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Minor NFL Transactions: 7/23/25

July 23rd, 2025 at 6:55pm CST by Ely Allen

With several training camps underway, here are today’s minor NFL transactions:

Baltimore Ravend

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

  • Claimed off waivers (from Eagles): DE K.J. Henry

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Houston fans may be discouraged to see a few big names on injured lists, but all is not lost. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 tells us that Mixon’s “medical outlook is positive” as the team plans to gradually increase his activity throughout camp. Likewise, Autry is expected to ease his way back into camp workouts, as well. Pierce, on the other hand, is expected to be ready to come off the list at the start of camp.

Per ESPN’s John Keim, Cosmi likely won’t see much time on the field in camp, but he appears to be hitting all the mile markers en route to being healthy for the start of the regular season. With McLaurin officially beginning his holdout yesterday, the team has made the corresponding roster move. McLaurin will rack up fines of $50K per each day missed, but if the team can come to terms on an extension, they can make sure those fines are nullified.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/19/25

July 19th, 2025 at 8:08pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saturday’s minor moves around the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Jacksonville Jaguars

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Washington Commanders

  • Placed on active/NFI list: T Timothy McKay

The Cardinals were one of the two teams Barrs visited yesterday. His free agent workout clearly went well, and he will look to carve out a roster spot during training camp. Barrs, a former UDFA, has yet to make a regular season appearance.

Every player on a PUP or NFI list can be activated at any time, but their designations mean they are not cleared to practice at the start of their respective training camps. Notably, the Patriots’ list of PUP players does not include Stefon Diggs. The free agent addition was a candidate to begin camp on the PUP list, but New England’s decision to keep him on the active roster is an encouraging sign regarding his ACL recovery.

The Jets are taking a cautious approach with Jermaine Johnson, as the former first-rounder confirmed on X. An Achilles tear limited him to two games last year, but the Pro Bowler said on Saturday he is ready for on-field work. Activation well in advance of Week 1 should be expected in his case.

Contract Details: Fries, Hargrave, Colts, Patriots, Seahawks, Dolphins, Bengals, Bills

March 14th, 2025 at 2:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the latest details from contracts agreed to during free agency:

  • Will Fries, G (Vikings). Five years, $87.72MM. Unlike other splashy Minnesota deals this week, Fries’ initial numbers were close to the true value. Fries will see $34MM guaranteed at signing. If he is on the Vikings’ roster by Day 3 of the 2027 league year, another $10MM becomes guaranteed, per OverTheCap. Up to $6MM in incentives are also included in this deal.
  • Camryn Bynum, S (Colts). Four years, $60MM. The ex-Viking will see $26MM at signing, per OverTheCap, while KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson adds $32MM is guaranteed in total. The remainder of that guarantee impacts Bynum’s 2026 and ’27 base salaries. Of Bynum’s 2026 salary ($10MM), $6MM is fully guaranteed. Of Bynum’s 2027 base ($13.47MM), $4MM is already guaranteed for injury. That $4MM will shift to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the league year, giving Bynum some advanced protection.
  • Carlton Davis, CB (Patriots). Three years, $54MM. This checks in $6MM south of the initial report, but Wilson notes Davis will still see $34.5MM at signing. Davis’ 2025 and 2026 base salaries are fully guaranteed, with a $15MM 2027 base nonguaranteed.
  • Javon Hargrave, DL (Vikings). Two years, $30MM. Minnesota is guaranteeing Hargrave $19MM at signing, while Wilson adds $4MM of the veteran DT’s $14.2MM 2026 base salary is already locked in. Hargrave’s full guarantee on a two-year deal nearly matches Jonathan Allen‘s ($23.26MM) on a three-year pact.
  • Ernest Jones, LB (Seahawks). Three years, $28.5MM. Jones will receive $10MM at signing and $15MM guaranteed in total. Of Jones’ $7.15MM 2026 base salary, Wilson notes $5MM is guaranteed for injury; that $5MM will shift to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the 2026 league year.
  • Mike Gesicki, TE (Bengals). Three years, $25.5MM. A $6.5MM signing bonus represents the full guarantee, as per usual for the Bengals’ non-quarterback deals (though, Cincinnati’s receivers may have something to say about this policy soon). A $2MM roster bonus is due on Day 5 of the 2026 league year, Wilson tweets.
  • James Daniels, G (Dolphins). Three years, $24MM. $7.26MM is fully guaranteed, per OverTheCap. The Dolphins guaranteed $3.48MM of Daniels’ $6.49MM 2026 base salary for injury at signing, per Wilson; that $3.48MM shifts to a full guarantee on Day 3 of the 2026 league year.
  • Jarran Reed, DL (Seahawks). Three years, $22MM. Seattle guaranteed Reed $8MM at signing, per OverTheCap. After a fully guaranteed 2025 base salary, $2MM of Reed’s $5.49MM 2026 base will shift from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the 2026 league year, Wilson tweets.
  • Michael Hoecht, DE (Bills). Three years, $21MM. Buffalo is guaranteeing Hoecht $13.43MM at signing. Both Hoecht’s 2025 and ’26 base salaries are fully guaranteed, Wilson adds. His $5.74MM 2027 paragraph 5 number is nonguaranteed.

