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Panthers Extend CB Jaycee Horn

March 10th, 2025 at 9:40am CST by Adam La Rose

Jaycee Horn and the Panthers have managed to work out a deal keeping him in place for the foreseeable future. Talks on that front have produced a record-setting agreement.

Horn has agreed to a four-year extension, as confirmed in a team announcement. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the pact is worth $100MM and includes $70MM guaranteed. The $25MM annual average value of the pact is the most for any defensive back in NFL history.

The locked-in money comprises a practical (not full) guarantee, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer adds to no surprise. A rolling structure is in place like many big-ticket deals around the league. Still, this represents a major investment on Carolina’s part to prevent a potential 2026 free agent departure.

Team and player were known to be negotiating a long-term pact, and Horn remaining mostly healthy in 2024 (en route to a Pro Bowl) helped his leverage. In two of his four career campaigns, the former No. 8 pick has been able to play close to a full campaign and operate as Carolina’s top cover man. Considering the fact Horn played a combined nine games between the 2021 and ’23 seasons, though, the extent of this commitment is notable.

The most recent update on the matter noted that a deal at or near the top of the cornerback market was the target in this case, so in that respect today’s news comes as little surprise. Jalen Ramsey previously held the top spot in annual compensation at $24.1MM, but Horn has now moved past that mark. Importantly, this agreement has been reached before the likes of Sauce Gardner (Jets) and Derek Stingley (Texans) ink monster deals of their own.

Adding on defense is a clear priority for the Panthers this offseason, and the team entered Monday with roughly $26MM in cap space. The 2025 figure for Horn (who was already on the books thanks to his $12.47MM fifth-year option) could be lowered as a result of the pact, but in any case funds will be available for outside secondary additions. Even if Carolina makes a splash at cornerback or safety, though, the 25-year-old will of course be counted to anchor the unit.

Horn posted 13 pass deflections along with a career-high 68 tackles and the first two sacks of his NFL tenure in 2024. The 53.2% completion percentage he allowed was the lowest since his abbreviated rookie campaign, a sign he will be capable of operating as a true No. 1 for years to come. That will be key as Carolina looks to turn to younger option at the CB spot in particular and on defense in general as the unit prepares to move on without linebacker Shaq Thompson.

Carolina ranked last in total and scoring defense in 2024. As the team looks to build off the momentum showed by quarterback Bryce Young‘s showings in the latter stages of the season, taking a major step forward on the other side of the ball will be needed for 2025 and beyond. Horn will play a central role in that effort for years to come.

Falcons To Release DT Grady Jarrett

March 10th, 2025 at 9:36am CST by Sam Robinson

Grady Jarrett‘s time with the Falcons is coming to an end. The two-time Pro Bowler is being released, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report.

The Falcons had been linked to exploring a Jarrett separation, initially via trade, and the cap-strapped team will move forward with a release. The Falcons will save more than $16MM by dropping Jarrett, their longest-tenured defender.

Atlanta had extended Jarrett — on a three-year, $49.5MM deal — in 2022 but saw him suffer an ACL tear in October 2023. Although Jarrett returned for the 2024 season on time, he totaled just 2.5 sacks. His 12 QB hits were also south of the prime-years production that landed a fifth-round success story two Falcons extensions. Ahead of Jarrett’s age-32 season, a Falcons team that entered Monday over the cap will move on.

Atlanta (again) has major questions to answer regarding its pass rush. Even with Jarrett in the lineup, the Falcons ranked 31st in sacks (31) last season. The team also has let Matt Judon and Lorenzo Carter hit the market. Former second-rounder Arnold Ebiketie remains on the roster, but Raheem Morris‘ team has work to do both up front and at outside linebacker this offseason.

Garrett’s exit will leave only Jake Matthews, whom the Falcons extended Sunday night, remaining from the team’s Super Bowl LI roster. Jarrett’s three sacks that night put him on the map, and the Falcons eventually paid him twice. After a four-year, $68MM extension, Jarrett earned a three-year, $49.5MM pact. After not being allowed to play out that contract, Jarrett will be heading elsewhere for the first time in his NFL career.

This transaction will move the Falcons into the black for cap space, but they still should be considered likely to make other roster adjustments to create room, as defensive needs are widespread going into Morris’ second season as a full-time Falcons HC.

