Commanders To Sign S Nick Cross
The Commanders have agreed to a deal with safety Nick Cross, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. It’s a two-year pact worth up to $14MM, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Cross spent his first four seasons in Indianapolis, which grabbed him in the third round of the 2022 draft. The former Maryland Terrapin went down as a quality pickup for the Colts. Cross only missed one game in his first two years, but he saw more action on special teams than as a defender.
Cross’ role changed significantly in 2024, when he became a full-time starter. He went on to conclude his Colts tenure with 34 straight starts over the past two years. The 6-foot, 212-pound box safety combined for a whopping 266 tackles (11 for loss) during that span. He also pulled in four interceptions, including a career-high three in 2024. While ranking third among safeties with 16 pressures last season, Cross recorded personal bests in QB hits (six) and sacks (2.5).
The durable Cross played 99.91% of the Colts’ defensive snaps in ’24 and followed it up with a 95.53% mark last year. Between his track record of availability and solid production, Colts general manager Chris Ballard wanted to keep the 24-year-old. The Colts and Cross were in talks on a new deal as of late February, but an agreement never materialized. Indianapolis will now see another defensive starter exit, having already waved goodbye to Kwity Paye and Zaire Franklin in recent days.
Meanwhile, for the Commanders, Cross is the latest noteworthy addition to a defense that was among the NFL’s worst in 2025. The Commanders finished 27th in the league in points allowed and last in yardage. Along with Cross, they have picked up edge rushers Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson, linebacker Leo Chenal, DT Tim Settle and cornerback Amik Robertson at the outset of free agency.
Jets Notes: Draft, McDonald, Cook, Cross, Vera-Tucker, Simpson, Davis
Trading former first-round pick Jermaine Johnson to the Titans, the Jets look to have opened the door to selecting another edge rusher with the No. 2 overall pick. As PFR’s Adam La Rose indicated when the team shipped Johnson to Nashville for T’Vondre Sweat, the trade could certainly telegraph the Jets’ draft plans.
With the Raiders almost certain to draft Fernando Mendoza first overall, the Jets are expected to have their pick of edge rushers. Arvell Reese and David Bailey look to be the top candidates for that slot, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini notes. Reese has played on and the ball as a standout Ohio State linebacker, but he looks to want a shot on the edge to start his NFL career.
The Jets will still be considered likely to exercise Will McDonald‘s fifth-year option ($14.48MM), but the Joe Douglas-era investment looks on the verge of teaming with a big-ticket rookie draftee. That would make three first-round edge defenders in five drafts for New York, which selected Johnson in 2022 and McDonald in ’23.
The Jets have lost Johnson, Quinnen Williams, Haason Reddick, John Franklin-Myers and Bryce Huff from their D-line since the 2024 free agency period. With Micheal Clemons on track for free agency, McDonald is the last man standing here. The Jets are believed to be interested in unloading more Douglas-era pieces, and two more figure to be on the move next week.
Both Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson are expected to depart in free agency, Essentiallysports.com’s Tony Pauline adds. That will create glaring Gang Green guard needs. It should not be considered a certainty both leave, though, as Cimini counters by saying the Jets will keep in touch with both blockers. Both interior linemen are, however, expected to at least test the market next week.
Vera-Tucker’s market would be booming had he not missed all of last season — with his third major injury since entering the NFL in 2021 — with a triceps tear. Simpson started two seasons at left guard in New York, not missing a game during that span. Simpson will be heading into an age-29 season, while Vera-Tucker will turn 27 in June.
This Jets regime will be looking to add replacements across the roster, holding more than $74MM in cap space. They have Tony Adams and 2025 UFA addition Andre Cisco bound for the market, and Cimini adds that Bryan Cook and Nick Cross are two safeties the team is believed to have its eye on.
Cook worked as a four-year Chiefs starter, starting every Kansas City game over the past two seasons. The former Super Bowl starter ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 4 overall safety in 2025. A two-year Colts starter, Cross has been incredibly productive since being inserted into Indianapolis’ lineup. He has combined for 266 tackles (11 for loss) over the past two seasons, also not missing a game in that span. The Colts, who transition-tagged Daniel Jones today and have four DBs tied to eight-figure-per-year salaries, are likely to let Cross walk next week.
Minkah Fitzpatrick also looms as a name to monitor, per Cimini, who reminds new DC Brian Duker coached the recent Dolphins reacquisition as Miami’s defensive pass-game coordinator last season. One year remains on Fitzpatrick’s Steelers-designed/Dolphins-adjusted pact, which Miami’s new regime is believed to be trying to trade. The Jets are also believed to be eyeing edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad — who played for Aaron Glenn in Detroit in 2024 — and Cimini confirms a recent report that tied the team to ex-Glenn Lions LB pupil Alex Anzalone.
