Stephon Gilmore Announces Retirement
Former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore is calling it a career. The 13-year veteran cornerback announced his retirement Thursday via social media.
Gilmore, 35, finished his career as a member of six teams — the Bills, Patriots, Panthers, Colts, Cowboys and Vikings — and as a Super Bowl champion. Gilmore played in two Super Bowls with the Patriots, becoming a key piece to help New England secure its sixth championship.
Although Gilmore played for five teams over his final five seasons, he will be best remembered for his tenures in New England and Buffalo. The Bills drafted the outside cornerback in the 2012 first round, and the Patriots deviated from their generally conservative Bill Belichick-era free agency blueprint to hand him a big-ticket deal in 2017. That led to Gilmore’s career apex, as he secured back-to-back first-team All-Pro nods with the Pats.
The veteran cover man did not play last season but expressed interest in doing so. Gilmore contemplated retirement following his 2024 Minnesota season, and after not following through last year, the South Carolina native will walk away in 2026. Intercepting 32 regular-season passes and starting 173 career games, Gilmore was certainly one of the better cornerbacks of his era. He delivered one of the greatest stretches in the position’s history as well, and it played a key role in the Patriots venturing to Super Bowls LII and LIII.
New England brought Gilmore in on a five-year, $65MM deal that featured $31MM guaranteed at signing. Gilmore joined the Pats during the offseason in which the team placed a first-round RFA tender on Malcolm Butler. Infamously scratched for Super Bowl LII, Butler soon left (for Tennessee) in free agency. Gilmore shined from 2018-19, earning first-team All-Pro acclaim in each season. In 2018, Gilmore delivered lockdown coverage for a Patriots team gunning for its third straight Super Bowl appearance. His interceptions of Philip Rivers and Jared Goff in the playoffs did plenty to hand that dynasty a sixth title, with Pro Football Focus handing out a career-best grade (90.9) to the former No. 10 overall pick.
Gilmore outdid his 2018 season a year later, and while the Patriots could not voyage to a fourth straight Super Bowl, Gilmore became the first cornerback in 10 years to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors. Intercepting six passes in 2019, Gilmore returned two of those picks for scores and allowed a measly 44.1 passer rating as the closest defender. These two seasons prompted Gilmore to push for a revised contract, but he did not end up securing a true extension in Foxborough.
The Patriots gave Gilmore a $4.95MM raise for the 2020 season, but the sides could not come to terms on another agreement in 2021. That led the Pats to trade Gilmore to the Panthers — after nearly cutting him — before the 2021 deadline. Gilmore had not played for the Pats yet in 2021, being placed on the reserve/PUP list due to a quad issue. The Panthers obtained the ex-South Carolina Gamecock for a 2023 sixth-round pick. While the move brought Gilmore back home, he signed with the Colts (two years, $20MM) in 2022.
As Indianapolis retooled around Shane Steichen in 2023, the team traded Gilmore to Dallas for a fifth-round pick. Gilmore worked opposite DaRon Bland in 2023, with the latter setting an NFL record with five pick-sixes after Trevon Diggs suffered a seminal ACL tear in a September practice. Gilmore expressed interest in re-signing with the Cowboys but ended up with the Vikings (one year, $7MM) just before the 2024 season. Minnesota used Gilmore as a full-time starter on the boundary during a 14-3 season — a period that brought a Gilmore reunion with ex-Pats de facto DC Brian Flores — but the team did not opt to re-sign him in 2025.
The Bills initiated Gilmore’s NFL launch, drafting him to play for Chan Gailey and Dave Wannstedt. By 2013, Doug Marrone and Mike Pettine were in the HC and DC roles. Gilmore toiled for five Bills teams that extended the franchise’s playoff drought to 17 by the 2016 season. The Bills did see their No. 1 corner make his first Pro Bowl that year, bolstering his free agent market. Buffalo let Gilmore walk in 2017 and drafted future All-Pro Tre’Davious White (via the Patrick Mahomes trade) weeks later.
Gilmore’s Colts pact bumped him past $100MM in career earnings; his Vikings contract moved him to $115.37MM over the course of 13 seasons. Falling short of the All-Decade team for the 2010s (despite a strong late push from his Pats days), the 6-foot corner will not be a Hall of Fame lock. But he crafted a strong midcareer apex that made a considerable difference in multiple Super Bowl chases.
Bengals, S Kyle Dugger Agree To Deal
The Bengals continue to make moves in the secondary. Not long after signing cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor, a safety addition has been lined up.
Cincinnati has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Kyle Dugger, per agent Drew Rosenhaus (h/t ESPN’s Adam Schefter). This will set up a third stint with an AFC team for Dugger. The veteran has previously spent his career with the Patriots and Steelers.