Saints To Acquire Davon Godchaux From Patriots

March 10th, 2025 at 8:07am CST by Adam La Rose

After receiving permission to seek a trade, Davon Godchaux is indeed on the move. The veteran defensive tackle is being dealt from the Patriots to the Saints in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

This deal will bring about a homecoming for Godchaux. The Plaquemine, Louisiana native spent his college career at LSU. After spending each of his first eight seasons in the AFC East, he will now head to New Orleans as a starting-caliber option along the defensive interior.

Godchaux has never posted more than two sacks in a season, but he has remained a strong presence against the run during his career. The 30-year-old worked out a new deal with New England last offseason (a two-year pact featuring a fresh set of guarantees), but his name came up in advance of the trade deadline. Godchaux got his wish in not being dealt, but he will now be on the move once the new league year opens and the deal becomes official.

Two years remain on Godchaux’s pact, and his $4MM base salary for 2025 is guaranteed in full. With only a $5MM cap charge for the season, though, the former fifth-rounder will provide the Saints with a cost-effective starter. That would especially be the case if a restructure were to be worked out upon arrival something The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson reports is expected to take place. New Orleans is among the teams which still need to make some moves (via cuts or more restructures) to achieve cap compliance over the next few days, but this deal will bring about cost certainty on the D-line.

New Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has made it clear retooling along the offensive and defensive lines will be a priory this offseason. One notable splash has already been made amongst outside free agents with edge rusher Harold Landry agreeing to a three-year pact. Losing Godchaux will create a vacancy on the interior, but the Pats can now proceed with finding Vrabel’s preference as a replacement as they sort out how to use their considerable cap space in free agency.

Texans, Sheldon Rankins Agree To Deal

March 10th, 2025 at 8:04am CST by Adam La Rose

Sheldon Rankins is set to return to Houston. The veteran defensive tackle has a deal in place with the Texans, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.

This will be a one-year agreement worth up to $7MM, per Russini. Rankins spent the 2023 season in Houston, and a reunion with DeMeco Ryans and Co. is now in order. The 30-year-old was among the Bengals’ recent roster cuts, leaving him free to sign prior to the official start of the new league year.

Rankins served as a full-time starter in Houston, registering six sacks (the second-highest total of his career). The Texans attempted to re-sign him, but the former first-rounder opted to take a two-year Bengals pact instead. Rankins was limited to just seven games during his one-and-done Cincinnati campaign, leading to his release and what will check in as a less lucrative Texans pact than the one which was offered last spring.

It was recently reported Houston was interested in a Rankins reunion, so it comes as little surprise one has been worked out in short order. He will represent a familiar first-team option along the defensive line, a unit which could see notable turnover depending on how free agency shakes out. The Louisville product managing to duplicate his previous Texans success as a pass-rusher in 2025 would be welcomed, but serving as at least a rotational contributor along the interior will be expected.

The Texans entered Monday near the bottom of the league in available funds with roughly $4.3MM in cap space. This Rankins deal will eat into that figure to an extent, and Houston will need to continue looking for modest additions as free agency unfolds.

Browns Extend DE Myles Garrett

March 9th, 2025 at 11:52pm CST by Ely Allen

Despite seemingly being at an impasse, the Browns and defensive star Myles Garrett have reportedly found their way back together. After trade demands rang loud not long ago, ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report that Garrett will now remain in Cleveland on an extension that will pay him $40MM per year with $123.5MM in guaranteed money. The four-year extension will keep the 29-year-old in Cleveland through the 2030 season and makes Garret the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the six years left on the contract have a total value of $204.8MM, including $100MM paid out in the first three years, $88.8MM fully guaranteed, and $122.8MM in total guarantees.

The biggest addition to the contract drawing attention from the league media: a no-trade clause. Garrett had two years remaining on his previous deal, but a lack of guaranteed money in those years was a major sticking point for the former Defensive Player of the Year.

A little over a month ago, Garrett sent NFL rumors flying in every direction by requesting a trade. Just over a week ago, Garrett seemingly closed the door on a return to Cleveland, with reports coming out that he was “not open” to an extension with the Browns. Even two days ago, we got reports that team owner Jimmy Haslam declined to even meet with Garrett. Per Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Garrett had made it clear that it wasn’t about the money, that he was adamant about leaving Cleveland because of a lack of belief in the Browns’ direction. Clearly, offering Garrett $40MM per year was the correct direction.