An interesting reunion may be in the Jets’ plans as well. Demario Davis is back on the team’s radar, Pauline adds. The Jets are believed to be targeting the 14-year veteran — originally a Jets draftee back in 2012 — ahead of his age-37 season. Davis, who already logged two Jets stints (2012-15, 2017), has become one of the league’s best off-ball LBs since relocating to New Orleans. Glenn was on the Saints’ staff for three of Davis’ eight New Orleans seasons.
The prolific Saints tackler has racked up five All-Pro nods (four second-team placements) as a Saint. The Jets gave Jamien Sherwood a three-year, $45MM deal to stay but are almost certain to lose Quincy Williams — a Robert Saleh-Jeff Ulbrich All-Pro piece who drew trade buzz before the deadline — in free agency.
Closing out this Jets rundown, the team’s aging kicker — Nick Folk — is not looking to retire just yet. The 41-year-old kicker, who joins Davis in being a two-stint Jet, is aiming to play at 42 in 2026, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero adds. Despite his advancing age, the 2007 UDFA has led the NFL in accuracy in each of the past three seasons. This included a 96.6% make rate in 2025, when Folk made 7 of 8 tries from beyond 50 yards.
Colts, S Nick Cross In Talks; LB Zaire Franklin On Roster Bubble?
Making no secret of Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce being their top priorities, the Colts have big decisions to make in the coming days. The quarterback and 1,000-yard wide receiver’s statuses point Nick Cross out the door.
The former third-round pick has been a quality starter at safety over the past two seasons, and while multiple factors (the Jones and Pierce matters among them) could point the young DB out of town, Chris Ballard said (via the Indianapolis Star’s Nathan Brown) he has spoken with Cross’ agent about a possible re-signing.
“I’m proud of Nick; I’m happy for Nick. Look, sometimes for players, there’s going to come a point where you and I don’t agree, and you don’t like me because of finances,” Ballard said during an appearance on The Fan Morning Show. “There’s this big pie, and I can slice it up and give you a piece of the pie, but someone (else) might be willing to give you a bigger piece, and if that happens, we’ve both done our jobs.
“We’ve done our jobs developing you, and you’ve done your job taking the coaching and getting better each and every year, and you deserve that opportunity. So we’ll see what the future holds with Nick. He made it to free agency on a high note, and we’ll see how that works out.”
Not only is the QB-WR duo taking precedence here, but the Colts (projected $35.7MM in cap space, per OverTheCap) already made tremendous commitments in the secondary last year. They gave Camryn Bynum a four-year, $60MM deal and handed Charvarius Ward a three-year, $54MM contract in free agency. Months later, Indianapolis traded two first-round picks and Adonai Mitchell for Sauce Gardner, whom the Jets had just given a four-year, $120.4MM extension. With Kenny Moore on a three-year, $30MM contract, there does not seem to be room for Cross in Indy’s secondary on a second contract.
The Colts traded a 2023 third-round pick to move into the 2022 third round for Cross, who only made four starts over his first two seasons. From 2024-25, however, the Maryland product was a prolific tackler (266 combined stops) and registered 11 tackles for loss in that span. Cross, 24, started all 34 Colts games from 2024-25 and will be poised to land a nice second contract.
That said, this is a crowded safety market. Big money will not be available for the full lot of starter-level FAs. Jaquan Brisker, Bryan Cook, Alohi Gilman, Jalen Thompson, Kamren Curl, Coby Bryant, Jaylinn Hawkins and Andre Cisco are all 20-something starters unsigned. Veterans Kevin Byard, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Kyle Dugger and Donovan Wilson are among the older starter-caliber cogs headed to the market. Some teams in need of safety help will benefit from this glut, which presents a buyer’s market. Though, Cross (25 in September) being on the young end will benefit him.
Age may be working against one of Indianapolis’ core defenders. Ballard did not ensure Zaire Franklin would be back with the Colts for a ninth season. Franklin (30 in July) is tied to a three-year, $31.26MM contract. The Colts would save $9MM by cutting their top tackler, who is due an $8.24MM base salary in 2026 — the final year of his deal.
“I think you guys all know my feelings for Zaire Franklin,” Ballard said, via Brown. “We have a very close relationship. I thought he played good football, and the addition of Pratt, when we got him into the mix, he ended up adding a much needed will that we needed. The future, we’ll see. Pratt’s up. Zaire’s under contract, so we’ll see how that ends up playing out.”
When injuries slowed Shaquille Leonard, the Colts received a boost from another member of their deep 2018 draft class. A seventh-rounder out of Syracuse, Franklin has been a regular starter since the 2021 season. Primarily a special-teamer prior to that, Franklin became a late-blooming LB who landed three Colts contracts. He has two 170-plus-tackle seasons under his belt. After a 179-tackle 2023, Franklin led the NFL with 173 in 2024 en route to second-team All-Pro acclaim.