Dugger’s first five years in the NFL saw him operate as a defensive mainstay in New England. His role was a talking point leading up to the 2025 season – the first with head coach Mike Vrabel in place – however. No trade agreement was found during the summer, but it did not take long for the Patriots to line up a swap during the year. In advance of the 2025 trade deadline, Dugger was traded to the Steelers.
Term remained on the 30-year-old’s contract at the time, but Pittsburgh agreed to make him a 2026 free agent upon arrival. Dugger took on a starting role for Pittsburgh while serving as a replacement for the injured DeShon Elliott, notching a pair of interceptions (one of which was returned for a touchdown). For his career, the Lenoir-Rhyne product has totaled 11 picks and 29 pass deflections.
Struggles in coverage have been present through much of Dugger’s career. The former second-round pick will nevertheless look to carve out a regular role on his latest team, one which is in dire need of improved defensive play. Breakdowns in the secondary and issues with missed tackles have plagued the Bengals, a team which has made a number of changes on that side of the ball so far in the offseason. Dugger’s arrival will be the latest move on that front.
Cincinnati sat mid-pack in terms of cap space entering Thursday. The deals for Taylor and Dugger will limit the team’s financial flexibility to a degree moving forward, but they should give defensive coordinator Al Golden more options to work with in the secondary.
Bengals Sign CB Ja’Sir Taylor
Ja’Sir Taylor‘s free agent spell has come to an end. The veteran cornerback signed with the Bengals on Thursday, per a team announcement.
Taylor entered the league as a sixth-round pick of the Chargers. Each of his first three seasons were spent with the Bolts, and he totaled 11 defensive starts over that span. Taylor posted eight pass deflections in 2023, the year in which he handled his largest workload. Since then, however, his playing time has decreased.
After Taylor saw his workload shift toward special teams in 2024, that trend continued at the start of this past season. The 27-year-old was traded to the Jets not long after they dealt Sauce Gardner as part of their defensive rebuild. Taylor made nine appearances with New York but was unable to establish himself as a regular in the secondary.
The Bengals’ cornerback depth chart is topped by DJ Turner and Dax Hill. Both are pending 2027 free agents, and working out extensions in each case is a priority for Cincinnati. While efforts on that front will presumably pick up over the remainder of the offseason, Taylor will look to carve out a role for himself; in particular the Wake Forest product will aim to use his experience in the slot to earn playing time with the Bengals.
Cincinnati entered Thursday with over $20MM in cap space. This Taylor contract will no doubt be a one-year deal bringing with it a small financial commitment, though, so the team’s remaining free agent moves will not be affected.
Chiefs Sign CB Kaiir Elam
The Chiefs traded away Trent McDuffie and lost Jaylen Warren in free agency. With both cornerbacks now in Los Angeles, the team finds itself in need of additions.
Kansas City has lined up a low-cost move to provide depth in the secondary. Kaiir Elam has agreed to terms with the Chiefs, as first reported by Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. This will be the fourth career team for the former first-rounder, and his Kansas City deal has since been confirmed by a team announcement.
Elam entered the league with high expectations, although his Bills tenure did not go according to plan. Elam totaled 29 appearances in Buffalo, but he was unable to establish himself as a regular defensive presence. A trade was worked out last March which sent Elam to the Cowboys.
That change of scenery allowed Elam to make seven starts and play in 10 games. He was part of one of the league’s worst secondaries, however, and the Cowboys struggled mightily on defense in 2025. The team elected to move on by waiving Elam in November. That led to a deal with the Titans to close out the campaign. Upon arrival in Tennessee, Elam played a part-time defensive role.
The Florida alum has struggled so far during his NFL tenure with respect to coverage statistics. A full-time starting role will certainly not be expected for Elam provided the Chiefs continue to prioritize the cornerback spot through the draft. Entering his age-25 season, though, he could be viewed as a depth addition carrying a degree of upside. Elam will join Kader Kohou as a free agent pickup at the CB position for Kansas City.
Kristian Fulton remains in place for the Chiefs, a team which is known to reset at the cornerback spot without making major financial commitments. That made it no surprise when McDuffie was dealt in advance of his market-setting extension being signed, and when Warren landed a big-money deal of his own with the Rams. Fulton, Elam and Kohou will no doubt be joined by at least one notable draft addition made later this month as the team looks to once again restock the secondary.
Kansas City entered Thursday near the bottom of the league in terms of cap space ($6.72MM). That figure is not likely to change very much, with Elam presumably taking a deal at or near the league minimum.
Titans Sign RB Michael Carter
The Titans have made three signings, per reports from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and Adam Schefter of ESPN: Running back Michael Carter and wide receivers K.J. Osborn and Lance McCutcheon have all inked deals with the team.
