Micah Parsons Confirms Informal Extension Agreement With Jerry Jones; Cowboys DE Participating In Minicamp

The Micah Parsons extension situation remains one to watch regarding the Cowboys and their top defensive player. No deal is officially in place yet, but team and player have held extensive talks this offseason (albeit not recently).

That communication includes discussions which were reported in April by DLLS’ Clarence Hill Jr. At that point, it was reported the framework of an agreement was in place between Parsons and owner Jerry Jones with the final details left to be ironed out. While that report has been called into question, Jones has since confirmed that the parties spoke early in the spring and further corroboration has emerged regarding that initial arrangement.

Parsons confirmed to Hill today that while no firm agreement has been reached, he and Jones had a productive face-to-face encounter. The two-time All-Pro gave the longtime Dallas owner a price point for an extension, and Jones responded that it was “doable.” It is unclear what Parsons’ proposal was valued at, but Hill’s original report stated an offer was made which would make the 26-year-old the league’s top earner for edge rushers.

Crucially, communication with Parsons’ representation has proven to be sparse over the course of the offseason. Hill notes Jones has still yet to speak with agent David Mulugheta to finalize the extension which was agreed to (at least in principle) months ago. Jones drew criticism with his remarks in April that he was not concerned about Parsons’ agent and did not know his name.

In the time since early April, COO Stephen Jones has noted a gap remaining between team and player in negotiations (something which is certainly eyebrow-raising given the financial arrangement already agreed to during the summit between Parsons and Jerry Jones). Garrett currently leads the EDGE market at $40MM annually, and T.J. Watt (Steelers) and Trey Hendrickson (Bengals) are among the veterans who could land a deal at least near that mark later this offseason.

Parsons is joined by former Lions No. 2 pick Aidan Hutchinson as a prominent pass rusher eligible for a second – rather than third – contract. His age (26) could lead to a more lucrative deal than Garrett’s, something which would of course have notable cap implications given last year’s Cowboys commitments to quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb. Parsons was absent from voluntary practices this spring, but in an encouraging sign from a contract standpoint he did not join the likes of Watt and Hendrickson by skipping mandatory minicamp.

At times, players angling for an extension have adopted a hold-in stance by attending mandatory practices without taking the field. Parsons is participating in drills, however, as noted by The Athletic’s Jon Machota. It will be interesting to see that decision is followed by a new round of talks with the front office or if the wait will continue for a deal to be finalized.

Dolphins, Rams Not Showing Jaire Alexander Interest; Latest On CB’s Free Agency

Several teams have reached out to Jaire Alexander‘s camp since he became a free agent; the Bills negotiated with the Packers on a potential trade. But the former Pro Bowler remains unattached. A one-year deal should be considered likely.

Not high on a Packers pay-cut offer, Alexander elected to try his luck in what amounts to an audition season. That should be considered Alexander’s most likely play, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who predicts a one-year contract that will — should the veteran cornerback shake his injury issues — open the door to a bigger payday as a 2026 free agent.

[RELATED: Dolphins Excuse Jalen Ramsey From Minicamp]

While Schefter does not envision Alexander collecting as much as he would have made on a reduced Packers deal, an opportunity should come soon. Teams are understandably leery of Alexander’s injury past; the former first-round pick has missed 20 games over the past two years and 33 over the past four. Expecting much on a one-year accord is probably unrealistic for the seven-year veteran, but a starting opportunity to serve as a potential platform to a 2026 free agency bid should certainly be expected.

The Dolphins have a rather notable need at corner, as they are prepared for a Jalen Ramsey separation, but the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson indicates they did not touch base with the Packers on Alexander. Miami is also not believed to have contacted Alexander since his release. While the Dolphins have been connected to cornersRasul Douglas, Asante Samuel Jr, James Bradberry — due to Ramsey’s eventual exit gutting them at that spot, they may not be ready to bet on another high-maintenance cover man. Their Ramsey trade did not work out, and it will lead to sizable dead money if/once he is traded. Alexander has been less dependable than Ramsey, though the seven-year Packer is the new top corner available as a free agent.

