NFL Competition Committee ‘Split’ On Tush Push Ban

MARCH 31: Although McDermott’s team has increasingly turned to using a version of this play, the competition committee member confirmed Monday (via 94WIP.com’s Eliot Shorr-Parks) he would support banning it. This sets up a rather significant vote Tuesday.

MARCH 30: In 2022, the Eagles introduced the “tush push,” an extremely effective quarterback sneak with players pushing Jalen Hurts from behind to secure first downs in short-yardage situations. Three years later, the NFL is considering banning the play based on a proposal submitted by the Packers.

The proposed rule change would “prohibit an offensive player from pushing a teammate who was lined up directly behind the snapper and receives the snap, immediately at the snap,” per ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler. Green Bay’s proposal is expected to be “hotly contested” during league meetings in Florida this week and will likely be voted on by team owners Tuesday. This comes shortly after The Athletic’s Dianna Russini indicated some momentum has emerged for banning the play.

There is support for the rule change on the NFL’s competition committee, comprised of 10 coaches and executives. Among them are Rams head coach Sean McVay and Bills head coach Sean McDermott, who had an “animated side conversation” with Eagles executives Howie Roseman and Jon Ferrari on Sunday afternoon, according to Kahler. That was after a football operations meeting produced a “heated” discussion when the proposed language was introduced.

The competition committee is “split” on the tush push ban, per Mark Maske of The Washington Post. The same is true of the league’s 32-team voting body, 24 of whom would need to vote in favor of the ban for it to be implemented.

Resistance from within the committee is likely led by McDermott, whose Bills have adopted the play from the Eagles. Combined, they have run the play more times than the other 30 teams combined over the last three years, leading to accusations that the Packers’ proposal is unfairly targeting the two teams.

Falcons CEO Rich McKay, who chairs the competition committee, acknowledged that belief on Sunday.

“The thing that nobody likes about the discussion we are having…is that the rule is directed towards two teams,” said McKay (via Kahler). “I don’t think any of us like the fact that there are teams associated with this rule proposal.” 

The Packers listed player safety and pace of play as the reason for their proposal, though little evidence exists (or can exist) of either claim. Other teams believe that Green Bay wants to ban the play because they can neither replicate it on offense nor stop it on defense.

The play was only run 101 times in 2024, 0.28% of the league’s total plays, according to Kahler, so there is not enough data to support player safety concerns. The same goes for pace of play, though the Commanders’ repeated penalties in January’s NFC championship game could be a blueprint for how teams may approach defending the tush push in the future.

Rather than give up an easy touchdown at the goal line, Washington tried to jump Philadelphia’s snaps, leading to four penalties in the span of six plays. Each flag only advanced the ball half the distance to the end zone, and the Eagles couldn’t score. Eventually, referee Shawn Hochuli stepped in and warned the Commanders that another penalty would result in the officials awarding a touchdown to the Eagles, relying on a little-used rule prohibiting a “palpably unfair act.”

The NFL has a multitude of reasons to want to avoid a recurrence of the Commanders’ strategy. Other teams may try to force referees into the difficult position of uniformly enforcing an obscure rule to award a touchdown to a team that never actually reached the end zone. That would complicate league efforts to keep officiating consistent and take considerable time and excitement out of the game.

There are other arguments to ban the tush push. One is consistency with league rules that prohibit pushing in other situations.

“We don’t allow the linebackers to push the defensive linemen on extra points and we’re just trying to be consistent,” said Stephen Jones, the co-owner of the Cowboys and a member of the competition committee, before offering a counterargument against concerns about targeting the Bills and the Eagles. “These quarterbacks, I’m sure they would be wildly successful whether you’re pushed or not,” continued Jones (via Kahler). “I’m sure [Hurts will] make first downs at a high rate, whether someone’s pushing him or not, because he’s an inordinately strong special athlete.”

While a tush push ban would have a disproportionate effect on the Eagles and the Bills, both teams would still retain the core advantage that makes them so successful: extremely powerful quarterbacks. Kahler also described more general criticism about the tush push for the nature of the play: “Coaches, executives and players have argued it’s not a football play, with some comparing it to a rugby play.”

