Vikings, Jonathan Allen Agree To Deal
Jonathan Allen‘s Monday visit with the Vikings has produced a deal in short order. The Pro Bowl defensive lineman has agreed to terms on a three-year, $60MM contract, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
Allen spent the first eight seasons of his career in Washington, but he emerged as a potential cap casualty this offseason. The Commanders looked to work out a trade, but nothing materialized on that front. His release allowed the 30-year-old to explore a deal prior to the start of the negotiating period, and that slight head start has now produced a pact. The deal is official, per a team announcement.
The Vikings have placed a heavy emphasis on adding at the line of scrimmage this week, including deals for center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries. The team also plans to sign defensive tackle Javon Hargrave once his 49ers release is processed. Allen will join the latter in forming an experienced tandem along the defensive interior next season.
Allen was limited to five games as a rookie, but after that the former first-rounder enjoyed a lengthy run of durability. That stretch ended in 2024 due to a triceps tear, one which he was able to recover from in time for the Commanders’ run to the NFC title game. Injury concerns are clearly not an issue for the Vikings, as they have authorized a $20MM-per-year deal. 16 other players at the position are attached to a contract averaging at least that much on an annual basis, a sign of the DT market’s upward movement in recent years.
Minnesota ranked second against the run in 2024, and expectations will be high for the team to duplicate that success with a new-look defensive front next season. Allen (who has averaged 63 tackles and roughly 6.5 sacks per season in his career) will play a large role up front as he looks to find success during the second chapter of his NFL tenure.
Steelers Moving Close To Deal With Aaron Rodgers?
PFR’s poll pointing to a potential Aaron Rodgers-Steelers fit did not draw a high vote count back in December, but it is starting to look like this could happen. A Rodgers deal with Pittsburgh may be close.
The Steelers could have a deal in place with Rodgers as soon as Tuesday, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports. The future first-ballot Hall of Fame became connected to the Steelers recently, but Florio adds the parties have been in talks for several days — when it became clear Justin Fields would explore free agency.
[RELATED: Jets Agree To Terms With Justin Fields]
Pittsburgh still may need to fend off the Giants, who were rumored to prefer Rodgers to Russell Wilson. Despite the Steelers using Wilson as their primary starter last season, it appears they do as well. Although Rodgers will turn 42 before 2025 ends, he is still drawing interest from QB-needy teams.
Rodgers’ desire, per Florio, to play two more seasons factors into his decision-making here. Whereas the Giants are likely to add a first-round quarterback — they are at least in position to do so and have been linked to trading up to No. 1 overall — the Steelers hover outside the top 20 in the draft and are not in a position to nab one of this class’ top two options. As such, the Steelers would be in better position to hold off on a younger passer if they land Rodgers, who has not confirmed he is playing in 2025.
It has been believed Rodgers will come back for a 21st season, and despite an underwhelming Jets tenure, the all-time QB talent has generated a bit of a bidding war — as far as fit goes, at least. The Giants may still be involved here, Florio adds, but the Steelers would stand to give Rodgers a better chance to reach the playoffs in 2025. Baggage aside, Rodgers would provide the Steelers with an upgrade on what they have deployed at QB in recent years — particularly from a passing standpoint. As far as the rest of the Rodgers experience goes, that would be borderline must-see TV when paired with Mike Tomlin.
Despite Rodgers’ antics over the past few years, the Steelers taking this chance does not seem too farfetched based purely on football. Although the four-time MVP has not closely resembled that version in recent years, he finished with 28 touchdown passes compared to 11 interceptions last season. QBR still ranked Rodgers 25th — three spots behind Wilson — last season, when he tied a career-low with 6.7 yards per attempt. After Kenny Pickett and the Wilson-Fields combination did not do enough to complement Pittsburgh’s defense, the team may be close to a gamble — fit-wise — as the T.J. Watt–Cameron Heyward–Minkah Fitzpatrick trio’s primes wane.
Seahawks, Sam Darnold Finalizing Deal
The rumblings coming out of the Geno Smith trade look to indeed have produced a deal. Sam Darnold is expected to head to Seattle as the team’s first outside QB1 addition since Russell Wilson 13 years ago.
Darnold and the Seahawks are finalizing a deal worth nearly $100MM, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Darnold had been linked to a Baker Mayfield-level contract, and it appears the 2024 Vikings Pro Bowler will settle on that tier after a breakthrough season. A price discrepancy has emerged, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the deal is for $110.5MM in total and comes with $55MM guaranteed. If the latter numbers are correct, Darnold bettered Mayfield’s Buccaneers terms.