The Rams continue to come up as a Ramsey destination, but Sean McVay sounded considerably more hesitant on Alexander. Los Angeles has not made an outside CB addition this offseason, passing on additions in the draft and the UDFA ranks. Two 30-something CBs (Darious Williams, Ahkello Witherspoon) are already on the Rams’ roster, but it sure sounds like they are comfortable reacquiring Ramsey, who will play an age-31 season in 2025. Alexander turned 28 in February.

There are so many layers to the Jalen conversation,” McVay said. “Obviously, with Jaire, a lot of respect for him as a player, haven’t talked about those types of things. This will really represent our last OTA day, so we’ve kind of just been focused on our group. Les [Snead] and I have had some dialogue and discussions as it relates to the Jalen thing, but there’s really no news to report on. And with Jaire, nothing but respect for the player but I don’t know if that’s a direction that we would go.”

Ex-McVay staffer Ejiro Evero is running a third Panthers defense, and while The Athletic’s Joe Person notes Carolina will do due diligence on Alexander, nothing appears imminent there. The Panthers extended Jaycee Horn and re-signed Michael Jackson this offseason.

The team did not draft a corner, but Jackson — a 2024 trade pickup who started 17 games (albeit for the league’s 32nd-ranked defense) last season — signed a two-year, $10.5MM deal to stay alongside Horn. Alexander is a Charlotte native who would be expected to usurp Jackson were the Panthers to pursue him.

Cam Akers, Shane Lemieux Participating At Saints’ Minicamp

The rare player to be traded to the same team twice, Cam Akers has not re-signed with the Vikings. The veteran running back, who has returned from two Achilles tears, remains a free agent. But he has secured an extended audition.

Teams can bring free agents to minicamp, and NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill notes the Saints are observing Akers at theirs this week. The former Rams second-round pick spent time with the Texans and Vikings last year. Shane Lemieux joins him at Kellen Moore‘s first Saints minicamp, per NewOrleans.football’s Mike Triplett. Lemieux played for the Saints in 2024.

Not only has Akers gone to Minnesota twice via trade, he has done so in-season in consecutive years. The Rams ended a decaying partnership by sending Akers to the Vikings, where he reunited with ex-Los Angeles OC Kevin O’Connell, in September 2023. As the Vikings were aiming to upgrade on Ty Chandler behind Aaron Jones, they landed Akers from the Texans in a mid-October pick swap. Akers, 26 this month, has not been closely connected to a team since his one-year, $1.18MM Houston-designed deal expired.

Despite suffering an Achilles tear during his first Vikings season, Akers impressed in the building and returned to play 17 games between his Houston and Minnesota stays in 2024. He gained 444 rushing yards (4.3 per carry), filling in for Joe Mixon as a Texans starter and becoming Jones’ top backup following the trade. Akers also overcame a 2021 Achilles tear, returning in Week 18 of the Rams’ 2021 Super Bowl-winning season despite going down in late July. Akers was ineffective upon return, however, and he later fell out of favor in L.A.

The Saints have Kendre Miller still positioned as Alvin Kamara‘s top backup, though the team did keep Clyde Edwards-Helaire on a futures deal before drafting Devin Neal in Round 6. Akers is nevertheless auditioning, as the Saints have been unable to find a reliable Kamara backup for a while. They released Jamaal Williams after an unproductive two-year stay and have not seen Miller stay healthy during that span.

Lemieux battled back from extensive injury trouble in New York, but injuries have crushed his earning power. Formerly a Giants starter as a rookie in 2020, Lemieux missed 32 games over the next two seasons. He then played only four games in 2023, leading to only a practice squad accord with the Saints. New Orleans brought him up from the P-squad in October and later used him as a four-game starter, but another IR stint did commence. Lemieux, 28, will attempt to impress the Saints’ new staff this week.

Bolts Offered J.K. Dobbins Deal To Return

It took nearly three months in free agency for J.K. Dobbins to find a home, but he has since committed to relocate from Los Angeles. The Broncos have announced their signing, as the veteran running back is now on a one-year, $2.75MM contract.