Patriots To Sign CB Carlton Davis

March 10th, 2025 at 12:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Patriots are beginning to do work with their league-leading cap-space figure. After adding Harold Landry and Robert Spillane, secondary help is coming.

Carlton Davis is joining the Patriots on a three-year, $60MM deal, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reported during a TV appearance. This marks a second cornerback domino from the legal tampering period, as the Giants have agreed to terms with Paulson Adebo.

PFR’s No. 16 free agent, Davis has extensive postseason experience and was in solid form before going down with a broken jaw for a Lions team that finished 15-2. The Lions were unable to keep Davis, though they used first- and second-round picks on corners last year. Davis was also linked to the Jaguars before the market opened, but he will head to Boston to play alongside All-Pro Christian Gonzalez.

Well versed in zone- and man-based designs, the former second-round pick started in Super Bowl LV and has lined up as a first-stringer in eight other playoff games. The Buccaneers had re-signed Davis on a three-year, $44.5MM pact in 2022 but traded him to the Lions for a third-round pick last year. Joining D.J. Reed, Rasul Douglas, Charvarius Ward and Byron Murphy as CBs seeking a third contract, Davis has done very well. He becomes the eighth $20MM-per-year corner, following Jaycee Horn‘s record-setting deal from earlier today.

Davis, 28, reduced his completion percentage, passer rating and yards per target figures (55.3, 77.0, 7.5) from 2023-24 despite the Lions having no dependable pass rusher after Aidan Hutchinson’s injury. The 6-foot-1 cover man has started 88 career games. He, Landry and Spillane’s medium-term deals will overlap with Drake Maye‘s rookie pact.

After Bill Belichick had given the Patriots a perennially reliable defense, the team’s performance dropped significantly last season. New England ranked 22nd in both points and yards allowed, falling far despite Gonzalez’s first healthy season producing an All-Pro nod. Landry and Davis will be stepping in as 2025 pillars against the pass.

CB Notes: Reed, Jets, Davis, Ward, Packers, Alexander, Hobbs, Raiders

March 4th, 2025 at 3:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

As is the case at wide receiver, the cornerback market will feature several players who have been in free agency before. A handful of this batch of third-contract-seeking cover men, however, are under 30. D.J. Reed may lead this contingent, with SNY’s Connor Hughes indicating the three-year Jets starter is believed to be the top free agent corner on the market. The Jets are not expected to re-sign Reed, per Hughes and The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt. This is certainly not too surprising, as the team paid slot corner Michael Carter last summer and has a top-market deal with Sauce Gardner on the horizon. Reed saw the writing on the wall as well, saying before his contract year he would test free agency. He has continued to point to an exit for months, and the former 49ers and Seahawks CB — who will turn 29 during the 2025 season — will soon see a strong market.