ESPN’s John Keim adds that, when Garrett first made his trade demands, the rest of the league felt it was just about working leverage for the extension. Cleveland never seemed to have any desire to trade their star defensive end. Regardless, the offers came flying in from around the league, with many first-round picks being made available to the Browns. The Browns brass was reportedly “confident all along,” per Mike Jones of The Athletic, that they would work out an extension rather than trade Garrett. They were right.

Garrett’s big payday comes only three days after the Raiders made defensive end Maxx Crosby the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL with an average annual value of $35.5MM. Garrett’s mark blows that out of the water, but even that might not last long. Elite pass rusher paydays continue to be on the way with the likes of Trey Hendrickson, T.J. Watt, and Aidan Hutchinson all in or approaching a period in which extensions will be considered.

Specifically on the hotseat are the Cowboys and Bengals, both of whom have made recent claims that they are prepared to make a star player the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. Cincinnati would be doing so for wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase at a position which set a high, new bar when Justin Jefferson set the mark with $35MM per year last year.

Dallas has now backed themselves into a corner for the third time in a row on paying a big player. Last year, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys waited too long to extend both quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. By the time they finally worked out terms, several other players at those positions had continually pushed up the market price, forcing Dallas to settle for even more in their deals with Prescott and Lamb. Similarly, the team’s insistence on waiting until the last second to extend a star player has seen the price they would need to pay to hold on to Micah Parsons rise significantly.

As for Garrett, the price is well-deserved. With four first-team All-Pro selections, two second-team All-Pro selections, and six Pro Bowl selections, Garrett is widely recognized as a top pass rusher in the game. In the last four seasons, he’s finished as the top pass rusher, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), three times, finishing second this year. He has the most sacks in the league over the last three years (44.0) and the second-most in the league since he was drafted in 2017 (102.5) behind only Watt (108.0). His 102.5 sacks are also a franchise high for the Browns.

Garrett will continue to be an anchor on the Browns defense. Rumors that he wanted to join a contender will fall by the wayside for now as he returns to a defense that finished 28th in points allowed and 13th in sacks. The offense may be headed in another direction, though, as the team seems ready to move on from their last huge contract, given to quarterback Deshaun Watson, perhaps in pursuit of a rookie option. Regardless, Garrett will continue to do his job and dominate.

Rams Sign WR Davante Adams

March 9th, 2025 at 11:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

11:40pm: Adams’ deal contains an $8MM 2025 base salary and a $16MM number in 2026, per ESPN.com’s Sarah Barshop, who adds a more notable number due in March 2026. Adams will be due a $6MM roster bonus on Day 3 of the 2026 league year. While Adams’ 2025 base salary is guaranteed, the Rams would appear to have something of an out in 2026.

Though, Barshop adds Adams landed a $12MM signing bonus. Half of that would account for dead money if the Rams cut him in 2026. This still looks like a wait-and-see situation, as SI.com’s Albert Breer adds only the $20MM from the signing bonus and 2025 base is guaranteed.

5:55pm: Davante Adams‘ West Coast aspirations are coming true. The Rams are bringing in the All-Pro wide receiver, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. The team has announced the signing.

The Rams are giving the decorated receiver a two-year, $46MM deal, Rapoport adds. He will see $26MM guaranteed. This is quite the haul for a player who will be 33 by year’s end. But Adams was by far the most productive receiver who changed teams last season, outshining Amari Cooper, DeAndre Hopkins and Mike Williams. Adams posted 854 yards in 11 Jets games and has secured another big payday.

Officially releasing Adams last week, the Jets made the three-time All-Pro a street free agent. That allowed him to speak with teams before the legal tampering period, which starts Monday. The Rams, who have not yet separated from Cooper Kupp, are spending big bucks to help Matthew Stafford after his recent recommitment to the team.

Linked to a West Coast landing spot weeks ago, the Fresno State alum sought at least $20MM per year and indeed was looking to return to his home state, Rapoport adds. Adams will now pair with Puka Nacua, coming in as a hired gun as the Rams — after losses in the wild-card and divisional rounds over the past two years — attempt to book a third Super Bowl berth in the Sean McVay era.