Dobbins’ Denver visit last week came as he was technically still tied to the Chargers, who slapped the rarely used UFA tender on their primary 2024 starting running back. That now only pertains to a potential 2026 compensatory pick, as both the teams that used the UFA tender this year (along with the Browns’ Elijah Moore move) have seen the players move on. But Dobbins did loom larger on the Bolts’ radar screen earlier this offseason.

Before the Chargers’ Najee Harris signing, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer indicates the team had extended an offer to Dobbins to stay. Dobbins had outplayed the $1.61MM deal he signed, leapfrogging ex-Ravens teammate Gus Edwards — who was attached to a slightly higher-priced contract (two years, $6.5MM) — to start for an eventual playoff team. He came up as a player the Chargers had designs on keeping, but an extensive medical sheet continued to give teams pause in free agency.

Dobbins rushed for a career-high 905 yards last season, doing so despite missing more time due to injury. Dobbins’ IR stint, due to an MCL sprain, only covered the four-game minimum. This certainly helped him secure a raise from the Broncos, even if significant injury concerns remain due to the former second-rounder’s Baltimore stay.

While Dobbins narrowly edged Nick Chubb‘s $2.5MM Texans contract, it is worth wondering if the 26-year-old RB would have made more had he simply agreed to stay in L.A. The Bolts made a “pretty decent” proposal to re-sign Dobbins, per Breer. Considering they gave Harris $5.25MM in base value, it can reasonably be expected Dobbins passed on an offer worth more than what he will make in Denver. Though, it is not known if his $2.5MM incentive package features reasonable goals.

The Chargers included $4.25MM worth of incentives in Harris’ deal, and Dobbins’ injury past (47 missed games) pointed to the Bolts proposing an incentive-laden contract to him as well. The Chargers also carried considerable familiarity with Dobbins, due to GM Joe Hortiz having been hired from the Ravens (and Jim Harbaugh being rather close to the Baltimore HC). But they soon made a substantial commitment to heading in a different direction by drafting Omarion Hampton in Round 1.

Regularly mocked to the Broncos at No. 20, Hampton instead slipped down two spots and becomes the Bolts’ long-term option. He and Harris represent safer bets compared to what the Broncos have assembled, investment-wise at least, as the 2021 first-rounder has missed zero games in Pittsburgh while Hampton checked in as the clear second-best RB prospect in this year’s class. The Chargers have not been shy about first-round RB investments this century, having chosen three (LaDainian Tomlinson, Ryan Mathews, Melvin Gordon), and a team that has become more run-centric will turn to Hampton alongside Harris this season.

Denver will bet on Dobbins helping keep second-round pick R.J. Harvey — a player not viewed as a consensus second-round talent — fresh, as Sean Payton has enjoyed success with this type of committee in New Orleans. But the Broncos will need to factor Dobbins’ knee trouble into their roster calculous this summer.

Vikings’ Christian Darrisaw Returns To Practice, Awaiting Full Clearance

The Vikings’ decision to let Cam Robinson walk (to the Texans) in free agency, as the NFC North team made its own offensive line overhaul, provided a clear indication the player the trade acquisition replaced would be ready to return by Week 1. It continues to head in that direction for Christian Darrisaw.

The recently extended left tackle returned to practice for the Vikings as they began their minicamp. The team confirmed Darrisaw is doing individual drills less than eight months after he suffered a season-ending knee injury.

ACL and MCL tears shut down Darrisaw last year, and considering those occurred in Week 8, it certainly represents a promising sign the fifth-year veteran is working out with teammates in any capacity by minicamp.

This return does not yet include 11-on-11 work, with ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert noting full clearance is not expected in the near future. A stay on the training camp active/PUP list, then, could be reasonable expected as Minnesota’s top O-lineman prepares to return. Kevin O’Connell, however, said weeks ago Darrisaw has not endured any setbacks during his rehab journey. That bodes well for the Vikings having their LT starter back as the team both breaks in J.J. McCarthy and a new batch of interior O-linemen.

