49ers since then. Those teams own firsts near the bottom of the round, as do the Steelers (No. 21). With Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com and Dane Brugler of The Athletic each ranking Boston as the 25th-best prospect in this class, there is a strong possibility he will come off the board in the late first or early second.
In the Steelers’ case, drafting the 6-foot-4, 212-pound Boston would give them a trio of 6-4 receivers atop their depth chart. Boston would join Pittman and D.K. Metcalf to catch passes from a to-be-determined quarterback. Last year’s starter, Aaron Rodgers, remains a free agent, but the Steelers are holding out hope he will continue his career at age 42 in 2026. In the event Rodgers returns, he could work with a vastly improved receiving corps if the Steelers add Boston or another high-end prospect to team with Pittman and Metcalf. Although the Steelers went 10-7 and won the AFC North in 2025, they did so despite a down year from Metcalf and a lackluster group of receivers behind him.
There are concerns over Boston’s speed, especially after he skipped the 40-yard dash at the Combine and his pro day, but he is considered a sure-handed red zone threat. After languishing behind the likes of Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, Ja’Lynn Polk and Germie Bernard in his first two seasons at Washington, Boston took on a much bigger role in the Huskies’ offense in 2024. Over 13 games that year, Boston racked up 63 catches for 834 yards and nine touchdowns. In a 12-game junior season last year, Boston easily led the Huskies in receptions (62), yards (881) and TDs (11) en route to third-team All-Big Ten honors.
RB Najee Harris Visits Seahawks; Raiders Meeting Planned
4:28pm: Harris plans to meet with the Raiders next, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Raiders have an unquestioned starter in 2025 sixth overall pick Ashton Jeanty, but Chris Collier and Dylan Laube are the only other running backs on their roster. Collier and Laube have combined for just 13 NFL carries.
4:04pm: Still recovering from a September 2025 Achilles tear, free agent running back Najee Harris is on the hunt for his next team. The former Steeler and Charger visited the Seahawks on Wednesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network relays.
While it is unclear when Harris will return to full strength, agent Doug Hendrickson posted a video of the 28-year-old “looking great” while running on a treadmill on Monday. Seattle has since become the first known team to show interest in Harris, whose next contract will fall short of the one-year, $5.25MM deal he signed with the Chargers last March. The investment did not work out for Los Angeles, which got just three games, 15 carries and 61 yards from the normally durable and productive Harris.
Before joining the Chargers, Harris spent his first four years in Pittsburgh and did not miss a game. The 2021 first-rounder from Alabama eclipsed 250 carries and 1,000 rushing yards in each of his seasons with the Steelers. With a 3.9 YPC average, Harris wasn’t especially efficient, but he scored 34 touchdowns as a Steeler (28 rushing, six receiving). Aside from a 74-catch rookie campaign, the 6-foot-1, 242-pounder averaged around 35 receptions per year in Pittsburgh.
As the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Seahawks’ roster is light on question marks. However, there is a need at running back, where the Seahawks lost former starter and Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker to the Chiefs in free agency. The Seahawks may also go some portion of next season without new No. 1 RB Zach Charbonnet, who tore his ACL in a divisional-round win over the 49ers. Signing Harris would give them another back recovering from a serious injury. For now, free agent pickup Emanuel Wilson, George Holani and Cam Akers are among Seattle’s healthy backfield options.
Ravens Want To Extend WR Zay Flowers
The NFL’s wide receiver market has exploded in the last few years. Nine players now make more than $30MM per year, topped by Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who officially signed his $42.15 AAV deal with the Seahawks on Wednesday.
The next receiver to cash in might be the player who was drafted two slots after Smith-Njigba in the first round of the 2023 draft: Ravens Pro Bowler Zay Flowers. Picking up the 25-year-old’s fifth-year option – projected by OverTheCap to be $27.3MM – is considered a “formality,” according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, with Baltimore already looking forward to an extension.
Locking Flowers into a long-term deal this offseason offers a number of benefits. First and most obvious is the production, which has ascended in volume and efficiency across each of his first three years in the NFL. In 2025, Flowers ranked seventh in receiving yards, 11th in catches, and 14th in yards per target. His 2.53 yards per route run trailed only Puka Nacua and Smith-Njigba among wide receivers, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Another obvious positive is contract control. As Zrebiec notes, an early extension guarantees that Flowers does not get anywhere near free agency where other teams can lure him away with eye-popping sums of money, as the Raiders did with Tyler Linderbaum this year.