A weekend report pegged the Vikings as being out on Darnold, and Minnesota now must shift to another veteran option. The Vikings passed on a $40.2MM franchise tag for the resurgent passer but expressed interest in a re-signing at a lower rate. That always ran the risk of a separation, as the open market opened the door for more suitors to speak with the seven-year veteran. Darnold will replace Smith as Seattle’s starter.
The Seahawks proposed a similar deal to Smith, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Seeking a contract north of $40MM per year, Smith rejected the proposal. That led to the sides separating, and it will be the Raiders who will enter extension talks with the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year.
Mayfield signed a three-year, $100MM deal to stay with the Bucs last March; $50MM came guaranteed. That contract came in well north of Smith’s 2023 Seahawks terms (3/75), and the Wilson successor angled for a better deal in 2024. The Seahawks passed at that point, as two seasons remained on their then-starter’s contract. While they were readier to extend Smith this year, a sizable gap in terms led to the impasse that produced the trade. Darnold, 27, does not have as much quality work on his resume compared to Mayfield or Smith, but he hit free agency after a $24MM cap spike.
Cast aside by the Jets and Panthers, Darnold has received training in the Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay (via Kevin O’Connell) offenses. New Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak coming from the Shanahan tree should make this a fairly smooth transition, though Darnold’s skill-position corps may not rival what the Vikings just presented. After throwing to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, Darnold is joining a team that just traded D.K. Metcalf and cut Tyler Lockett.
Although the Seahawks still have work to do at receiver, they do carry promising running backs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. Noah Fant remains on the Seattle roster as well. Darnold will carry significant risk, as the Vikings presented a strong situation for a bounce-back season. The Jets traded him after three mediocre seasons, and injuries kept Darnold off the field for much of his Carolina tenure — one that featured Matt Rhule preferring Mayfield to him. Darnold did not threaten Brock Purdy for the 49ers’ job in 2023, though he did beat out Trey Lance for the QB2 position fairly easily.
Darnold threw 35 touchdown passes last season, eclipsing his previous career best by 16, and finished with 4,319 yards — roughly 1,200 more than his previous-best mark. This season included a Vikings road win over the Seahawks, as the team soared to 14-3 despite separating from Kirk Cousins.
Darnold, however, faceplanted in the Vikings’ two biggest games. Blowout losses commenced against the Lions in Week 18 — a do-or-die game for home-field advantage in the NFC — and against the Rams in Round 1. This undoubtedly proved costly for the passer, but it does not appear his market suffered immensely from the late-season undoing.
The Seahawks still figure to do work on the 2026 and ’27 QB draft classes, but this commitment covers them for a bit. Darnold will have a chance to prove last season’s breakout was legitimate, while the Seahawks can rest easier as today’s QB carousel heats up. Despite hopping on late, Seattle became a destination for PFR’s No. 1 overall free agent.
Texans To Trade LT Laremy Tunsil To Commanders
Jayden Daniels is about to have a new blindside protector. After six seasons with the Texans, Laremy Tunsil is on the move. The Commanders are acquiring the Pro Bowl left tackle, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Washington will send second-, third- and fourth-round picks to Houston in the swap, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Courtesy of The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, here are the full trade terms:
Commanders receive:
- Tunsil
- 2025 fourth-round pick
Texans receive:
- 2025 third-round pick
- 2025 seventh-rounder
- 2026 second
- 2026 fourth
Tunsil, 30, has seen five Pro Bowl invites come his way. Never an All-Pro, Tunsil is certainly paid like one. The former Dolphins first-round pick secured two top-market contracts from the Texans, the current deal checking in at three years, $75MM. Two seasons remain on Tunsil’s contract.
Monday’s agreement marks Tunsil’s second time being traded. The Dolphins, as they gutted their roster during a then-controversial 2019 rebuild effort, obtained two first-round picks for sending Tunsil to Houston. The Texans had Tunsil in place protecting Deshaun Watson‘s blindside for two years, but the Pro Bowl quarterback’s off-field trouble (and a trade request) ended that partnership early. Tunsil, however, has served as a key part of C.J. Stroud‘s development.
The Texans did draft Blake Fisher in the 2024 second round, and the team has Tytus Howard — who has shuffled between tackle and guard during his career — as a right tackle option. A tackle duo including Howard and Fisher would make sense for the Texans, but they suddenly would have multiple guard needs if they went in that direction. Houston released Shaq Mason this weekend.
In Tunsil, the Commanders are acquiring a high-end LT who has started 125 career games. The shrewd negotiator has also stayed healthier in recent seasons. After missing 12 games in 2021, Tunsil has combined to miss only three since. He started 17 games last season, helping a Texans line that again dealt with injury trouble elsewhere. Pro Football Focus ranked Tunsil as a top-20 tackle in each of the past three seasons. Tunsil ranked 10th in pass rush win rate last season.