Not exactly pleased with how their O-line performed on the biggest stages late last season, the Vikings will roll out a new interior trio pieced together during free agency and the draft. Ex-Colts Will Fries and Ryan Kelly are coming into start, while the Vikes added guard Donovan Jackson in the first round. As for Darrisaw insurance, the team signed Justin Skule as a swingman. Skule, who is on a one-year deal worth $2MM, worked as Minnesota’s first-string LT during team drills at minicamp.

Darrisaw scored a four-year, $104MM deal last summer, inking his lucrative second contract weeks after Justin Jefferson signed his. This duo will be vital as McCarthy aims to prove Vikings brass right in its quest for a long-term post-Kirk Cousins option. The Vikings going from a 14-3 team to one unveiling an unseasoned QB and a left tackle recovering from a major knee injury does place a speedbump on the way to the season, but thus far, Darrisaw keeps hitting the desired checkpoints. Having him in place opposite longtime RT Brian O’Neill will give McCarthy a favorable setup, as O’Connell is now the reigning Coach of the Year, as he begins his QB1 run.

Commanders To Extend DB Jeremy Reaves

Jeremy Reaves‘ Commanders tenure is now set to extend beyond this season. The veteran defensive back/special-teamer agreed to terms on a deal that keeps him tied to the team through 2026, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports.

Washington signed off on a one-year add-on for Reaves, who has worked as a key special teams presence during his seven-season stretch with the team. Reaves, 28, has a first-team All-Pro nod on his resume for ST contributions and will remain a central part of this equation under the Adam Peters-Dan Quinn regime.

Acquired during the Bruce Allen-Jay Gruden years, Reaves has remained in his role through the Ron Rivera period and into Peters’ GM run. Peters has overhauled the Commanders’ roster to the point Reaves is the team’s second-longest-tenured player — behind only punter Tress Way, who has been with the team since 2014.

A 2018 UDFA, Reaves has made 11 career starts. None have come over the past two seasons, as the veteran safety has settled into his role as a pure special-teamer. Reaves has played only four defensive snaps since 2023, having logged 70% and 68% ST snap rates in those years. He reached an 81% rate in 2022, collecting first-team All-Pro honors for his work in the niche role. The South Alabama alum also notched a forced fumble during Washington’s narrow wild-card loss to Tampa Bay in 2020.

Helping the Commanders to an unexpected playoff berth last season, Reaves made 20 tackles in his seventh Washington slate. He had been tied to a two-year, $6MM deal. Peters signed off on that contract weeks into his GM tenure. By agreeing to new terms already, the second-year Commanders exec certainly appears to like the Allen-era acquisition’s fit on the rejuvenated team.

Aaron Rodgers’ Full Steelers Contract Details Revealed

Aaron Rodgers finally put pen to paper in Pittsburgh last week, signing a one-year deal for the lowest APY of his career since his rookie contract 20 years ago.

Rodgers’ pact with the Steelers has a base value of $13.65MM, comprised of a $3.65MM salary and a $10MM signing bonus that represents all of his guaranteed money, per OverTheCap. With incentives, he can reach $19.5MM, though he and the Steelers will have to reach some significant benchmarks to realize that maximum value.

The $5.85MM of incentives in Rodgers’ contract are all predicated on the 41-year-old quarterback playing at least 70% of the Steelers’ offensive snaps, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, a mark he easily eclipsed last year in New York. However, he cannot earn any extra money based on playtime alone, as the incentives are largely dependent on Pittsburgh’s performance in 2025.

Rodgers will earn $500K if the Steelers qualify for the postseason. That’s his only incentive that is considered ‘Likely To Be Earned’ as Pittsburgh made the playoffs last year and Rodgers played 97% of the Jets’ offensive snaps. LTBE incentives have to be accounted for on the salary cap, so Rodgers’ 2025 cap hit will be $14.15MM.

Neither Rodgers nor the Steelers fulfilled the rest of his incentives in 2024, so they are all considered ‘Not Likely To Be Earned’ and therefore do not count against the 2025 cap. He can receive an additional $600K if the Steelers advance to the second round of the playoffs via either a wild-card win or a first-round bye, and another $750K is available for a win in the divisional round. Rodgers can then earn $1MM for advancing to the Super Bowl and $1.5MM for a Super Bowl victory, though all of his playoff incentives require him to play at least 50% of each game’s snaps.