Here is the latest from the cornerback ranks:

  • The Eagles took two 30-something CB contracts (for Darius Slay and James Bradberry) off their payroll this week, leaving the market for experienced vets at the position thin. Beyond Jalen Ramsey, Chidobe Awuzie (three years, $36MM) is the only boundary corner attached to an eight-figure-per-year salary on a third contract. That number should expand soon, with the cap going up by another $24MM and a host of late-20-somethings hitting the market. Two more names who should do well: Carlton Davis and Charvarius Ward. Davis and Ward’s markets could reach the “high teens” in terms of AAV, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz notes. That would be a substantial jump from where Awuzie is. Davis and Ward are each 28 and coming off three-year contracts, with the Buccaneers having traded Davis’ to the Lions. The 49ers extending Deommodore Lenoir points Ward out of town, while Davis did not discuss an extension with the Lions before season’s end. The Jaguars have been connected to the former Super Bowl LV starter.
  • Another late-20-something corner could be joining this quartet soon. Although the Packers are shopping Jaire Alexander, Schultz adds many NFL staffers expect the team to move on via release. The Packers have been viewed as highly unlikely to keep the 28-year-old CB another year, as injuries keep intervening during a $21MM-per-year contract. Two years remain on Alexander’s accord. The Pack could save $17.1MM by designating Alexander as a post-June 1 cut; they would need to wait until the start of the 2025 league year (March 12) to cut him in that case.
  • Not all of the notable corners hitting free agency will be gunning for a third contract. Nate Hobbs joins Paulson Adebo and Asante Samuel Jr. as regular starters set to test the market for the first time. Adebo is expected to, despite suffering a broken femur in October, garner significant interest. The Saints are interested in re-signing him. Hobbs is close to seeing an interesting market emerge. Despite an inability to stay healthy, the Raiders slot corner is being mentioned as a player who could command Kenny Moore-level money, The Athletic’s Tashan Reed notes, adding that significant interest is coming the four-year vet’s way. Moore’s third Colts contract came in at three years, $30MM last March. Taron Johnson soon upped the slot market to just beyond $10MM per annum. Although Hobbs is not as proven as those two players, he did generate trade interest from the 49ers and has four years of experience patrolling the slot for the Raiders.

Jaguars Preparing Free Agent Pursuit Of CB Carlton Davis?

March 3rd, 2025 at 4:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jaguars turned their free agent attention toward retaining in-house players last offseason, with the likes of Trevor Lawrence, Josh Hines-Allen and Walker Little receiving lucrative extensions. A major pursuit of numerous outside options should not be expected in 2025, but one potential target has been linked to Jacksonville.

Jacksonville is set to “gauge the market” on Carlton Davis, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes. The veteran corner spent his first six years with the Buccaneers, serving as a full-time starter during that stretch. Given Tampa Bay’s other investments in the secondary, though, the team traded Davis to the Lions last March.

The 28-year-old faced high expectations as part of Detroit’s multi-faceted efforts to improve at the cornerback position. Davis started all 13 of his Lions games but his campaign was ended due to a broken jaw. That missed time could hurt his value, but after posting a pair of interceptions and 11 pass deflections in 2024 the former second-rounder could still stand to do well in free agency. As of January, no talks on a re-up with Detroit had taken place.

Davis – whom Fowler had previously named as a potential Jaguars target – inked a three-year, $44.5MM Bucs extension in 2022. Corners rarely have the opportunity to secure lucrative third pacts during their careers, but his age and ball production (11 career interceptions, 84 pass breakups, four forced fumbles) could lead to strong outside interest. With more than $38MM in cap space, Jacksonville could afford a notable investment in Davis on the open market.