McVay told Kupp early this offseason the Rams were moving on, and Sunday night’s news cements it. Three years after giving Kupp a three-year, $80MM extension following his triple-crown season, the Rams are adding a bigger name. Adams is a year older than Kupp, but he has been much healthier than the 2021 All-Pro. The former Packers, Raiders and Jets star has missed only four games over the past four seasons. One of those (in 2021) came due to rest, and the three others were during a period in which Adams wanted to leave Las Vegas. Although Aaron Rodgers will not be coming with him, Adams will link up with one of the NFL’s most reliable offenses and attempt to make a difference.

Adams will go from leading a receiving corps housing Garrett Wilson to one including Nacua, as the veteran — after some squandered years from a contention standpoint — will return to a Super Bowl threat. Adams still posted a third straight first-team All-Pro season during his Derek Carr reunion season, but the Raiders had begun to decline. Adams showed visible frustration with the Raiders’ ensuing Jimmy Garoppolo plan the next season, calling for a benching of the 2023 FA signing. With Adams tied to Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell last year, the fit predictably ended quickly.

Even with the Jets going 5-12 during Rodgers’ comeback season, Adams played well. His 2023 season with Garoppolo and O’Connell also produced a 1,000-yard year. Adams will head to Los Angeles on the heels of six 1,000-yard seasons in his past seven. We ranked Adams as our No. 15 overall free agent, as only Chris Godwin came in ahead of the off-and-on Rodgers target. The $26MM guaranteed effectively justifies that placement, as the Rams will pay Adams while Nacua is still on a rookie deal. Nacua does not become extension-eligible until 2026.

Rodgers has not committed to even playing in 2025, but that is the expectation. It would appear his days of playing with Adams are over. Adams helped Rodgers to two MVPs, playing a tertiary role in his 2014 honor (Adams’ rookie year). Rodgers was briefly linked to the Rams, as they were sorting out their Stafford situation. Now, Rodgers is being connected to the Giants, who aggressively pursued Stafford during his trade talks. As the Giants and Raiders fell short, Stafford will play a fifth Rams season and have one of this era’s best pass catchers to target alongside Nacua.

Broncos To Re-Sign DT D.J. Jones

March 9th, 2025 at 11:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

11:25pm: The Broncos have their nose tackle locked up on a second contract, with DNVR Sports’ Zac Stevens reporting the deal is done. Fowler’s update turned out to be on-point, as 9News’ Mike Klis confirms it is a three-year, $39MM pact. Considering his run-oriented skillset, this represents a big win for Jones, though guarantees will tell the full tale. If nothing else, this continues a spree of Broncos extensions and re-signings, as Sean Payton is signing off on paying players acquired by GM George Paton.

11:14pm: Nary a word about D.J. Jones appeared on the PFR pages during his Broncos contract. That is generally a good sign for a lineman. Jones stayed mostly healthy on his three-year Denver deal and was a key role player on some solid defenses, including last season’s. The Broncos may not let him hit free agency.

The veteran defensive tackle is close to a deal to stay in Denver, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. The sides are nearing an agreement on a contract that would be worth around $13MM per year. That would mark a raise for Jones, who played out a three-year, $30MM contract. The interior starter expressed interest in staying in Denver after the team’s 2024 season.

Missing only three games in three seasons, Jones operated as a quality run stopper in Denver. The former San Francisco fifth-round pick came up in a rumor about being traded back to the 49ers at the deadline, but no traction came out of that. Jones started all 17 Broncos games, helping the team snap a playoff drought.

ESPN’s run stop win rate metric viewed Jones as elite last season, ranking him second among interior D-linemen against the run. Not much of a statistical presence, Jones instead helped front-seven pieces Zach Allen and Nik Bonitto earn second-team All-Pro acclaim last season.

Jones did post 42 tackles last season and tallied five TFLs in 2023, helping the team recover after a dreadful defensive start. Denver’s NT compiled five sacks in three seasons with the team. The Broncos ranked third against the run and are interested in keeping Jones and Allen together inside. Allen is targeting an extension, having outplayed a $15MM-per-year deal.

Jones’ age (30) may not be working against him much, as a $13MM-per-year deal would be a nice bump. Denver has already been active in extending its current core, paying Patrick Surtain, Garett Bolles, Jonathon Cooper and Quinn Meinerz last year. The team has Bo Nix tied to a rookie contract through at least 2026, but it is still on the hook for the second leg of Russell Wilson dead money ($30MM-plus) this year.