The 26-year-old Carter will reunite with head coach Robert Saleh, whom he played under in New York over his first two-plus NFL seasons. The Jets used a 2021 fourth-round pick on Carter, who had his most productive season as a rookie. Carter set career highs in carries (147), rushing yards (639) and touchdowns (four) over 14 games that year. He also chipped in 36 catches for 325 yards.
Carter started in 10 of 16 appearances in his second season, though he ran for just 402 yards on 114 attempts (3.5 YPC). The 5-foot-8, 201-pounder posted a personal-high 41 receptions, but with Breece Hall returning from a knee injury in 2003, Carter fell out of favor. The Jets cut him after he accrued a mere nine carries in eight games.
After the Jets moved on from Carter, he landed in Arizona and wound up spending the past two-plus years there. Carter did not take on a significant role, however, as he totaled only 149 carries, 613 yards (4.1 YPC) and two TDs in 22 games with the Cardinals.
Heading to Tennessee, Carter will join Tyjae Spears, Kalel Mullings and Julius Chestnut as backups behind Titans starter Tony Pollard. However, the Titans may soon make a much bigger addition to their backfield in Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love, whom they could draft fourth overall. Tennessee is considered a strong possibility to select Love, who visited the team last month.
Now 28, Osborn had a highly productive stretch as a Justin Jefferson complement in Minnesota from 2021-23. Osborn missed just one game in that span and averaged 53 catches, 615 catches and five TDs per season. But Osborn’s stock has plummeted since he combined for a meager seven receptions for 57 yards in eight games between New England and Washington in 2024. Osborn finished last season on the Falcons’ practice squad, but he did not get into a game.
McCutcheon, 27, was on and off the Titans’ taxi squad in 2025. After seeing no game action, McCutcheon announced his retirement earlier this offseason, per Rapoport. He has since had a change of heart, though, and will compete for a spot on the Titans’ roster. His only appearances came in 2022 as a member of the Rams, with whom he played 10 games and recorded 166 snaps (110 on special teams, 56 on offense). The former UDFA from Montana State has never caught a pass in the NFL.
Falcons To Re-Sign LB DeAngelo Malone
The Falcons are re-signing linebacker and special teams ace DeAngelo Malone to a one-year contract, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Malone, 26, has been a core special teams contributor in Atlanta for the last four years. Despite the team’s coaching change, he will return for a fifth season under new head coach Kevin Stefanski and special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman.
Originally the 82nd overall pick in the 2022 draft, Malone appeared in 15 games as a rookie with exactly 216 snaps on defense and special teams. In his next three seasons, though, he played just 111 defensive snaps with a core role on special teams.
Malone’s special teams snap share stayed above 75% from 2023 to 2025. He appeared in every game in the first two seasons, but was limited to nine last year due to a broken ankle suffered in November. That was the first major injury and IR placement of his career. The Falcons were best-positioned to evaluate Malone’s rehab, and their decision to re-sign him indicates confidence in his recovery.
Malone did explore a move to another NFC South team. He recently visited the Buccaneers, who could stand to add special teams talent after uninspiring results last year. That meeting may very well have created some urgency in Atlanta to re-sign him rather than let him join a division rival.
Titans To Sign QB Hendon Hooker
The Titans are adding some quarterback depth behind Cam Ward. Former Lions third-round pick Hendon Hooker is headed to Tennessee, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Hooker, 28, was selected with the No. 68 pick in the 2023 draft after tearing his ACL in his final season at Tennessee. He spent most of his rookie season rehabbing in the hopes of taking over as Jared Goff‘s backup in 2024.
Hooker beat out Nate Sudfeld for Detroit’s QB2 job during training camp. He closed out three blowout wins – his only regular-season action to date – but the Lions reunited with Teddy Bridgewater in December as a more proven insurance policy in advance of the postseason. The move was indicative of the team’s lack of confidence on Hooker if Goff were to miss any time.
The Lions put Hooker on notice by signing Kyle Allen to compete for the backup gig last spring. During training camp, head coach Dan Campbell made it clear that Hooker had not developed in Detroit as the team hoped. That foreshadowed his release during roster cut-downs after a rough preseason that featured five turnovers, 4.7 yards per attempt, and a 55% completion rate.
Hooker spent time with the Panthers and Jets last season as they contended with injuries in their quarterback rooms, though he did not appear in a game. Now, he returns to the state in which he played college ball, though his new team is located in Nashville, not Knoxville.
The Titans already have Mitchell Trubisky and Will Levis as depth behind Ward. Trubisky is clearly the backup after signing a two-year deal with $6.8MM guaranteed. That will leave Levis as Hooker’s competition for a back-end roster or practice squad spot.