Rodgers will also receive $1.5MM if he wins a fifth MVP award that would tie him for the all-time lead with Peyton Manning. Since no NFL player has won MVP without making the playoffs in more than 50 years, Rodgers would likely earn upwards of $2MM if he manages to take home the hardware.

The Steelers have been a playoff mainstay under Mike Tomlin, and Rodgers is likely their best starting quarterback in years. However, Pittsburgh hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016, making it no certainty that Rodgers can reach the maximum value of his contract.

Za’Darius Smith Wants To Return To Lions

Za’Darius Smith only played in Detroit for two months last season, but he quickly bought into Dan Campbell‘s culture and is seeking a return to the Lions in 2025.

“We both know where I want to be,” said Smith at the BET Awards on Monday (via USA Today’s Tyler Dragon). “Hopefully I can get back to Detroit because the coaching staff and everybody in the front office are great.”

The Lions were in desperate need of pass-rushing help at last year’s trade deadline after injuries to Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill, so they sent a pair of Day 3 picks to Cleveland for Smith, who started the season with 5.0 sacks in nine games. The 10-year veteran posted 4.0 sacks across his nine games in Detroit and was released in March.

The two sides remained in touch through the first few waves of free agency signings, but by mid-April, Lions general manager Brad Holmes indicated that communication had ceased. The team re-signed veteran edge rushers Marcus Davenport and Al-Quadin Muhammad, but neither has been as productive in Smith in recent years. He has logged 9.0 sacks in each of the last two seasons, more than any Lion outside of Hutchinson.

Smith has been durable, too. He’s started at least 16 games in each of the last three seasons and five of the last six, and in 2024, he had a snap share over 50% in 14 of his 17 appearances. Accordingly, the 32-year-old believes his age is more of an asset than a liability.

“When I’m there I feel like a leader and like I can influence the young guys and do great things,” continued Smith before repeating, “Hopefully I can get back to where I want to be in Detroit.” 

Smith also made it clear that he is focused on winning a Super Bowl before he retires. Returning to the Lions could be a way to accomplish that, but money could be a barrier after a strong market for edge rushers this offseason. Smith might have to accept a team-friendly deal to land in his desired destination in 2025.

Broncos To Sign RB J.K. Dobbins

10:05pm: Chubb’s terms do resemble Dobbins’, as Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports the sixth-year back will join the Broncos for $2.75MM in base value. The contract can max out at $5.25MM through incentives. The incentives will be tied to yards from scrimmage, Florio adds. Rushing yards also factor into the incentive package, per 9News’ Mike Klis.

2:37pm: J.K. Dobbins left his Denver visit without a contract, but the sides circled back to such business. The 2024 Chargers starter is indeed committing to the Broncos, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports.

Dobbins agreed on a one-year deal to join the team, which will be his third in three seasons. This will be a notable change for Denver, which used a second-round pick on R.J. Harvey in the draft. Dobbins’ signing comes a day after the Texans gave Nick Chubb a $2.5MM deal; it will be interesting to see if Dobbins’ Broncos terms are similar.

The Chargers had placed a UFA tender on Dobbins in May, but like Elijah Moore, such a move will not lead to a return. The Bolts had made other plans this offseason, signing Najee Harris and using a first-round pick on Omarion Hampton.

Tuesday’s signing could mark a significant change for the team, which lost primary 2024 starter Javonte Williams in free agency. That said, Denver still employs rookie-contract holdovers in Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime. The latter’s path to a notable role may well become blocked by Dobbins, who delivered a bounce-back season in Los Angeles following an injury-plagued Baltimore stay. Dobbins would stand to pair with Harvey, offering a seasoned early-downs option to go with the team’s No. 60 overall choice.

Sean Payton, who confirmed Tuesday (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) the team was close to signing Dobbins, had said the Broncos viewed Harvey as a three-down back. It would not seem the team has changed its stance so soon on the Central Florida product, as shoulder pads do not come on until early in training camp, but it does appear the Broncos may not be ready to give the prospect a three-down role from the start. Dobbins represents high-end insurance, and a committee would seem likely based on this agreement.