If the rule is approved, the NFL will then have to figure out how to enforce it. That uncertainty is another reason that teams may hesitate to vote for the Packers’ proposal. The Eagles believe they have some support to stop the rule change given that three of their former assistant coaches were hired as head coaches in the last two years.

“We’ll see how it goes,” said Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. “All I will say about it is (Jonathan) Gannon, (Shane) Steichen and (Kellen) Moore better vote for it. They are in the position right now because of that play. So all three, I better have those three votes right there and the Eagles’ vote. I at least know we have four.”

Based on comments by Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles, Texans GM Nick Caserio, and Ravens HC John Harbaugh, those three teams are unlikely to support the tush push ban either, according to Rob Maaddi of The Associated Press. Bowles and Caserio believe that teams should have to figure out how to stop the play. Harbaugh offered a different take on Stephen Jones’ consistency argument, saying that officiating is already inconsistent in regards to pushing.

If Gannon’s Cardinals, Steichen’s Colts, and Moore’s Saints also vote no, only two more teams would be needed to shoot down the Packers’ proposal. That would preserve the tush push for the 2025 season, though teams could certainly renew efforts to ban it next offseason.

Eagles RT Lane Johnson Intends To Play Through 2027 Season

The Eagles recently extended right tackle Lane Johnson through 2027 by adding one year to his existing deal. The transaction served the dual purpose of rewarding a franchise icon with an additional $30MM in guaranteed money while also lowering his 2025 cap charge. Nonetheless, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer said at the time the extension was announced that Johnson may retire before his contract expires.

If Johnson has his druthers, though, he will play out his term of club control. “I feel really good. I think I can play out the contract,” the soon-to-be 35-year-old blocker said (via McLane).

Shortly before the 2024 season got underway, Johnson said he believes he can play until he is 40, thereby joining the likes of Jason Peters and Andrew Whitworth in that rarefied air for offensive linemen. In the same statement, though, Johnson acknowledged it was perhaps more realistic for him to play another two to three years.

At the time he made those comments, another three seasons would have taken Johnson through the 2026 campaign. As such, it is notable that he believes he can see out the 2027 add-on to his contract, which would take him through his age-37 season.

While factors unrelated to on-field performance, such as familial obligations and long-term health, are often instrumental in a player’s decision to retire, Johnson’s play has not shown any signs of regression even as he has entered his mid-30s. He just received his third consecutive (and sixth overall) Pro Bowl nod for his 2024 work, which was instrumental in Philadelphia’s second Super Bowl championship. The two-time First Team All-Pro graded out as Pro Football Focus’ fifth-best offensive tackle out of 81 qualifiers last year, and outside of his injury-shortened 2020 season, he has not finished lower than 13th in PFF’s grading system in any of the last nine years.

Now that Brandon Graham has retired, Johnson is all that remains of the Eagles’ “Core Four” that featured Johnson, Graham, Fletcher Cox, and Jason Kelce. At the moment, it sounds like that venerable quartet has a good chance of keeping its final member in the league for three more years.

Eagles To Reunite With OL Matt Pryor

The Eagles are reuniting with offensive lineman Matt Pryor, per Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Pryor will sign a one-year deal to return to Philadelphia, where he started his NFL career as a sixth-round pick in 2018.

Pryor made the Eagles’ 53-man roster as a rookie but did not play in any games. He appeared in 12 games in 2019 exclusively on special teams before emerging as a versatile starter in 2020. Injuries to the Eagles offensive line pressed Pryor into action for 10 starts: six at left guard, three at right tackle, and one at right guard.

Pryor was then deemed surplus to requirements during final roster cuts in 2021 and traded to the Colts as part of a late-round pick swap. He started five games in Indianapolis, including three at left tackle to add even more versatility to his resume.

The Colts re-signed Pryor to a one-year, $5.5MM deal for the 2022 season. He started nine games across three different positions, but poor performance hurt his free agency stock, forcing him to take a veteran-minimum deal with the 49ers. He only played 42 snaps on offense in San Francisco and signed with the Bears in 2024. He took over the starting right guard role from Nate Davis in Week 3 and put together one of the strongest seasons of his career.

Pryor was interested in staying in Chicago after changing teams for three years in a row, but he will instead reunite with legendary offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland in Philadelphia. The 30-year-old will likely compete for the starting right guard spot left vacant by the departure of Mekhi Becton to the Chargers.