The new regime led by James Gladstone and Liam Coen faces a number of key decisions this offseason, but upgrading in the secondary is an obvious priority. The Jags finished last in the NFL in passing yards allowed in 2024 and they recorded only six interceptions. Tyson Campbell was among the players to receive large paydays last offseason, inking an extension averaging $19.13MM per year. No other major contracts are on the books at the cornerback position, but that could change if Davis reaches the market and entertains the idea of heading to Duval County.

Lions To Explore Kerby Joseph Extension, Have Not Discussed Deal With Carlton Davis

January 23rd, 2025 at 5:01pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

With their Super Bowl hopes dashed this past weekend, the Lions will now have to begin a crucial offseason to renew their championship pursuit in 2025.

Detroit has already lost three key coaches to this offseason’s hiring cycle, including offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Johnson took the Bears’ head coaching gig, while Glenn was hired for the same position by the Jets. Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams moved to New England to run the Patriots’ defense under Mike Vrabel.

With so much coaching turnover, especially on the defensive side of the ball where Glenn’s leadership kept an injured unit afloat, the Lions will focus on retaining key talent on their roster.

That effort will begin in the secondary with safety Kerby Joseph. He is still on his rookie contract for the 2025 season, he has already established himself as a long-term piece of Detroit’s defense after a his league-high nine interceptions plus a first-team All-Pro selection in 2024. Lions general manager Brad Holmes said that the team will explore an extension with Joseph this offseason, per Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network. As the league-leader with 17 interceptions since entering the NFL in 2022, Joseph will have a strong argument to match or exceed the $21M APY figure reached by Antoine Winfield last offseason.

Holmes was less forthcoming about a new contract for cornerback Carlton Davis, who was traded to the Lions last offseason and finished the 2024 season on injured reserve after a broken jaw. He is set to hit free agency in March, but the Lions have not begun negotiations to re-sign him, per Rogers. Davis started the first 13 games of the season before his injury, recording 11 passes defended while holding opposing quarterbacks to a career-low 77.0 passer rating when targeted. He will be looking for a raise on his last contract, which featured a $14.8MM APY (via OverTheCap), perhaps similar to the nearly $18M APY reached by 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir on his recent extension. However, Davis has struggled to stay healthy in his career, missing at least four games in each of the last four seasons. That lack of availability will affect his negotiations, with teams potentially lowering his guarantees or requiring substantial per-game roster bonuses to account for his injury history.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Lions are considering an extension for veteran guard Kevin Zeitler, according to ESPN’s Eric Woodyard. He arrived in Detroit as a free agent last offseason and outplayed the value of his one-year, $6MM contract in 2024. He started all but one game in the regular season, but picked up an injury in Week 18 and missed the Lions’ divisional round loss to the Commanders. Zeitler’s 2024 contract was a bargain compared to the rest of the guard market, so he will be looking for a commensurate raise on his next deal. He will be 35 years old when the 2025 season begins, so a multi-year deal is unlikely, but a one-year contract in the range of Brandon Scherff‘s $10MM contract for 2024 could materialize.

Lions’ Derrick Barnes, Carlton Davis Out For Season; David Montgomery To Return

January 16th, 2025 at 2:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

JANUARY 16: Montgomery is off the Lions’ injury report altogether for their Commanders matchup. The Lions will also have Arnold ready to go for the divisional round, as the cornerback has shaken off the injury sustained in Week 18.

JANUARY 7: The Lions’ injury activation puzzle continues to come into focus. Dan Campbell shed light on some of his players on IR and those rehabbing injuries while still on the active roster. Good and bad news has emerged.

Chiefly, David Montgomery‘s dodging of a season-ending injury — the feared scenario when Detroit’s starting running back went down in Week 15 — is close to producing a return. After Montgomery took part in a full workout before the Lions’ Week 18 game, Campbell said (via the Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers) he expects the recently extended RB to be ready for the team’s divisional-round matchup.

