AFC West Notes: Bolts, Broncos, Wilkins
Retaining Najee Harris was believed to still be a Steelers option this winter, but the team had declined its starting running back’s fifth-year option last May. Passing on that opened the door to the 2021 first-rounder becoming a one-contract Steeler, and Harris said (via ESPN.com’s Kris Rhim) he began to believe late last season he was on his way out. The Steelers do not negotiate with players in-season, but serious re-signing talks did not emerge this offseason. Harris landed a one-year, $5.25MM deal with the Chargers.
The Miami alum said Jim Harbaugh was a lead reason he signed with the Bolts. The team ramped up its run-game usage last season and has since cut Gus Edwards. Primary starter J.K. Dobbins is also a free agent. He of four 1,000-yard seasons, Harris is almost definitely set to start for the Bolts this season. The Steelers slapped a second-round RFA tender on Jaylen Warren and signed ex-Eagles backup Kenneth Gainwell in free agency.
Here is the latest from the AFC West:
- Staying on the running back beat here, the Broncos have not replaced Javonte Williams (who signed with the Cowboys). With a deep running back draft approaching, the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson views it as a near-certainty the team will bolster this position come April. The Broncos hold picks in the first three rounds for the first time since 2021, before the Russell Wilson and Sean Payton trades depleted their draft capital. Having addressed linebacker, safety and tight end in free agency, Denver should have a clearer runway to add to its backfield during the first three rounds.
- Elsewhere on Denver’s roster, the team already turned to Jonathon Cooper‘s contract — agreed to at the midseason point — as a restructure avenue. The team moved Cooper’s $4MM roster bonus into a signing bonus, per the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel, who adds the team created $3.2MM in cap space via the adjustment. The Nik Bonitto sidekick remains signed, at $13.5MM per year, through the 2028 season.
- The Broncos also replaced fired inside linebacker coach Michael Wilhoite, hiring former college DC Jeff Schmedding, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Schmedding, 47, comes over after two seasons as Washington State’s DC. He was Auburn’s DC in 2022 and Boise State’s from 2019-20. This Broncos ILB post will be Schmedding’s first NFL job.
- Back to the restructure topic, the Raiders cleared out cap room by turning to Christian Wilkins‘ monster deal. Las Vegas converted Wilkins’ $20.5MM roster bonus, which was due earlier this month, into a signing bonus. That will spread out the D-tackle’s cap hits over the life of the contract and free up 2025 cap room, with the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore indicating the team created $15MM in space. The Raiders hold $50.9MM in cap space as of Tuesday, according to OverTheCap.
- Winding up some Chargers contract matters, the team added two defenders on low-end deals. The Bolts’ accord with defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand is for one year and $2.35MM, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets, adding $1.93MM is guaranteed. Hand can earn another $1MM via playing-time incentives. Hand, 29, started two games for the Dolphins last season; he had previously gone since 2020 without starting a game. Linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips‘ Bolts deal is worth $2MM over one year, per OverTheCap. The team is guaranteeing Phillips $700K, between a $400K signing bonus and a partial salary guarantee, Wilson adds. Phillips, 28, will reunite with Chargers GM Joe Hortiz, who was a Ravens exec during the reserve LB’s two-year run in Baltimore.
Chargers To Re-Sign S Tony Jefferson
Tony Jefferson is sticking in Los Angeles. The veteran safety is re-signing with the Chargers, according to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. It’s a one-year deal for Jefferson.
Jefferson announced his retirement following the 2022 season and quickly caught on with the Ravens scouting department. He spent a year in that role before reversing course and attempting a comeback. This signing will reunite Jefferson with Chargers GM Joe Hortiz, a former Ravens exec. Jefferson both played for the Ravens and spent a year on their scouting staff.
He ended up catching on with the Chargers, although he was stashed on the practice squad after not making the initial 53-man roster. He got into eight games (four starts), compiling 27 tackles. He also came up big in the playoffs, collecting three tackles, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in the Wild Card Round. For his efforts, Jefferson garnered a pair of Comeback Player of the Year votes.