The Commanders used both Cornelius Lucas and third-round rookie Brandon Coleman at left tackle last season. PFF rated the more experienced blocker as a much better option (28th) than Coleman (63rd). Washington used one of its many Day 2 picks on Coleman last year, but he may not be in line for a starting role next season. The Commanders still have Andrew Wylie rostered at right tackle.
Adam Peters indicated defensive additions would be a priority, and the team has brought in Javon Kinlaw. But the second-year GM has made Daniels protection a priority in this Tunsil swap. It will be interesting to see if Tunsil maneuvers into another lucrative extension, as no guaranteed money remains on his current deal. Tunsil used the Miami-to-Houston relocation as a springboard to future contract leverage. With Daniels on his rookie deal, Tunsil could strike again soon.
Patriots, Milton Williams Agree To Deal
The Panthers looked to be the frontrunners to secure Milton Williams, but that will no longer be the case . The Patriots are adding Williams instead, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report.
Williams will head to Foxborough on a monster deal that averages $26MM per season over four years. After the Cowboys kept Osa Odighizuwa off the market, Williams — PFR’s No. 3 overall free agent — will benefit from being allowed to speak with multiple suitors.
Carolina was deep in talks with Williams, who will parlay a big contract year into a seismic second contract. The Panthers were close to a deal, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Patriots then upped their price — on a deal that includes $63MM guaranteed — to end the derby. After Chris Jones and Christian Wilkins reset the D-tackle market last year, Williams will benefit. Assuming the $63MM represents Williams’ guarantee total (as opposed to the amount fully locked in at signing), that still ranks sixth among DTs.
The Eagles had re-signed Zack Baun, but the Super Bowl champions had left Williams, Josh Sweat and Mekhi Becton unattached as the legal tampering period began today. Williams represents the first defection, and Sweat has since committed to the Cardinals, rejoining Jonathan Gannon.
Williams’ contract year produced career-high numbers in sacks (five) and QB hits (10). Used as a part-time starter, the Louisiana Tech product totaled 18 pressures as well, ranking sixth in DT pass rush win rate. Pro Football Focus ranked the former third-round pick as the No. 1 interior pass rusher last season, and the Patriots will buy in while the Eagles will predictably build their DT future around Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis.
The Patriots extended Christian Barmore last year but saw him miss most of the season due to blood clots. Barmore returned late in the year and will now pair with Williams to round out a pricey D-tackle duo. Williams joins Harold Landry, Carlton Davis and Robert Spillane as additions aimed at restoring the Patriots to an upper-crust defense. After two-plus decades carrying such chops, New England plummeted to 22nd in yards and points allowed despite Christian Gonzalez‘s All-Pro ascent.
Coming into free agency with the most cap space in the NFL, the Patriots are delivering on Mike Vrabel’s push to both spend in free agency and bolster their lines. Williams will be the biggest bet any team makes on the D-line during this free agency period, and the Pats will expect him to build on a breakout season.
Williams showed flashes before, having supplied a career-high nine tackles for loss during the Eagles’ 2022 NFC championship season. Although his Super Bowl LIX sack-strip-recovery sequence introduced the former third-round pick to the casual fans — ones that were still watching by that point — Williams will be out to prove he is not a one-year wonder.
Browns To Sign T Cornelius Lucas
The Commanders made a play to add a more accomplished left tackle today, bringing in Laremy Tunsil via trade. One of their 2024 options at the position will now relocate.
Cornelius Lucas is heading to Cleveland, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reporting the 11-year veteran will join the Browns on a two-year deal. Lucas’ latest contract can be worth up to $10MM.
This will end a five-year Lucas stay in Washington. The Commanders used Lucas as a spot starter for much of that stay, but he ended up with 38 starts for the team. Going into his age-34 season, Lucas is preparing for a 12th NFL campaign. He is now set to play for a sixth franchise, having made pre-Washington stops with the Lions, Rams, Saints and Bears.
Lucas played 318 snaps at left tackle and 139 snaps at right tackle for the Commanders last season, helping a team that was breaking in third-round rookie Brandon Coleman. While Coleman manned Jayden Daniels‘ blindside post in the playoffs, Lucas started seven games last season. For his career, Lucas — a former UDFA — has 54.
The Browns have Jedrick Wills out of contract, after two injury-plagued seasons, and lost James Hudson to the Giants today. The team still rosters Jack Conklin, who is injury-prone himself and going into an age-31 season. While Joel Bitonio‘s return ensures interior-line continuity, the Browns still have some work to do at tackle. Pro Football Focus’ No. 28 overall tackle last season, Lucas could give the Browns a starter or swing option next season.
Seahawks To Sign OL Josh Jones
The Seahawks are making the move to bring in a bit of depth on the offensive line this offseason. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported today that former Ravens lineman Josh Jones is expected to sign with Seattle. 