Denver used a committee approach last season, primarily giving time to Williams and McLaughlin. The latter is a third-year UDFA who has operated as a change-of-pace option and pass-game weapon. Dobbins’ signing would not stand to affect McLaughlin’s aerial role, but Harvey’s arrival certainly could. One season remains on McLaughlin’s rookie contract; three are left on Estime’s. The Broncos used a fifth-round pick to bring in Estime out of Notre Dame, but an early-season injury and fumbling issues plagued his rookie year. Not much of an outlet option for Bo Nix, Estime looks to have seen his stock fall during the Broncos’ offseason program.

Dobbins, 26, finished second in Comeback Player of the Year voting — behind Joe Burrow — last season. Given a one-year, $1.61MM deal that included just $50K guaranteed, the former Ravens second-rounder overtook the higher-paid Gus Edwards to become the Bolts’ starter. Dobbins averaged 4.6 yards per carry, accumulating 905 to help the Chargers to the playoffs. Jim Harbaugh used a more run-focused offense last season, and Dobbins also managed to shake off another injury — a midseason MCL sprain — to return and help a late-season charge to the wild-card round.

Next Gen Stats’ rush yards over expected metric placed Dobbins 12th last season (115); Williams (minus-83) landed near the bottom of that chart. Williams has not been the same since a 2022 injury, ACL and LCL tears, but the Broncos will now turn to a player with a more significant medical sheet. Dobbins has missed 46 games since suffering a late-summer ACL tear in 2021. That injury cost him nine games in 2022, which required an IR stint after he had returned, and an Achilles tear cost the Ohio State product 16 games in 2023.

Payton regularly relied on backfield committees in New Orleans, as Pierre Thomas and Mark Ingram respectively gave way to flashier options in Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara. Dobbins-Harvey appears the veteran HC’s next top duo, as the Broncos ranked 16th in rushing yards last season. Nix contributed 430 to the team’s cause; he will now have more help on the ground.

Injuries have crushed Dobbins’ NFL earning potential, but his Chargers reemergence will present an opportunity — via this Broncos commitment — at building up more value during his mid-20s.

Commanders WR Terry McLaurin Skipping Minicamp

The Commanders are not close to an extension agreement with Terry McLaurin. Tuesday has brought about the latest illustration of that point.

With McLaurin having already departed voluntary practices this spring, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports he is now absent from mandatory minicamp. That represents a repeat of how things played out in 2022 when the Pro Bowl wideout skipped both OTAs and minicamp before ultimately working out an extension. A third contract has long been known to be a team priority, but plenty of work still needs to be done at the negotiating table.

McLaurin is currently owed a $15.5MM base salary for 2025, the final year of his deal. A raise bringing him closer to the top of the receiver market would increase his upfront earnings while also likely lowering his $25.5MM cap charge. The 29-year-old is electing not to collect a $500K workout bonus by choosing to remain absent from minicamp, something which will create over $104K in fines if he remains absent for all three days.

Throughout his six-year tenure in the nation’s capital, McLaurin has been a focal point on offense. The former third-rounder nearly reached 1,000 yards as a rookie, and he has topped that mark every time since. In 2024 – quarterback Jayden Daniels‘ rookie campaign – he caught 13 touchdown passes after his previous career high was seven. Keeping the Daniels-McLaurin tandem in place for years to come would represent a logical goal for the Commanders.

It has become increasingly clear recently that an agreement is not close in this situation, however. After remaining away from the team during his first round of extension talks, McLaurin wound up signing a three-year deal with an average annual value of $23.2MM. That figure now ranks 16th amongst receivers, and the position’s market has also seen a notable jump in terms of guarantees. A McLaurin raise will no doubt entail a fresh round of locked in compensation, but questions will now linger until at least the start of training camp regarding when it will be finalized.

Washington made a notable receiver addition by trading for Deebo Samuel this offseason. The former 49ers All-Pro reworked his deal upon arrival, but he is still a pending 2026 free agent. The same will hold true of McLaurin until progress is made on the extension front.