Draft Rumors: Visits, Green, Nolen, RBs

As the 2025 NFL Draft continues to draw nigh, teams are beginning to do their due diligence on each prospect, including hosting several for visits.

A perfect example of this saw the Saints host a bevy of Longhorns for a dinner last night, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. The list of Texas prospects included possible first-rounders cornerback Jahdae Barron and wide receiver Matthew Golden as well as defensive tackle Vernon Broughton and quarterback Quinn Ewers.

The Saints weren’t the only team to spend time with Ewers yesterday, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Both the Jets and Raiders sent staffers to meet with the 22-year-old in Austin prior to the team’s pro day. Ewers has several visits planned following today’s pro day, as well, including meetings with the Cowboys, Colts, and Raiders, again, in early April.

Another potential Longhorn first-rounder, wide receiver Isaiah Bond, has also reportedly set up a number of visits following today’s pro day, per CJ Vogel of On Texas Football. Bond apparently has top-30 visits scheduled in the next month with the Falcons, Bears, Packers, and Rams.

Here are some more rumors concerning the 2025 NFL Draft:

  • East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. is making the rounds, as well. After previously meeting with New Orleans, Revel reportedly visited the Texans on Friday, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Revel is attempting to make a speedy recovery from a torn ACL that ended his final collegiate season after only three games. He’s reportedly on track to be ready to return in time for training camp.
  • One of Revel’s top competitors at the position in this year’s class, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, is set to meet with the Raiders, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Johnson has already met with the Falcons and reportedly met with the Cardinals already, as well.
  • Already having met with the Saints and Falcons, Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. is set to meet with several other franchises, per Wilson. One of the top tackle options in the class, Conerly has visits planned with the Texans, Eagles, Commanders, Bengals, and Bears. Wilson adds that, at the NFL Scouting Combine, Conerly already formerly met with the Texans, Jets, Titans, Patriots, Raiders, Commanders, and 49ers.
  • Marshall’s pro day garnered a few more visitors than usual today, thanks to the presence of potential first-round pass rusher Mike Green. According to Tony Pauline of sportskeeda, while several teams sent personnel to check Green out, the Falcons sent most of their front office as well as head coach Raheem Morris. Pauline adds that the Commanders also held a significant presence at the pass rusher’s pro day.
  • Due to the draft being more deep than top-heavy, there are several prospects who receive a wide range of opinions on when and where they’ll go in the draft. According to Matt Miller of ESPN, though, no player has a wider range than Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen. Transferring within the conference from Texas A&M for the final year of his collegiate career, Nolen had a strong, consensus All-American season with the Rebels, totaling 48 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 14 tackles for loss. Despite the impressive performance, Miller claims that “teams are torn on (Nolen’s) lack of refined pass-rush moves,” resulting in projections from the top 10 all the way back to the second round.
  • Last year was the second time in the three years that we saw no running backs taken in the first round of the draft. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, we could see two running backs hear their names called on Day 1 of the event this year. A running backs coach told Schultz that “there’s no way (Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty) falls outside the top 15-20 picks.” Jeanty has been projected in multiple mock drafts to both the Raiders at No. 6 overall and the Cowboys at No. 12. While the position is deep, with players like Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, Ohio State’s duo of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, Miami’s Damien Martinez, and several others, it’s North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton who may have played himself into the first round with Jeanty. Schultz claims that a personnel director told him the only thing Hampton needed to do in order to go in Round 1 was run in the 4.4’s at the combine, and Hampton ran a 4.46. He may not get taken as high as Jeanty, but he should still be considered a first-round candidate come the end of April.