After cutting his teeth in Arizona, Jefferson made a name for himself in Baltimore, where he started all 30 of his appearances between 2017 and 2018. A torn ACL ended his 2019 campaign early, and since sitting out the 2020 season, Jefferson has settled into more of a backup role with the 49ers, Ravens (second stint), and Giants.
Jefferson saw most of his work last season when Alohi Gilman was on IR, and the veteran stuck in the lineup when Elijah Molden went down with a season-ending injury. That duo (along with top safety Derwin James Jr.) will be back in 2025, so Jefferson will likely be competing for a back-of-the-depth-chart job come training camp.
Chargers Contract Details: Mack, Bozeman, Dye, Conklin
Here are some details on recent contracts signed by the Chargers:
- Khalil Mack, OLB (Chargers): One year, $18MM. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Mack’s one-year contract is fully guaranteed with a $10MM signing bonus and an $8MM base salary. Due to some void salary cap carryover, Mack will represent a $26.87MM cap hit in 2025.
- Bradley Bozeman, C (Chargers): Two years, $6.5MM. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Bozeman’s new deal has a total guaranteed amount of $3.38MM consisting of a $2.12MM signing bonus and his base salary in 2025 of $1.26MM. Despite no guarantees in the second year of the deal, Bozeman can earn a $500K roster bonus, effective on the third day of the 2026 new league year. Each year of the deal also holds a $2.75MM incentive based on playing time.
- Troy Dye, LB (Chargers): Two years, $5.5MM. According to Wilson, the new two-year contract includes $3MM of total guarantees. $1.5MM, in the form of a signing bonus, is guaranteed at signing, while the remaining $1.5MM comes from Dye’s 2025 base salary. Like Bozeman, Dye has a $500K roster bonus for 2026, but Dye’s incentives (up to $1.5MM each year) are based on playing time, sacks, and interceptions and can act as an escalator for his 2026 earnings. Despite a $2MM base salary and $3.25MM cap hit for the second year of his deal, Los Angeles built in a potential out that will allow them to release Dye after this season with only $750K in dead cap.
- Tyler Conklin, TE (Chargers): One year, $3MM. Conklin’s recent deal with Los Angeles can be worth up to $4.5MM with incentives, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Garafolo calls Conklin’s incentives “reachable,” insinuating that Conklin should be able to wring out the full value of the deal.
- J.K. Scott, P (Chargers): Two years, $6MM. Per Wilson, Scott’s new contract includes $3.15MM of total guarantees, all guaranteed at signing. The guarantees include a $1.9MM signing bonus and Scott’s 2025 base salary of $1.25MM. Unlike Bozeman and Dye, Scott’s $500K roster bonus is effective on the fifth day of the 2026 new league year. Like Dye, though, Scott’s deal has a built-in potential out that will allow Los Angeles to cut him after this year for only $950K of dead cap, despite a salary of $2.35MM and a scheduled cap hit of $3.8MM in 2026.
- Jalen Reagor, WR (Chargers): One year, $1.34MM. According to Wilson, Reagor’s deal is just over the veteran minimum, thanks to $360K of guarantees comprised of a $60K signing bonus and $300K of his base salary (worth a total of $1.17MM). Reagor will also net an additional $55K through a workout bonus and could earn a Week 1 roster bonus of $52.5K if he makes the 53-man roster.
Chargers To Sign Tyler Conklin
The Chargers have agreed to terms with veteran tight end Tyler Conklin on a one-year deal, per his agent Mike McCartney.
Conklin visited the Chargers today with the team needing to add depth at the position. The team is returning 2024 starter Will Dissly, but had to replace the 488 snaps vacated by Stone Smartt, Hayden Hurst, and Eric Tomlinson. Smartt signed with the Jets, and though Hurst and Tomlinson are still available, Conklin is a clear upgrade.