Generally, when “team fears”-driven headlines surface, bad news emerges. This represents a rare positive development from that place, and the Lions now have two more weeks to prepare Montgomery to reform his elite tandem with Jahmyr Gibbs, who thrived as the team’s starter in the veteran’s stead. Gibbs is coming off a four-touchdown performance in the Lions’ dismantling of the Vikings. As a result, Gibbs’ backfield mate has more time to recover.

While Gibbs took on a bigger role this season, Montgomery still totaled 775 rushing yards and 12 TDs in 14 games. Montomgery also became a far more significant part of Detroit’s passing attack, amassing 341 receiving yards after totaling just 117 in his first Lions season. The team gave him a two-year, $18.25MM extension weeks before his MCL injury.

Montgomery does not factor into the Lions’ IR-return puzzle, having been kept on the active roster. Otherwise, he would have needed to wait one more week to return. Linebacker Derrick Barnes does, but Campbell said neither he nor Carlton Davis will be expected to play again this season. Barnes has been on IR since September with a knee injury. The Lions had not ruled him out, pointing to a potential late-season reemergence. Like D-lineman John Cominsky, however, no comeback is likely.

This is a tough blow to a former Day 3 pick in a contract year, and Barnes had started 26 games for the Lions since being part of the first Campbell-Brad Holmes draft. That included three starts this year. While Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez are done for the season, Alex Anzalone‘s return alongside Jack Campbell made a difference against Minnesota. Barnes’ injury activation place could be allocated to rookie DB Ennis Rakestraw. Campbell said the second-round pick is likely to be ready to go soon, Rogers adds. Rakestraw, a cornerback chosen 61st overall, suffered a hamstring injury during a late-November practice. The Missouri alum would represent some insurance, having only played 46 defensive snaps this season, for a position group battered by injuries.

Davis sustained a broken jaw in Week 15, and while the Lions did not place the trade pickup on IR as hope existed regarding a potential 11th-hour return, Campbell said (via the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett) that is unlikely. Acquired in a package that brought a third-round pick to the Bucs, Davis started all 13 games he played for the Lions. He is heading toward free agency. Turning 28 just last week, the former Super Bowl LV starter should be expected to command extensive interest.

The Lions saw free agency addition Amik Robertson play quite well in relief Sunday night, operating primarily on Justin Jefferson and largely neutralizing the Vikings superstar. The former Raiders regular has started the past three games in place of Davis, playing alongside first-rounder Terrion Arnold. Being unable to put weight on his injured foot upon leaving the Lions’ Week 18 tilt, Arnold suffered a foot contusion. While Campbell stopped short of confirming Arnold would be back for Round 2, the fourth-year HC called the rookie’s prognosis “positive.”

Lions’ Alim McNeill Suffers Torn ACL; Carlton Davis Facing Multi-Week Absence

December 17th, 2024 at 3:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

DECEMBER 17: Davis, Dorsey and McNeill are now on IR. The Lions have several players in their IR-return equation and still have five activations remaining. Davis joins Aidan Hutchinson, Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes and John Cominsky among regulars who are in play to come back later this season.

The Lions will also have two more activations to use once in the playoffs, giving the injury-decimated team more avenues to bring players back. It is not known who will return just yet, but Davis and Hutchinson are in play to come back should the team advance to the NFC championship game. Anzalone, Barnes, Cominsky and others stand to have a chance to return before that point. However, McNeill, Dorsey and David Montgomery are done for the season.

DECEMBER 16: The Lions were dealt several more blows on defense during their loss on Sunday. Defensive tackle Alim McNeill will not play again in 2024, while a postseason run will be needed for cornerback Carlton Davis to return to action.

[RELATED: Lions Remain Hopeful For Super Bowl Aidan Hutchinson Return]

McNeill suffered an ACL tear, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Davis, meanwhile, is dealing with a fractured jaw. As a result, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports he will be out for the next six weeks.