The Colts made a change at linebacker last year by letting E.J. Speed walk. They added ex-Lou Anarumo charge Germaine Pratt in-season. Pro Football Focus did not like the Franklin-Anarumo fit, ranking him as the NFL’s second-worst linebacker regular in 2025. Franklin, 29, would still generate considerable FA interest if released. With money perhaps needed for a franchise tag, veteran defenders like Franklin and perhaps Grover Stewart will be places to look for cap space.
DB Notes: Lassiter, Texans, Colts, Simmons, Davis, Lions, Chiefs, Dolphins, Hawks, Jags
The Texans showed interest in re-signing Steven Nelson this offseason, but the two-year Houston starter ended up retiring. Houston has identified another clear candidate to start opposite Derek Stingley. The defending AFC South champions are prepared to roll with second-rounder Kamari Lassiter as their No. 2 cornerback. Not much drama exists here, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson indicating Lassiter has worked with Houston’s first-team defense since the offseason program. Although Lassiter sustained an ankle injury earlier during training camp, the No. 42 overall pick reclaimed his starter post — ahead of former first-rounders Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson — and will be expected to work in tandem with Stingley.
“For a young guy to come in and not be noticed a lot for doing something negative, everything has been positive with Kamari,” Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s exactly the guy we saw from the Georgia film.”
Here is the latest from several other DB situations:
- The Chiefs still need to decide on a No. 2 corner opposite Trent McDuffie. Long known for moving on from corners after one contract (as they most recently did with L’Jarius Sneed), the Chiefs have a few options — most acquired in 2022. Fourth- and seventh-round picks from that draft Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson, who played extensively last year, lead the way. No one has seized the job, per The Athletic’s Nate Taylor, who has 2022 seventh-rounder Nazeeh Johnson, rookie sixth-rounder Kamal Hadden and former Cowboys second-rounder Kelvin Joseph making the team as well (subscription required). Versatile performer Chamarri Conner, a 2023 fourth-rounder, will be in the mix at corner, but Andy Reid said (via Taylor) this could be a rotation into the season.
- Justin Simmons accepted a one-year, $7.5MM Falcons deal. That price being so far beyond what other veteran safeties commanded confirms a decent market formed for the perennial All-Pro. The Colts‘ questions in the secondary did not lead them into this chase, however, with the Indianapolis Star’s Nate Atkins indicating the team did not make the ex-Bronco an offer. Former third-rounder Nick Cross, recently re-signed veteran Ronnie Harrison and third-year performer Rodney Thomas have rotated in alongside Julian Blackmon in camp. Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds said no safety moves are anticipated.
- Seeing his three-year contract traded from the Buccaneers to the Lions, Carlton Davis remains scheduled to be a 2025 free agent. Davis will be 27 for most of this season, which should give him a decent market — should no Detroit extension be reached in the meantime — come March. A new agency will be representing the former second-rounder for his next negotiation. Davis is joining Athletes First, per a recent announcement.
- Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller will start on the boundary for the Dolphins, with former UDFA success story Kader Kohou in place as Miami’s slot defender. Despite Cam Smith being a second-round pick, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson notes Ethan Bonner — a 2023 UDFA who has stood out in training camp — is the frontrunner to be Miami’s top backup CB. Bonner, who recently returned from a concussion sustained in camp, played only 11 defensive snaps last season. While Smith recently came back after missing nearly three weeks due to injury, ESPN.com’s Marcel Louis-Jacques adds he is week-to-week after sustaining another injury against the Commanders. Despite playing 15 games last season, Smith only saw 20 defensive snaps.
- The base value on Julian Love‘s second Seahawks contract checks in at $33MM, per OverTheCap. The three-year deal includes $11.97MM guaranteed at signing and dropped Love’s cap number by just more than $1.6MM. Option bonuses (worth a combined $4.8MM) are in place to keep the cap hits lower, with both Love’s 2024 and ’25 cap figures coming in at just over $6MM. Love’s 2025 base salary ($1.2MM) is guaranteed for injury and will shift to a full guarantee five days after Super Bowl LIX, ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson tweets.
- The Jaguars‘ Tashaun Gipson reunion pact is worth $2.55MM, Wilson tweets. It comes with $525K guaranteed. The Jags will still be shorthanded at safety for a while. In addition to Gipson’s six-week suspension, Doug Pederson said (via ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco) Andrew Wingard‘s recent knee injury will sideline him for at least a few games.
Nick Cross In Lead For Colts Starting S Role
Julian Blackmon spent a notable amount of time on the free agent market, but he ultimately re-signed with the Colts. Indianapolis has one starting safety spot locked up as a result, but the other is up for grabs.