The seven-year veteran played 16 games for the Jets in 2024, logging 51 catches for 449 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. The Jets were reportedly interested in retaining Conklin, but he drew little interest in the first week of free agency. But after Evan Engram and Juwan Johnson signed new contracts, Conklin became the best available tight end on the market.
The Chargers, meanwhile, only had Dissly and Tucker Fisk under contract for 2025. Dissly appeared in 15 games with a 50.6% snap share, while Fisk played 19.3% of the team’s offensive snaps in a rotational role. Conklin will likely slot in as the TE2 in Los Angeles though offensive coordinator Greg Roman frequently uses multiple tight end formations.
Conklin has put together a solid career for a former fifth-rounder, landing with his third NFL team after being drafted by the Vikings in 2018 and signing a three-year deal with the Jets. Conklin was unable to land another multi-year deal as a 29-year-old, indicating that he will likely play on a year-to-year basis for the remainder of his career.
While Conklin fills the Chargers’ short-term need, they may still target a strong draft class at the position in April to find a long-term tight end for Justin Herbert.
Chargers Hosting TE Tyler Conklin
It’s a bit surprising that veteran tight end Tyler Conklin remains unsigned at this point in free agency. The sure-handed 29-year-old has established himself as a dependable, though not electric, tight end over his seven-year career. As the top remaining free agent tight end, Conklin is sure to be receiving some calls in the coming days, but he’ll start with the Chargers, who are hosting him, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
Conklin was already one of the top free agent tight ends when free agency opened, along with Juwan Johnson, Zach Ertz, Tommy Tremble, and Austin Hooper. All of Johnson, Ertz, Tremble, and Hooper re-signed with their most recent teams to come off the board, as did Ertz’s teammate John Bates, leaving Conklin alone as the best available tight end.
As a fifth-round pick out of Central Michigan in 2018, it took Conklin a few years to catch on in Minnesota. Coming in as a rookie behind established veteran Kyle Rudolph, Conklin didn’t get much run time, even falling behind Irv Smith Jr. on the depth chart during his sophomore campaign. Rudolph’s departure from the Vikings and a torn meniscus for Smith shoved Conklin into the limelight in the final year of his rookie contract.
That contract year, in which he caught 61 balls for 593 yards and three touchdowns, saw Conklin earn a three-year, $20.25MM deal with the Jets. Conklin’s first two seasons in New York saw him finish as the team’s second-leading receiver behind only Garrett Wilson. In 2024, quarterback Aaron Rodgers utilized his old receivers a bit more, spreading the ball between Wilson, Davante Adams, and Allen Lazard. Conklin (449 yards, four touchdowns) finished fifth on the team in receiving yards, behind those three and running back Breece Hall, and fourth in receiving touchdowns behind Wilson, Adams, and Lazard.
In Los Angeles, the Chargers have their leading tight end, Will Dissly, under contract for another two seasons. Dissly’s two backups from last year, Stone Smartt and Hayden Hurst, both saw their contracts expire this offseason, so Conklin would add some much-needed depth to the position. Neither Dissly nor Conklin are high-volume tight ends, so they may split time together at tight end well in Los Angeles.
The Jets are set to head into 2025 with Jeremy Ruckert and Smartt, signed in free agency from the Chargers, as their top tight ends. It was reported that they had no intention of retaining Conklin, but they’ve since expressed interest in his return. We’ll see where his free agency progresses after his visit to Los Angeles.
AFC Contract Details: Garrett, Stingley, Broncos, Bills, Jaguars, Titans, Chargers
Beginning with two record-setting deals, here are the latest contract details from the AFC:
- Myles Garrett, DE (Browns). Four years, $160MM. Garrett’s $88.8MM full guarantee consists of a $21.54MM signing bonus, fully guaranteed base salaries in 2025 and ’26 and a fully guaranteed 2026 option bonus. Almost all of Garrett’s 2027 compensation is guaranteed as well, with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio noting a $39.34MM option bonus shifts to a full guarantee no later than Day 3 of the 2026 league year. Garrett’s $21.41MM 2028 option bonus is guaranteed for injury and will shift to a full guarantee on Day 3 of the 2027 league year. Only $800K of Garrett’s $38MM 2029 base salary will be guaranteed a year out, however; Garrett’s $38MM 2030 base is nonguaranteed. The option bonuses and four void years will help keep Garrett’s cap numbers under $30MM until 2028.