That control also has a significant financial impact. Just look to Kyle Hamilton‘s extension last summer as an example. He received a $25.1MM AAV, but he still had two years remaining on his rookie deal (including his fifth-year option). That resulted in an overall contract of six years and $121.8MM ($20.3MM per year).
Assuming that the Ravens pick up Flowers’ fifth-year option, he will be owed $31.7MM over the next two years. He has not produced at the same level as Smith-Njigba or Ja’Marr Chase, the only two receivers earning $40MM per year, nor Nacua, who will likely join them this year. But a four year extension worth $35MM annually – a top-five mark for the position – would extend Flowers’ deal to $171.7MM over six years (28.6MM per year).
Flowers’ agent and the Ravens’ front office will haggle over the exact numbers, but that estimate illustrates the urgency and upside of agreeing on an extension this year.
WR Carnell Tate Lines Up Five Visits
Having already met with the Browns, Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate has lined up several more visits in advance of the 2026 NFL Draft. Tate said he will meet with the Titans, Saints, Commanders, Giants and Chiefs, per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.
All of the above teams have a need at receiver and are set to pick in the top 10, which is prime territory for Tate. The latest prized Ohio State receiver prospect, the 6-foot-2, 192-pound Tate is poised to follow other recent Buckeyes wideouts like Emeka Egbuka, Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave in coming off the board in the first round.
The Buckeyes’ receiving corps was so strong during Tate’s three-year run on the team that he was never the No. 1 option. When Tate broke in as a freshman in 2023, Harrison and Egbuka were atop the depth chart. Tate caught just 18 passes in 13 games that year. Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith were ahead of Tate in the pecking order in his sophomore season, a national title-winning campaign, but he notched 52 receptions for 733 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games. Closing out his college career last year, Tate played second fiddle to Smith and secured 51 catches for 875 yards and nine scores in 11 games. The sure-handed Tate did not drop a pass in 2025, per Pro Football Focus.
“You watch his route running and his body control, and tell me that’s not Justin Jefferson at LSU,” an NFC area scout told Matt Miller of ESPN.
That’s a lofty comparison, but with Tate considered an elite prospect, the club that drafts him will bank on adding someone capable of making a Jefferson-like impact. If he goes to Tennessee at No. 4, Tate would team with the newly signed Wan’Dale Robinson as the top receivers for second-year quarterback Cam Ward. Tate would pair with another Ohio State product in New Orleans (No. 8; Olave) or Washington (No. 7; Terry McLaurin). If the Giants take Tate at No. 5, it would give them another blue-chip receiver alongside Malik Nabers. As the sixth pick in 2024, Nabers excelled as a rookie, but a torn ACL limited him to four games last season.
Meanwhile, despite investing heavily in the receiver position in recent drafts, the Chiefs arguably lack a No. 1 wideout. 2022 second-rounder Skyy Moore is off the roster; 2023 second-rounder Rashee Rice has been productive when healthy, but he has dealt with injuries and serious off-field issues; and 2024 first-rounder Xavier Worthy was a complementary target in his first two seasons. If the Chiefs choose Tate ninth overall, they would expect the 21-year-old to emerge as Patrick Mahomes‘ first star receiver since they traded Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins in 2022.
Chargers Sign OL Kayode Awosika
The Chargers are continuing to add to their offensive line after struggling to protect Justin Herbert in 2025. Former Lions guard Kayode Awosika is the latest blocker to sign in Los Angeles, per a team announcement.
Awosika appeared in 13 games for Detroit last season with four starts at left guard during Christian Mahogany‘s absence. The five-year veteran played at a replacement level with a 57.9 grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) that ranked 54th out of 87 guards with at least 250 snaps.
Originally an offensive tackle at the University of Buffalo, Awosika signed with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He spent his rookie season one the practice squad with almost a full game of action at right guard in Week 18.
Philadelphia waived Awosika during final roster cuts in 2022. He made his way to Detroit, where a reserve guard role awaited him. Over the next four years, the 27-year-old appeared in 49 games with 11 starts, all at guard, with 25 snaps at tackle.