NFC Contract Details: Golston, Giants, Bucs, Cowboys, Cards, Panthers, Seahawks, Eagles

Here are more contract details from some recently agreed-upon contracts around the NFC in free agency:

  • Poona Ford, DT (Rams). Three years, $27.6MM. While not quite as high as the $30MM initial report, Ford’s contract includes $15.6MM guaranteed at signing, via OverTheCap. This comes after Ford played the 2024 season for $1.79MM in total. The Rams guaranteed $3.75MM of Ford’s $5MM 2026 base salary at signing. If on Los Angeles’ roster by Day 5 of the ’26 league year, Ford will see the other $1.5MM lock in. If the 29-year-old DT is still on L.A.’s roster on Day 3 of the 2027 league year, a $2.25MM roster bonus is due.
  • Chauncey Golston, DE (Giants). Three years, $18MM. This is slightly less than initially reported, but The Athletic’s Dan Duggan indicates it comes with $12MM fully guaranteed. The Giants guaranteed Golston’s 2025 and ’26 money.
  • Baron Browning, LB (Cardinals). Two years, $15MM. Receiving $10MM guaranteed at signing, Browning will see part of his 2026 base salary guaranteed. $2MM of the trade pickup’s $4.39MM 2026 base is locked in at signing, per Cards Wire’s Howard Balzer, who adds a $2MM roster bonus is due on Day 5 of the 2026 league year. The bonus is not guaranteed at signing. If Browning reaches eight sacks in 2025, his 2026 base salary increases by $2MM. Five sacks represents Browning’s highwater mark thus far.
  • Patrick Jones, LB (Panthers). Two years, $15MM. This is down from the initial report as well, but the ex-Vikings rotational rusher will see $10.25MM guaranteed, The Athletic’s Joe Person tweets. Another $4MM is available via performance-based incentives, per OverTheCap.
  • Evan Brown, G (Cardinals). Two years, $11.44MM. The Cardinals are guaranteeing Brown $6MM at signing, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. If the veteran interior O-lineman is on Arizona’s roster by Day 5 of the 2026 league year, he is due a $500K roster bonus.
  • Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB (Cardinals). Two years, $10MM. Arizona is guaranteeing Davis-Gaither $5MM at signing, Wilson tweets. The veteran linebacker’s $4.39MM 2026 base salary is nonguaranteed, giving the Cardinals an out after one year.
  • Anthony Nelson, LB (Buccaneers). Two years, $10MM. The Bucs guaranteed Nelson $5.5MM to re-sign, Wilson tweets. Tampa Bay included a $500K roster bonus due on Day 5 of the 2026 league year.
  • Markquese Bell, S/LB (Cowboys). Three years, $9MM. Bell will be guaranteed $6.2MM at signing, Wilson adds; this covers the young defender’s signing bonus and 2025 and ’26 base salaries.
  • Jamie Gillan, P (Giants). Three years, $9MM. Down a bit from initial reports, Gillan’s deal includes $4MM guaranteed, Duggan adds. The deal includes $1.2MM via incentives.
  • Solomon Thomas, DL (Cowboys). Two years, $6MM. The Cowboys guaranteed the former No. 3 overall pick $3MM, Wilson tweets. That covers a signing bonus and his 2025 base salary. An additional $2MM is available through playing time- and sack-based incentives.
  • Josh Jones, OL (Seahawks). One year, $4MM. Jones will see $3MM guaranteed at signing, per OverTheCap. This is up from his $665K guarantee with the Ravens last year.
  • Jimmy Garoppolo, QB (Rams). One year, $3MM. The Rams secured Garoppolo for a second season, doing so despite authorizing a pay cut. Garoppolo played out a one-year, $3.19MM deal in 2024. Like in 2024, Garoppolo’s deal is fully guaranteed.
  • Josh Uche, DE (Eagles). One year, $1.92MM. The Eagles guaranteed Uche $1.25MM, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane tweets. $500K in sack-based incentives are available. Uche played for $3MM in 2024. Despite this low-value deal, Philly included four void years.

Eagles To Sign OL Kendall Lamm

Kendall Lamm is continuing his career with the defending champs. Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager reports that the veteran lineman is signing with the Eagles. It will be a one-year deal for Lamm.

[RELATED: Dolphins T Kendall Lamm May Continue Playing]

The long-time backup spent the past three seasons with the Dolphins. After starting only five total games between 2019 and 2022, Lamm started 15 of his 32 appearances over the past two years. This includes a 2024 campaign where he got into 51 percent of his team’s offensive snaps while ranking 32nd among 81 qualifying OTs, per Pro Football Focus. His season ended in December due to a back injury that ultimately required surgery.