- Derek Stingley Jr., CB (Texans). Three years, $90MM. Of Stingley’s eye-popping $89MM guarantee, only $48MM is locked in at signing, Florio adds. Early protections, as in the Garrett contract, are included here as well. After fully guaranteed base salaries in 2025 and ’26, Stingley will see his $20MM 2027 base salary shift from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee in March 2026. That same structure is in place for 2027, with a $21MM salary moving from guaranteed for injury to fully guaranteed by March 2027. Stingley’s 2029 base is nonguaranteed.
- D.J. Jones, DT (Broncos). Three years, $39MM. Jones fetched an impressive second Broncos contract. Before the team reunited him with 49ers teammates Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga, Jones scored a $26MM full guarantee, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Two void years are in this Denver deal.
- Dre Greenlaw, LB (Broncos): Three years, $31.5MM. This base value checks in a touch south of the initial reports as well. Of that sum, $11.5MM is fully guaranteed, per Spotrac. Another $2MM locks in on Day 5 of the 2026 league year, via OverTheCap, but Greenlaw’s injury trouble looks to have affected him on the market after all. A $3MM incentive package is present, and Denver can move on from the deal for less than $5MM in 2026 dead money.
- Josh Palmer, WR (Bills). Three years, $29MM. This is south of the $36MM number initially reported. TD and yardage incentives cover $6MM, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan tweets. The ex-Charger will see $15MM fully guaranteed. Palmer’s 2025 salary is locked in, and $4.84MM of his $9.66MM 2026 base salary is as well. Another $3MM will convert from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the ’26 league year, per OverTheCap.
- Cody Barton, LB (Titans). Three years, $21MM. The nomadic defender will see $13.3MM fully guaranteed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Both Barton’s 2025 and ’26 salaries are guaranteed, with Wilson adding $1.5MM of his 2027 base is as well.
- Robert Hainsey, C (Jaguars). Three years, $21MM. Hainsey will receive $10MM fully guaranteed, Wilson tweets. Of Hainsey’s $6.25MM 2026 base salary, $3MM is guaranteed at signing. The rest locks in if Hainsey is still a Jaguar by Day 5 of the 2026 league year.
- Eric Murray, S (Jaguars). Three years, $19.5MM. This massive Murray raise from his Texans deals brings $10MM fully guaranteed, per OverTheCap. Murray will see $3.5MM of his 2026 base salary locked in, while Wilson adds the rest becomes guaranteed on Day 5 of the ’26 league year.
- Marquise Brown, WR (Chiefs). One year, $6.85MM. This is down from the “up to” $11MM report, with Wilson indicating $6.5MM is guaranteed. After a season-marring injury, Brown takes a slight pay cut (after a $7MM 2024 deal).
- Benjamin St-Juste, CB (Chargers). One year, $2.5MM. The Chargers are guaranteeing St-Juste $1MM, Wilson adds. This profiles as a flier on a four-year Washington regular, whose $1.5MM base salary is nonguaranteed.
Broncos, Seahawks Pursued TE Juwan Johnson; Latest On Evan Engram’s Free Agency Call
In what may be the least surprising free agency what-if in this year’s cycle, the Broncos were one of the teams in on Juwan Johnson. The veteran tight end confirmed (via ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell) a Sean Payton reunion was on the table.
The Broncos already employ two former Saints tight ends, in Adam Trautman and Lucas Krull, and their roster and coaching staff includes other ex-Saints. Denver, though, looked to serve as the lead driver of a market that ended with a three-year, $30.75MM deal for one of Payton’s more successful UDFAs.
New Orleans carved out enough cap room, primarily using Derek Carr‘s contract as a tool, to re-sign Johnson and Chase Young and add Justin Reid. Johnson will stay with the team with which he has spent his entire career, remaining paired up with Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill. Johnson, 28, will be the lead target among this trio thanks to this contract.