Both players exited Sunday’s game with their respective injuries, and head coach Dan Campbell expressed doubt that either of them would be available the rest of the way. That has been confirmed in McNeill’s case, and the news of his injury deals a significant blow to Detroit’s defensive front (a unit which is already highly shorthanded along the edge). The 24-year-old posted 3.5 sacks this season, meaning he would have had a chance at surpassing his previous career high of 5.0 – set last year – had he remained healthy. This is the first major injury of his career.

McNeill’s ACL tear comes shortly after he agreed to a four-year extension, a deal which made him one of several impact players who have landed a new Lions contract recently. The former third-rounder was on track to hit free agency this spring prior to that deal being worked out; his market value no doubt would have been lower given this injury had he and the team waited until the end of the campaign to negotiate. Instead, McNeill (who is under contract through 2028 with an AAV $24.25MM) will be unavailable during Detroit’s closing regular season games and postseason run.

Schefter notes Davis will undergo surgery, and his rehab after that procedure will be key in determining if he is able to play again this season. Rapoport’s six-week timeline would line Davis up exactly with the NFC title game if it were to hold true (and if, of course, the Lions were to progress to that point). In the meantime, the team will move forward with a shorthanded secondary while attempting to earn the top seed in the conference and the much-needed bye which would accompany it.

Davis was acquired via trade as part of Detroit’s efforts to produce improved play at the CB spot. The former Buccaneer has delivered a pair of interceptions, 11 pass defections and two fumble recoveries in his debut Lions campaign, making him a key figure on defense. His absence will be felt over the closing weeks of the regular season on a unit which already sits only 26th in the league against the pass (and which lost Khalil Dorsey for the season on Sunday). The struggles in that department could very well continue with Davis not in the picture.

The Lions have been atop the NFC for most of the year, but they have been unable to generate a cushion given the strength of the NFC North and the play of the Eagles. Detroit’s loss leaves the team even at 12-2 with Philadelphia; Minnesota would match that record with a win on Monday night. The race for the top seed in the conference will therefore remain tight through to the end of the regular season, but the Lions’ defense will increasingly rely on backups over that span.

NFL Injury Updates: Lions, Nubin, Stover

December 15th, 2024 at 8:31pm CST by Ely Allen

The Lions spent Sunday afternoon going blow-for-blow with the Bills, combining for the highest-scoring performance in the NFL this season. They ended up falling just short of Buffalo, and that loss compounded with a number of injuries to make this a rough day for Detroit.

The first such injury occurred when cornerback Khalil Dorsey appeared to suffer a serious leg injury. He was carted off the field with the injured leg in an air cast. Per ESPN’s Eric Woodyard, head coach Dan Campbell told the media after the game that Dorsey’s injury was similar to what happened to Aidan Hutchinson. In short, Dorsey is not expected to play again in the 2024 NFL season.

Additionally, today’s game saw defensive tackle Alim McNeill and cornerback Carlton Davis depart with injuries, as well. McNeill left the field with a knee injury and, after a visit in the blue medical tent, was carted off to the locker room, while Davis suffered a jaw injury. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Campbell relayed that “he doesn’t feel good about the chances” of either player returning this year.

If all three players are placed on injured reserve, they would join 18 other players on IR. They would up the number of defensive players on IR from 13 to 16. The Lions have overcome incredible adversity so far this year and still currently hold the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Here are some updates on a couple other injuries around the NFL:

  • We mentioned earlier this week that Giants rookie starting safety Tyler Nubin would miss the rest of the season on IR with an ankle injury. Per Ryan Dunleavy of New York Post Sports, head coach Brian Daboll believes that Nubin’s injury will probably require ankle surgery. This means that Nubin will likely spend most of the offseason working to recover in time for the 2025 season.
  • The Texans needed to elevate practice squad tight end Irv Smith today as rookie fourth-round tight end Cade Stover was a surprise scratch from today’s game. Stover logged the first absence of his NFL career due to an emergency appendectomy performed last night, according to Kimberley A. Martin of ESPN. Stover is expected to make a full recovery.
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