Jones’ first five years in the NFL have shown many different sides of what he can provide. A former third-round draft pick for the Cardinals out of Houston, Jones got most his playing time on special teams as a rookie. By his sophomore season, Jones had worked his way into a starting role, starting 12 games for Arizona — nine at right guard and three at right tackle.
Though he didn’t retain his starting job for the full season, Jones displayed that he could be a serviceable starter at multiple positions along the offensive front. He continued to work, and even though he didn’t begin the 2022 season as a starter, the Cardinals knew that they could turn to him to start at left tackle when D.J. Humphries went on injured reserve with a back injury. Jones started nine games for the Cardinals that season, including the final eight of the year.
The next season saw a similar circumstance after Jones was traded to Houston. Jones appeared in 13 games for the Texans, starting three. Of those three starts, one was at left guard and two were at left tackle.
Following the expiration of his rookie deal, Jones signed with the Ravens for 2024. When a lack of serviceable starters forced Baltimore to utilize their usual sixth-man of the offensive line, Patrick Mekari, as a starter for the full year, Jones’ versatility allowed them to do so without losing that valuable sixth lineman who can fill in everywhere. While Mekari has started games in the NFL at every position on the offensive line, Jones is not far behind him, having started at every position but center. Jones didn’t start any games in Baltimore, but he played in 16, often finding himself involved in jumbo packages that the run-heavy Ravens used frequently. Now both Mekari and Jones have departed from Baltimore.
In Seattle, Jones may just find an opportunity to start again. The team is set to watch starting left guard Laken Tomlinson depart in free agency, as will key backup tackles George Fant and Stone Forsythe. Even if Jones isn’t able to secure a starting role, he’s established himself as a valuable backup who can fill in at almost any position along the offensive line wherever he goes.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/10/25
Monday’s only tender decision in the NFL:
RFAs
Tendered:
- Jets: S Tony Adams
New York has made the decision to tender their third-year safety. Adams has started 26 games the past two years and is a year removed from nabbing three interceptions. It’s reportedly a right-of-first-refusal tender worth $3.2MM for one year.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/10/25
Here are today’s minor NFL moves that may have been missed during an otherwise extremely busy first day of the tampering period:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Akeem Davis-Gaither
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: S Tarvarius Moore
Dallas Cowboys
- Re-signed: LS Trent Sieg
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: T Matt Peart
Detroit Lions
- Re-signed: T Dan Skipper
Indianapolis Colts
- Re-signed: WR Ashton Dulin
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OL Chuma Edoga
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: LS James Winchester
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DB Lonnie Johnson
Miami Dolphins
- Re-signed: DT Matt Dickerson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: S Bubba Bolden
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Khyiris Tonga
New Orleans Saints
- Re-signed: DT Nathan Shepherd
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Chris Board, T James Hudson III
San Francisco 49ers
- Re-signed: RB Patrick Taylor
Tennessee Titans
- Re-signed: CB Darrell Baker Jr., LS Morgan Cox, OL Andrew Rupcich
Washington Commanders
- Re-sign: P Tress Way
Giants To Sign DE Chauncey Golston
The Giants are staying busy to close out Day 1 of free agency. Hours after bringing in Roy Robertson-Harris, the team is adding Chauncey Golston.
An ex-Cowboys front-seven piece, Golston is making in intra-NFC East move by agreeing to a three-year, $19.5MM deal with the Giants, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports. Two-thirds of Golston’s deal is fully guaranteed, the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins tweets.
Formerly a third-round pick out of Iowa, Golston has spent his entire career with Dallas. A starter path did not emerge for the versatile D-lineman until last season, when he lined up as a first-stringer in 13 games. A Cowboys team that lost DeMarcus Lawrence needed Golston more, and he accumulated 5.5 sacks and eight QB hits.
Golston does not present a flashy resume, starting only three games before 2024 and never eclipsing 1.5 sacks before last season either. Going into his age-27 season, Golston does bring experience at both D-end and D-tackle in Dallas’ 4-3 scheme. Playing more on the edge in 2024, Golston may end up an Azeez Ojulari replacement as a third rusher behind Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Though, a D-end role in the Giants’ 3-4 look would open up a starting spot for a player guaranteed two full seasons.
Ojulari has not yet relocated, but that has long been expected. This addition would seem to further point the four-year contributor out the door. As for Dallas, Lawrence has said he hopes to re-sign with the Cowboys; he is coming off a Lisfranc injury that ended his season before the midway point. The Cowboys also have Sam Williams coming off an ACL tear. Williams may be asked to pick up the slack, as he was last year following the Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler exits, but it appears the team is in need for more help alongside Micah Parsons.