The Seahawks also pursued Johnson, which represents a less predictable push due to the team having re-signed Noah Fant during last year’s legal tampering period. Fant is on a two-year, $21.5MM deal, but Johnson carries a season of experience with Klint Kubiak, who did not overlap with Fant in Denver. The former first-round pick does not have any guaranteed salary on the books for 2026, though he is a year younger than Johnson.
Prior to agreeing to return in a new Saints offense, Johnson said (via NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill) he met with new HC Kellen Moore. Johnson called the new Saints HC the night before he signed to go over his vision for himself in the offense. Evidently, this conversation went well, as Johnson will be a key piece of Moore’s first Saints operation.
Although we included Johnson as the only tight end in the PFR Top 50, the list emerged before the Jaguars cut Evan Engram. A more accomplished player, Engram also looks to have benefited from where the Saints went for Johnson. A day after the Johnson pact, the Broncos gave Engram a two-year, $23MM accord. That narrowly topped Johnson’s AAV number, as Engram has two Pro Bowls on a resume that includes five 575-plus-yard seasons (to Johnson’s zero).
Engram, though, is two years older than Johnson. The 30-year-old TE also received an offer from the Chargers, 9News’ Mike Klis adds, noting the Bolts’ proposal checked in around where the Broncos’ offer came in. Engram visited both teams, meeting with the Broncos before Johnson recommitted to the Saints. The Broncos may have passed on beating the Saints’ offer to reunite Payton and Johnson, but they received news of Engram’s commitment barely a day later. This stands to help a team that saw Trautman’s 188 yards lead its TE contingent last season.
Of Engram’s $16MM guarantee at signing, $5MM comes as part of his 2026 base salary ($10.99MM), KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. Though he gave the Saints a three-year commitment, Johnson did better at signing; New Orleans gave its TE find $21.25MM fully guaranteed.
Although they have signed half of last year’s AFC West starting centers (Bradley Bozeman, Andre James), the Chargers have thus far stood down at tight end. Their offer to Engram, of course, shows an interest in upgrading. Hayden Hurst hit free agency last week, while the team lost Stone Smartt to the Jets. Will Dissly, last season’s Bolts TE yardage leader, remains under contract.
Chargers Sign C Andre James
Andre James was among the players cut at the start of the new league year last week, but he has not needed to wait long to find a new deal. The veteran center signed with the Chargers on Tuesday, per a team announcement. 
James spent the first six years of his career with the Raiders. That span included serving as the team’s full-time starting center from 2021 onwards. The former UDFA re-signed on a three-year deal last offseason, but just one year into the pact he was let go.
Today’s move keep James in the AFC West, and it could allow him to continue operating as a starter. The Chargers re-signed Bradley Bozeman just before free agency began, putting him on track to carry on as Los Angeles’ first-team option in the middle. James represents experienced competition for the role, though.
The 27-year-old has mostly drawn consistent PFF reviews during his career, with his best overall grade (74.6) coming in 2023. James’ evaluation took a step back last season, one in which the Raiders struggled in general up front. A bounce-back campaign in 2025 would help James rebuild his value, though, something which could be feasible if he earns the starting gig on a strong Chargers O-line.
The Bolts have tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, along with guard Zion Johnson, set to return next season. The team added another starter along the interior in the form of Mekhi Becton, who thrived in his one-and-done Eagles campaign. Becton found himself as one of the top blockers in free agency this year, and he landed a two-year Chargers pact worth up to $20MM. Expectations will be high for the former Jets draftee in particular and Los Angeles’ play up front in general.
Bozeman spent the 2022 and ’23 seasons in Carolina, but when playing out his rookie deal with the Ravens before that he worked under Greg Roman. The latter took on OC duties in Los Angeles when reuniting with head coach Jim Harbaugh last offseason, a factor in Bozeman’s first Chargers deal and his recent re-signing. The latter started all 17 games in 2024, but that may not be the case moving forward.