Similar to slot corner Kenny Moore, Blackmon is a rare known commodity in the Colts’ secondary at the moment. The team has a number of options at both the cornerback and safety positions, many of whom are lacking in experience. At the latter spot, Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas II are the primary contenders for a starting position.
It was Cross who took the majority of first-team reps during OTAs and minicamp, James Boyd of The Athletic writes (subscription required). The 2022 third-rounder entered the league with high expectations, and he earned a start in each of his first two games during his rookie season. Between that point and the final two weeks of the 2023 campaign, however, Cross was relegated to backup duties.
The 22-year-old has primarily played on special teams to date, but he has contributed 56 tackles, one interception and two pass deflections on defense. Cross was replaced as a starter by veteran Rodney McLeod Jr. in 2022, but no such presence is on the Colts’ safety depth chart at the moment. Ronnie Harrison Jr. has spent considerable time on the backend in his career, but Boyd notes he is likely to remain in the linebacking role he took on with Indianapolis last season.
Thomas (a seventh-rounder in Cross’ draft class) has 34 appearances and 25 starts to his name. He has produced six interceptions and 10 pass deflections, but struggles in coverage have been a factor in his career as well. The 26-year-old has two years remaining on his rookie deal, and he could essentially swap roles with Cross with respect to third phase duties if the spring pecking order carries over into the season.
Indianapolis selected Jaylon Carlies and Jaylin Simpson in the fifth round of this year’s draft, giving the team developmental backup safety options. Several veterans at the position remain unsigned, however, and members of that group are not expected to cost much for interested teams. To little surprise, then, Boyd echoes previously-expressed sentiments that the Colts could be suitors for an addition capable of pushing Cross and Thomas for starting duties. Indianapolis currently has nearly $26MM in cap space.
Colts S Khari Willis Announces Retirement
A Colts starting safety for most of the past three seasons, Khari Willis informed the team he will retire from the NFL. Willis intends to pursue a ministry career, he said (via Instagram).
The Colts had excused Willis from their minicamp last week, and he had also missed their OTAs. Willis, who became eligible for a contract extension in January, will walk away from the league after just three seasons.
This represents a blow to the Colts’ defense. Willis, 26, had started 33 of the 39 career games he played. After breaking into Indianapolis’ starting lineup as a rookie, Willis was a first-string regular over the past two seasons. He intercepted four career passes, including two last season, and made 219 career tackles.
The Colts traded up for Willis in the 2019 fourth round, and he teamed with Julian Blackmon as the team’s primary safeties over the past two seasons. Blackmon missed 11 games last season, suffering an Achilles tear. Willis played through injury issues, but an IR stint and a COVID-19-related absence limited him to 11 games in 2021. Calf and knee trouble led Willis to IR last season. He missed time due to a concussion and broken ribs in 2020.
Indianapolis has been active at safety this offseason. The team traded up in the third round to select Maryland safety Nick Cross. That move came after the Colts signed longtime Eagles starter Rodney McLeod. Indianapolis also added ex-Kansas City backup safety Armani Watts earlier this year. Cross should be expected to team with Blackmon in the long-term, though Joel Erickson of the Indianapolis Star notes McLeod may get the call to start this season as Cross develops.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/13/22
Several more mid- and late-round picks agreed to terms on their four-year rookie contracts Friday. Here are the latest agreements:
Denver Broncos
- TE Greg Dulcich (third round, UCLA)
Detroit Lions
- LB Malcolm Rodriguez (sixth round, Oklahoma State)
- LB James Houston (sixth round, Jackson State)
Houston Texans
- WR John Metchie III (second round, Alabama)
- TE Teagan Quitoriano (fifth round, Oregon State)
- OL Austin Deculus (sixth round, LSU)
Indianapolis Colts
- S Nick Cross (third round, Maryland)
Los Angeles Chargers
- DL Otito Ogbonnia (fifth round, UCLA)
- CB Ja’Sir Taylor (sixth round, Wake Forest)
- CB Deane Leonard (seventh round, Ole Miss)
- FB Zander Horvath (seventh round, Purdue)
Miami Dolphins
- QB Skylar Thompson (seventh round, Kansas State)
New England Patriots
- CB Marcus Jones (third round, Houston)
- RB Kevin Harris (sixth round, South Carolina)
New Orleans Saints
- LB D’Marco Jackson (fifth round, Appalachian State)
- DT Jordan Jackson (sixth round, Air Force)
New York Giants
- LB Micah McFadden (fifth round, Indiana)
- DT D.J. Davidson (fifth round, Arizona State)
- OG Marcus McKethan (fifth round, North Carolina)
- LB Darrian Beavers (sixth round, Cincinnati)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- WR George Pickens (second round, Georgia)
- TE Connor Heyward (sixth round, Michigan State)
- LB Mark Robinson (seventh round, Ole Miss)
- QB Chris Oladokun (seventh round, South Dakota State)