That versatility will be valued in Los Angeles where the Chargers are rebuilding their offensive line after a rough 2025 season. Offensive tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are recovering from season-ending surgeries with the expectation of playing in 2026. But, as general manager Joe Hortiz knows from his time in Baltimore with Ronnie Stanley, speedy returns to elite form is not an easy feat at one of the game’s toughest position. As a result, re-signed offensive linemen Trevor Penning and Trey Pipkins could be needed at tackle, leaving them unavailable to start or back up the guard spots. Awosika filled that role in Detroit for the last four years and should be able to continue in Los Angeles under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
Commanders To Host Miami CB Keionte Scott For 30 Visit
The Commanders entered the 2025 offseason with a major need in cornerback. Most of the top available free agents have already found new homes, so Washington will likely need to target the position in the draft.
LSU All-American Mansoor Delane has flown up draft boards after a standout 2025 season and a blazing 4.35-second 40-yard dash at his Pro Day (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). He could be an option for the Commanders’ first-round pick (No. 7 overall), but Washington could also wait until Day 2 to address the cornerback position.
In that case, Miami’s Keionte Scott could be a prospect to watch. The Commanders are set to host the 5-foot-11 cornerback on a 30 visit, per Ryan Fowler of Commanding the Huddle. The team does not have a second-round pick this year as a result of the Laremy Tunsil trade, but they could use their third-rounder (No. 70 overall) on Scott to add a plug-and-play slot cornerback to their depleted secondary.
Injuries impacted the unit last year, resulting in four players taking more than 400 snaps on the boundary, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required): Mike Sainristil, Marshon Lattimore, Trey Amos, and Jonathan Jones. Sainristil also led the team in slot snaps with Noah Igbinoghene serving as the No. 2 nickel.
Of that group, only Sainristil and Amos remain. The Commanders signed Amik Robertson in free agency, so Sainristil could take up nickel duties again. Alternatively, they could draft Scott, an electric athlete who showcased his speed and explosiveness at Miami’s Pro Day on Monday. He posted a sub-4.4-second 40-yard dash (via NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe) and brings good length (31.375-inch arms) to the cornerback position despite his below-average height.
Scott broke out in 2025 with a 89.6 grade, the 10th-highest among college cornerbacks, according to PFF, and capped his season off with a defensive MVP performance in the Fiesta Bowl. He posted five sacks, 13 tackles for loss, five passes defended, and two interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns (an FBS-high). He primarily played in the slot in Miami, where his short area burst and physical play can impact offenses in a variety of ways. Scott’s is an older prospect – he will be 25 by the start of his rookie year – but that also brings maturity and leadership. He needs to improve his technique and anticipation, no small concerns given his age and experience, but he has all of the pieces to be an impactful nickel in the NFL.
Dolphins To Sign LB Ronnie Harrison
The Dolphins are signing Ronnie Harrison to a one-year deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, bringing the veteran linebacker to his fourth NFL team in the last five seasons and fifth in his eight-year career.
Harrison, 28, played for the Falcons in 2025, appearing in 10 games with four starts and 277 defensive snaps, 40% of the team’s total. He also played 181 snaps on special teams, the second-most involvement of his career behind 197 snaps in 2024. The 6-foot-3 linebacker held up in coverage but had the worst tackling season of his career with a 17.1% missed tackle rate.
Harrison should have an opportunity to carve out a rotational role in the Dolphins defense, especially with his previous experience as a safety. The team has Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson as their starting linebackers, but their No. 3 is unclear after K.J. Britt signed with the Patriots in free agency. Former Chiefs and Saints starter Willie Gay was active for every game last year, but he was only trusted with 131 snaps on defense with an almost-equal amount of time on special teams.
Miami has questions at safety, too, with their top three contributors from 2025 no longer on the roster. Minkah Fitzpatrick was traded to the Jets, and Ashtyn Davis and Ifeatu Melifonwu both hit free agency. Harrison has 908 career snaps at safety, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), more than any Dolphins safety outside of recent signing Lonnie Johnson.