Chargers Agree To Sign OL Mekhi Becton
TODAY, 8:45am: Mekhi Becton‘s two-year deal is worth $20MM, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. This is a significant jump in AAV for the lineman, who settled for a one-year, $2.75MM deal with the Eagles last year.
FRIDAY, 10:05pm: After playing out a one-year, prove-it contract in Philadelphia, offensive lineman Mekhi Becton rehabilitated his image as a former first-round pick in the eyes of the NFL with a highly successful, Super Bowl-winning season. The success he found with his new team will result in a new contract with another team as the now free agent has agreed to a two-year deal with the Chargers, per Tim McManus of ESPN. 
After getting drafted 11th overall out of Louisville in 2020, Becton was verging on bust status with the Jets. An impressive rookie season saw him battle back from an early injury to start 13 of 14 game appearances, ranking as the 31st-best offensive tackle out of 79 players graded at the position, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). After being carted off the field in Week 1 of his sophomore campaign, Becton missed the next 33 regular season games, including the entire 2022 NFL season after he suffered an avulsion fracture of his right kneecap in training camp.
With a disappointing start to his NFL career, the Jets opted to decline his fifth-year option. Before the injury prior to 2022, New York had moved Becton to right tackle, a move he didn’t agree with. At one point, it seemed like Becton might be fighting for a roster spot, but he eventually was awarded the starting right tackle job for 2023. When starting left tackle Duane Brown was placed on injured reserve early in the year, New York’s hand was forced, and they moved Becton back to the left side.
A rough season, in which Becton ranked 66th out of 81 offensive tackles, per PFF, failed to establish the young lineman as a long-term option for the team. As a result, the Jets did not seek to re-sign him. Instead, he signed with the Eagles. Just like with the Jets, Becton desired to earn a long-term deal with the Eagles and, as a result, was even willing to play some guard, eventually winning the starting right guard job.
A resurgent season saw Becton play the best football of his career. En route to a Super Bowl title, Becton ranked as the 20th-best guard in the league, per PFF. Near the opening of free agency, Becton reiterated his desire to remain in Philadelphia, but he began to draw a lot of interest in free agency. Now, Becton will have two years in Los Angeles to earn that long-term deal he so desires.
In Los Angeles, the Chargers are set at center (Bradley Bozeman), left guard (Zion Johnson), and both tackle spots (Joe Alt & Rashawn Slater). The team watched both Trey Pipkins and Jamaree Salyer struggle at the right guard spot throughout 2024, so it stands to reason that Becton will fit in as a perfect upgrade at that position. He’ll also provide the added benefit of having the ability to flex out to either tackle spot, in case of emergency.
As for the Eagles, they don’t immediately have an option to fill Becton’s spot at right guard. Third-year lineman Tyler Steen is who Becton beat out for the starting right guard job in camp, but after starting two games and appearing in all 17 last year, Steen ranked 75th of 77 guards in the NFL, per PFF. The other option would be recent trade acquisition Kenyon Green. Green started nine of 12 game appearances for the Texans in 2024 and 14 of 15 in 2022. The only issue there is that Green, another former first-rounder, was one of the two only players to grade out lower than Steen last season at 76th, per PFF.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/14/25
Friday’s minor NFL moves after a busy week of transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Simi Fehoko
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Keith Taylor
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: G Kendrick Green
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Kenny Yeboah
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: S M.J. Stewart, T Zachary Thomas
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Corey Ballentine
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Del’Shawn Phillips
Los Angeles Rams
- Re-signed: DT Larrell Murchison
Miami Dolphins
- Re-signed: WR Dee Eskridge
New York Giants
- Signed: DT Jeremiah Ledbetter
New York Jets
- Signed: P Austin McNamara
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Kylen Granson, LS Charley Hughlett, LB Patrick Johnson, RB Avery Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-signed: WR Cody White
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: P Jack Browning
Tennessee Titans
- Re-signed: C Corey Levin
Washington Commanders
- Signed ERFA tender: RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.