The Broncos are carrying just more than $40MM in cap space, which would stand to go to some needs in free agency. Jones, however, could take up a notable portion of those funds hours before the market opens. Denver has until 11am CT Monday to nix Jones talks with other teams.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/9/25

March 9th, 2025 at 9:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

With free agency less than 12 hours away, here are Sunday’s minor moves:

Denver Broncos

Minnesota Vikings

Both players were set to be restricted free agents. With the low-end tender costing $3.26MM this year, neither team appeared likely to tender their respective RFAs. Fraboni was not set to be tendered, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. Fraboni has been Denver’s long snapper for the past two full seasons, arriving during the 2022 season.

Wright has been the Vikings’ punter for the past three years. He averaged a career-high 48.9 yards per punt in 2023 and checked in at 46.5 last season. Wright will earn $1.75MM on a one-year contract, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.

Commanders To Re-Sign TE John Bates

March 9th, 2025 at 9:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Commanders certainly seem to approve of their 2024 tight end setup. After re-signing Zach Ertz, the team is keeping its blocking tight end as well.

John Bates is sticking around, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo, who notes the young Ertz complement is staying on a three-year deal. Washington has used Bates as a supplementary TE piece for four seasons, having drafted him in the 2021 fourth round.

This was among the Commanders’ priorities, ESPN.com’s John Keim adds, and a sufficient offer will keep the four-year vet off the market. Bates, 27, could have tested free agency had he remained unattached by 11am CT Monday. But the warp-speed roster-building missions regularly involve quick changes during the legal tampering period; Bates will sit that out and stay in Washington.

Bates staying represents a notable commitment to tight end, as the Commanders also drafted Ben Sinnott in last year’s second round. Ertz is more placeholder/Jayden Daniels security blanket, but Bates joins Sinnott in being signed through 2027. Bates played 516 snaps to Sinnott’s 311 last season. The 6-foot-6 tight end has 25 career starts under his belt, complementing the likes of Ertz and Logan Thomas during his rookie-contract years.

The Ron Rivera-led regime drafted Bates, whereas Sinnott and Ertz arrived under Adam Peters. That makes this commitment a bit more interesting. Sinnott-Bates has the makings of a long-term TE duo, while Ertz — heading into an age-35 season — is probably year-to-year at this point.

Illustrating his role on last year’s Commanders team, Bates caught just eight passes despite the above-referenced snap share. He caught 20 passes as a rookie and 19 in 2023, but the Boise State alum will continue to make his living as a blocker.

Raiders To Re-Sign DL Adam Butler

March 9th, 2025 at 9:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Adam Butler revived his career with the Raiders, who plucked him off the scrap heap after a 2022 season spent out of football. Despite arriving during the Raiders’ Patriot Way experiment, the ex-New England defensive lineman still has a place in Las Vegas.

The Raiders are re-signing Butler on a three-year, $16.5MM deal, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Butler had been seeking a raise from his low-end 2024 terms, and Rapoport adds $11MM will come guaranteed to stay with the team under Pete Carroll.

This marks a significant raise for Butler, who played out a one-year deal worth $1.8MM in 2024. Butler, 31 in April, has proven to be a solid interior rusher; he has five sacks in each of the past two seasons. Carroll had expressed interest in bringing back several of the team’s in-house FAs — accumulated under multiple GMs over the past four years — and Butler will be a less expensive piece to retain compared to Tre’von Moehrig, Nate Hobbs, Robert Spillane and perhaps Malcolm Koonce.

A regular in New England from 2017-20, Butler picked up a Super Bowl ring and followed Brian Flores to Miami in 2021. The Dolphins’ next regime did not keep Butler around, cutting him in August 2022. He ended up sitting out that season and landing a reserve/futures deal with the Raiders. Not unlike ex-Pats teammate Jermaine Eluemunor, Butler elevated his stock during a stop in Vegas.

Despite little fanfare during a 4-13 Raiders season, Butler was among the few players to land in the top 20 in pass rush win rate and top 10 in run stop win rate. Butler ranked sixth in the latter category, matching his career high (set in 2023) with eight tackles for loss. Butler primarily worked as a reserve for both Patriots Super Bowl teams he was on in the late 2010s, but he broke through as a Raiders starter last season. After no starts in 2023, Butler made 16 in ’24. He will attempt to build on that and continue in Patrick Graham’s system in 2025.

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