After contemplating retirement during the 2023 campaign, Lamm stated his intention to hang up his cleats following the 2024 season. The lineman later walked back this remarks, noting that if he feels good, “we’ll keep it going.”

The 32-year-old will apparently keep it going in Philly. The Eagles are set atop the depth chart with Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata, but Lamm could be in line for snaps as a swing OT. The team’s current backup options include Laekin Vakalahi and Darian Kinnard, who have a combined three games of experience (all via Kinnard). Lamm brings 119 games of experience across 10 NFL seasons and will likely be the favorite for the role heading into the preseason.

Eagles DE Brandon Graham Retires

In the wake of the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory, it remained unclear if Brandon Graham would retire. As expected, though, the 15-year veteran has elected to hang up his cleats.

Graham announced during a Tuesday press conference that he is retiring. This past summer, he indicated the 2024 campaign would be his last, and as a result his decorated Philadelphia run appeared to be over when he suffered a biceps tear in November. The 36-year-old managed to return in time for Super Bowl LIX, however, and he played a rotational role in the team’s victory.

“I could not be happier with the way my career played out, the love I’ve gotten, and the success the Eagles have had as an organization,” Graham said. “For real, it has been a dream come true.”

A first-round pick in 2010, Graham only occupied a rotational role for the first three years of his career. He was a mainstay along the edge for six straight seasons after that, however, a period which included his first Super Bowl win. A Graham forced fumble during the fourth quarter of that contest was key in the Eagles’ win.

The Michigan product was limited to only two games in 2021, the first season of his final multi-year contract. Graham played out one-year pacts in 2023 and ’24 with questions about his future looming. The most productive campaign of his career (in terms of sacks) came in 2022 with 11, a sign of his continued importance during the waning stages of his career. While his playing time dropped to the level of a rotational contributor rather than a full-time starter in recent years, Graham remained a key presence on and off the field for Philadelphia.

Pursuing another one-year arrangement with the Eagles would have involved considerable rehab in advance of the 2025 campaign. Graham re-tore his triceps during his second Super Bowl victory, a factor he likely considered when weighing his options for the future. A report in the wake of last month’s win noted he would take his time before making a formal decision, one which is now officially in place. Graham has followed fellow ‘Core Four’ Eagles Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox in retirement. The lone member of that group still set to play is right tackle Lane Johnson, who inked a one-year extension yesterday.

With this retirement decision looming and Josh Sweat expectedly departing in free agency, edge rush has a been a position of note this offseason for the Eagles in recent days. The team is reportedly open to trading Bryce Huff, whose big-ticket 2024 free agent deal did not pan out as hoped. Philadelphia’s pass-rush group includes Nolan Smith for the short- and long-term future, along with free agent additions Josh Uche and Azeez Ojulari. Graham’s absence will be acutely felt as the team looks to defend its title next season.

“Without question, Brandon Graham is the embodiment of everything you would want in a Philadelphia Eagle,” a statement from owner Jeffrey Lurie reads in part. “He’s a special player and a special person. It’s only fitting that he has played in more games than anyone else in the history of our franchise… We could not be prouder of the player, person, and family man that Brandon has become.

“On behalf of the Philadelphia Eagles, we congratulate Brandon on an incredible career and wish him and his family all the best in retirement.”

Graham’s 206 games played top the field for all Eagles players, and his 76.5 career sacks rank third in franchise history. With over $98MM in career earnings and a pair of Super Bowls to his name, he will now turn his attention to his post-playing days.

Eagles Extend T Lane Johnson Through 2027

Lane Johnson is now on the Eagles’ books through the 2027 season. The team announced that they’ve signed their long-time lineman to a one-year extension.

The one-year extension is worth $25MM, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Johnson still had two years remaining on his previous pact. Schefter notes that the Eagles will be paying the lineman an extra $8MM over that span, increasing his 2025 and 2026 totals to $48MM ($40MM guaranteed). When today’s reworked deal was completed, Johnson ultimately saw an additional $30MM in guaranteed money. Today’s move should also provide the Eagles with some extra breathing room under the 2025 cap.

This isn’t the first time that Johnson’s added a year (and some guaranteed money) to his contract. After inking his then-record-breaking extension in 2019, he added a year to the deal in 2023. On the other side, the Eagles have traditionally been aggressive in extending stars early. Just over a week ago, the team added two years (and more guaranteed money) to Saquon Barkley‘s existing contract.