Originally a Jaguars third-round pick in 2018, Harrison started 22 games across his first two years in Jacksonville before he was traded to the Browns. After three years and 23 starts in Cleveland, he spent most of the 2024 season on the Colts’ practice squad before arriving in Atlanta the following year.
Lions Sign G Ben Bartch
Not long after hosting Ben Bartch on a visit, the Lions have a deal in place. The veteran guard signed with Detroit on Wednesday, according to a team announcement.
Bartch comes over from San Francisco, where he began last season as a Week 1 starter. Injuries sidetracked Bartch last season, and he joins a Lions team returning two guard starters. But the six-year veteran has 24 career starts and represents an interesting interior swingman behind Tate Ratledge and Christian Mahogany.
This marks a third notable interior O-line investment from the Lions in free agency. The team signed ex-Panthers center Cade Mays and added former Texans starter/swingman Juice Scruggs in the David Montgomery trade. Scruggs and Bartch could profile as higher-end depth for a team that dealt with injuries along the interior following Frank Ragnow‘s retirement (and failed unretirement).
Bartch won the 49ers’ left guard job out of training camp, lining up alongside Trent Williams to open last season. A high ankle sprain sustained in Week 2 ended the ex-Jaguar’s run in Kyle Shanahan‘s lineup. Although the 49ers used an IR activation on Bartch, he did not start another game upon returning. A foot sprain then sent the former fourth-round pick back to IR and ended his season.
Spending the previous two 49ers seasons as a backup, Bartch earned a promotion after the team let three-season LG starter Aaron Banks walk (to the Packers) in free agency. The 49ers initially signed Bartch off the Jaguars’ practice squad in November 2023. He made two starts in 2024 but missed time because of a high ankle sprain that season as well. The Jags used Bartch as a 16-game starter from 2021-22, but a dislocated knee blunted his momentum five games into the ’22 season. Jacksonville then acquired replacement Ezra Cleveland at that year’s trade deadline.
Pro Football Focus has graded Bartch well in each of the past two years, but he did not play enough to qualify as a regular in either campaign. PFF nevertheless slotted Bartch inside the top 20 at the position during a 200-snap 2025 slate. He did not grade as well with the Jaguars as a full-timer, ranking 52nd at the position in 2021 — his only season with more than five starts. The Lions will provide another opportunity for the seventh-year vet, who will attempt to bounce back from his latest injury-altered season.
DT Kayden McDonald Books Several Pre-Draft Visits
We are now in “30” visit season, and this year’s draft runup will feature a host of Ohio State products making such travel plans. Next month’s event could see four Buckeyes — Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs and Carnell Tate — go in the top 10. Another of the Big Ten power’s recent standouts is on the first-round radar as well.
Several teams are set to determine Kayden McDonald‘s draft stock, with the defensive tackle indicating (via SI.com’s Justin Melo) the Bears, Bengals, Commanders, Dolphins, Patriots, Raiders, Ravens and Texans have scheduled visits.
Like in free agency, this draft is not viewed as particularly strong at the position. The dearth of FA options led to a John Franklin-Myers Titans windfall. This draft’s hierarchy at the position is still taking shape, but as it stands, Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board does not include a DT among its top 32 prospects. A few sit just outside that range, however, with McDonald (39th) joining Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter (34), Clemson’s Peter Woods (35) and Florida’s Caleb Banks (36) among those vying to be the first player at the position to come off the board.
A first-team All-American in 2025, McDonald broke through in his junior Buckeyes season by making nine tackles for loss and registering three sacks. Profiling as a power rusher and run-stuffing presence, the disruptive D-lineman weighed 326 pounds at the Combine. He will be of interest to many teams who did not see a deep pool emerge at the position in free agency.
McDonald only has one season featuring notable production, with his 2024 slate — as the Buckeyes stormed to a national championship — only including 1.5 TFLs and no sacks. The bulk of the teams who have scheduled meetings with McDonald use a 4-3 scheme; Ohio State primarily used a 4-2-5 setup during McDonald’s three-year run. Field Yates’ latest NFL mock draft sends McDonald to the Raiders, who will continue using a 3-4 alignment in base sets, at No. 36.
Although the past four drafts have seen a DT go off the board in the top 16, the 2021 class did not bring a first-round investment at the position. It will be interesting to see how teams view this crop, one that may not see a top-20 pick this year.