Levis is in the final year of his rookie contract. He struggled mightily in his first two seasons and missed last season due to a summer injury. Journeyman Brandon Allen was tapped for the 49 snaps Ward missed as a rookie. The addition of Hooker suggests that the Titans are open to moving on from Levis, a second-round pick made by since-fired GM Ran Carthon. Trade rumors followed Levis around the 2025 draft; it is quite possible they reemerge this month, though the former No. 33 overall pick has certainly lost value since his rookie season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/31/26
One minor move to pass along:
Washington Commanders
- Signed: DT D.J. Davidson
A former fifth-round pick out of Arizona State, Davidson played out his rookie contract with the Giants. He showed occasional flashes on defense through his four seasons in New York, including a 2024 campaign where he tallied a pair of sacks and two tackles for loss while getting into a career-high 262 defensive snaps. His counting stats took a step back in 2025, as Davidson finished with only nine tackles while getting into about 25 percent of his team’s defensive reps. His season ended on injured reserve after he suffered a neck injury and concussion.
Davidson may face an uphill battle to carve out a role on Washington’s defense. The team has Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw, and newcomer Tim Settle penciled in atop the depth chart, with the likes of Johnny Newton, Shy Tuttle, and Ricky Barber around to soak up snaps. Davidson’s ability to play special teams could earn him a roster spot, but he’ll have to overcome at least one of those aforementioned names to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
Lions Sign S Chuck Clark
Chuck Clark has lined up his next NFL gig. The veteran safety signed with the Lions on Tuesday, per a team announcement.
Clark had a productive six-year run in Baltimore to begin his career. His Jets debut was set to take place in 2023, but an ACL tear left him sidelined for the entire season. Clark wound up making 12 appearances with New York in 2024, operating as a defensive starter.
Last year, the former sixth-rounder joined the Steelers in free agency. Clark played in 16 combined regular and postseason games, handling a part-time workload along the way. He also chipped in on special teams, something which will presumably be Clark’s clearest path to a roster spot with his latest team. This agreement will allow him to prepare for spring work in Detroit.
The Lions have lost Daniel Thomas during free agency, but they added former Buccaneer Christian Izien. Elsewhere in the secondary, the team has brought in Roger McCreary while seeing Amik Robertson depart on the open market. Clark, 31 next month, will now enter the mix, bringing with him 123 games and 80 starts’ worth of experience. He is also familiar with a heavy third phase workload, dating back to the early portion of his career.
The Lions entered Tuesday with over $23MM in cap space. This Clark signing will not lower that figure by a considerable amount. His 2024 deal was worth $2MM, while the Virginia Tech product collected $1.42MM last year. A similar one-year pact can be expected for Clark upon arrival in the Motor City.
Vikings To Pick Up Jordan Addison’s Fifth-Year Option
Jordan Addison hasn’t necessarily lived up to his first-round billing, but that won’t stop the Vikings from committing to a fifth year for the wideout. Vikings Executive Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski told reporters today that the team plans to pick up Addison’s fifth-year option.
“He’s a really important player for us, an impact player,” Brzezinski said (via the team’s website). “We’re definitely exercising the option. For sure. The deadline for that is after the draft.”
After being selected by Minnesota with the 23rd overall pick in the 2023 draft, Addison immediately carved out a significant role on offense. He finished his rookie campaign with 70 catches for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. That performance earned him a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Those marks still represent career-highs for Addison. He had 63 catches for 875 yards and nine scores as a sophomore (plus 20 yards and a touchdown on the ground), and he followed that up with 42 catches for 610 yards and three touchdowns in 2025 (plus 81 rushing yards and a score).
There are a handful of reasons why Addison has struggled to truly break out through his first three NFL seasons. For starters, he’s played second fiddle to Justin Jefferson, who has commanded close to 300 targets over the past two years. Secondly, Addison has had to deal with some inconsistent QB play; he got eight games from Kirk Cousins as a rookie and a full season from Sam Darnold in 2024, but has otherwise dealt with the likes of J.J. McCarthy, Nick Mullens, Joshua Dobbs, and others.
Addison has also had his fair share of legal issues, including a 2024 arrest near LAX on suspicion of DUI. Just two months ago, the receiver was arrested in Florida on a misdemeanor trespassing charge. He’s avoided suspension for those off-the-field issues, although he was handed a three-game ban to start the 2025 campaign after violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
Still, the Vikings are comfortable enough with Addison to commit $18MM to him in 2027. That number doesn’t break the bank, and it does hedge against a potential breakout. But Addison will still have to show more if he wants to secure a long-term pact before the 2028 offseason.