The fourth-overall pick in the 2013 draft, Johnson has established himself as one of the franchise’s all-time greats. The veteran has earned five-straight All-Pro nods, and he won his second Super Bowl ring this past season. Despite the 2024 campaign representing his age-34 season, Johnson still finished fifth on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings.

When Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox retired following the 2023 season, Johnson hinted that he wanted to try playing into his 40s. At the same time, the lineman estimated that he may only “realistically” have two or three more seasons left in him. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer previously predicted today’s extension, and the reporter noted that Johnson may not finish his existing deal.

While Johnson’s future plans may be a bit murky, the Eagles can at least count on having their lineman signed for the next three seasons.

Eagles Sign Azeez Ojulari

The Eagles will look to a former Giant to help fill their edge rush void. Azeez Ojulari is heading to Philadelphia, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

This will be a one-year deal worth $4MM, Fowler adds. Ojulari played out his rookie contract with the Giants, who held onto him despite interest at the trade deadline. New York has unsurprisingly allowed him to depart as a free agent, but he will remain in the NFC East for 2025. The move is now official.

The Giants have former trade acquisition Brian Burns attached to $28.2MM-per-year deal. Kayvon Thibodeaux – selected fifth overall in 2022 – is on his rookie contract for at least one more season (or two, if his fifth-year option is picked up this spring). The presence of those two starters seemed to leave Ojulari on track to find a first-team role elsewhere as a free agent. Fowler notes, though, that New York attempted to keep the 24-year-old. Instead, the Eagles’ strong push has resulted in a deal.

Ojulari flashed considerable potential during his rookie season, posting eight sacks. Injuries limited him to only 18 games across the next two years, however, and his production dropped off as a result. The former second-rounder was again sidelined in 2024, missing six games. In spite of that, he notched six sacks and recorded double-digit QB pressures for the fourth consecutive year.

With Burns and Thibodeaux on the books, the Giants were prepared to lose Ojulari (something which raised eyebrows given the fact he was not traded midway through the season despite the fact New York was not in contention). The 24-year-old drew interest from the Bengals, but they instead elected to re-sign Joseph OssaiThat move helped pave the way for Ojulari to join the Super Bowl champions.

The Eagles lost Josh Sweat in free agency, and Brandon Graham could very well retire. Their absences will be felt in an edge rush group which has Nolan Smith and Bryce Huff. The latter did not pan out upon arrival as a high-priced free agent pickup, and he is now a trade candidate. Philadelphia recently added Josh Uche along the edge, but today’s move will come with higher expectations.

As a Georgia product, Ojulari is the latest in a long line of former Bulldogs to join the Eagles. If he manages to remain healthy in 2025, he could command a notable free agent market next spring on a second Philadelphia pact or one with a new team.

Justin Reid Chose Saints Over Titans, Eagles, Chiefs

The Saints won a multi-team battle for Justin Reid last week, with the Eagles and the Titans falling short in their bid to sign the veteran safety, per Bleacher Report’s James Palmer.

The Eagles “weren’t close” to the $10.5M APY that Reid received from the Saints, per Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer, suggesting that he was willing to take less money to join the reigning Super Bowl champions.

Reid confirmed those teams’ interest in his introductory press conference, adding that the Chiefs explored a reunion with their longtime safety as well. He added that there is “no animosity” between him and the Chiefs, but signing with the Saints “made too much sense” for the Louisiana native.

He went to college across the country at Stanford, but falling to the Texans in the 2018 draft allowed Reid to stay somewhat close to home in Houston. His three years in Kansas City pulled him farther away from Louisiana, but he will now get to play for his childhood team.

“Every kid in Louisiana dreams about playing for the Saints,” said Reid. He will reunite with fellow Louisiana native Tyrann Mathieu in New Orleans. Reid played with Mathieu in Houston in 2018 and later replaced him in Kansas City in 2022.

His new contract in New Orleans is worth $31.5MM over three years, the same as his last deal with the Chiefs. He is receiving $2MM more in guaranteed money, though his APY has not increased with salary cap inflation.

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