Transactions News & Rumors

Chargers To Add CB Benjamin St-Juste

March 12th, 2025 at 4:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

At the same time the Commanders were adding Jonathan Jones, they will say farewell to a four-year cornerback contributor. Benjamin St-Juste is heading elsewhere.

The Chargers are signing the former Washington Day 2 draftee, according to his agent. The Bolts lost 2024 starter Kristian Fulton to the Chiefs this week, while Asante Samuel Jr. is unsigned. After St-Juste made his way south from Montreal in 2021, he will head west to a retooling Chargers corner corps.

St-Juste saw more time on the perimeter than inside last season, marking a change for a player who logged 332 slot snaps in 2023. The 6-foot-3 defender has a frame more suited for the outside, also going 200 pounds, and Washington’s new staff used him almost exclusively on the boundary in 2024. The results were not great, however.

While Pro Football Focus graded St-Juste as a bottom-five cornerback last season, Pro-Football-Reference’s coverage metrics charged him with four touchdowns allowed as the closest defender and having regressed in completion percentage and passer rating allowed. The Commanders benched St-Juste in Week 16 and only used him on 24 total playoff snaps. In 2022 and ’23, however, St-Juste allowed 87.1 and 87.3 passer ratings as the closest defender. In 2022, he impressed by yielding a paltry 47.7% completion rate. The Commanders boasted a top-10 defense that year but cratered in the Ron Rivera-Jack Del Rio finale a year later.

The Commanders have in-season trade pickup Marshon Lattimore signed, and the team used a second-round pick to nab Mike Sainristil last year. Although Noah Igbinoghene is a free agent, Jones has extensive experience playing inside and outside. He is leaving the Patriots after 10 seasons.

Jesse Minter transformed a defense that ranked outside the top 20 throughout Brandon Staley’s tenure into one that led the league in yards allowed. The Bolts have now added St-Juste and Donte Jackson; the veteran duo will join promising rookie Tarheeb Still among L.A. CBs.

Commanders To Sign CB Jonathan Jones

March 12th, 2025 at 4:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jonathan Jones will be on the move for the first time in his career this offseason. The longtime Patriots corner has a one-year deal in place with the Commanders, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

This leaves David Andrews as the last player left from the Patriots’ Super Bowl years, as Jones had become a quick fixture on the Pats’ most recent three such seasons. As Mike Vrabel aggressively turns over the roster, Jones is moving on. This deal has a maximum value of $6.5MM, per Fowler.

Operating in the slot and on the outside for the Pats, Jones had been a staple for the team under Bill Belichick and then Jerod Mayo. Jones has made an atypical late-career transition, sliding from perennial slot stopper to a boundary corner. After playing almost all of his 2022 snaps outside, Jones earned a two-year, $19MM deal to stay in what turned out to be Belichick’s finale. The Pats paid up for Carlton Davis, however, and the pricey free agency addition will complement Christian Gonzalez in 2025.

Jones, 31, continued on the outside over the past two years but will probably be better remembered for his slot defense, seeing as those years overlapped with the close of a dynasty. The Patriots added Jones as a 2016 UDFA and immediately put him to work. Jones predated Stephon Gilmore in Foxborough, complementing Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan in 2016. Belichick led Butler, Ryan, Gilmore and J.C. Jackson leave but prioritized Jones, giving him two veteran contracts to stay.

Jones played 132 regular-season games with the Pats and was on the field for eight more playoff contests. Jones joined Butler in not playing in Super Bowl LII, though the former’s absence was not controversial as it came due to injury. While Butler’s absence will be talked about for a while, Jones’ goes overlooked during Nick Foles‘ masterpiece. Jones was open to staying in New England, but MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian had reported he would hit the market.

“I would love to (stay),” Jones said. “It’s rare for a guy to be in one place his entire career. Especially after being undrafted, being here my entire career, I feel indebted to be here.”

Jones will join a Commanders team that let Benjamin St-Juste leave for a Chargers deal. Washington has Mike Sainristil as a potential long-term slot option, and Marshon Lattimore‘s recently acquired contract runs through 2026. With Michael Davis and Noah Igbinoghene unsigned, Jones will have a clear route to a starting role. Considering Lattimore’s run of recent injury trouble, Jones figures to be an important addition.

Jets Sign Chukwuma Okorafor

March 12th, 2025 at 4:32pm CST by Rory Parks

After a very short-lived tenure with the Patriots, Chukwuma Okorafor has a new deal in place that will keep him in the AFC East. The veteran tackle signed with the Jets on Wednesday, per the transactions wire.

Okorafor’s 2024 season could not have gone much worse. The Patriots went into the year with major question marks along the offensive line, including left tackle. Okorafor was the first man up, but he lasted just 12 snaps in New England’s regular season opener before being benched for poor performance. Shortly thereafter, he voluntarily left the team and did not return.

It sounded as if he could even retire, as it was reported that he was “checked out mentally” and “contemplating his future in football.” Last month, though, it became clear that he intended to continue his playing career, and the Pats did him a favor by cutting him early so that he could get a head start on free agency.

Despite the forgettable 2024 season, Okorafor has found a new employer on the first day of the 2025 league year. And while he was clearly miscast as a blindside blocker, he has plenty of starting experience on the right side, serving as the Steelers’ primary RT from 2020-22 (he lost his starting job to Broderick Jones midway through the 2023 campaign).

Though Okorafor was not a world-beater during his time in Pittsburgh, he did enough to land a three-year, $29.25MM deal from the club in 2022. The above-referenced benching in 2023 was triggered not by especially poor play, but by unspecified comments he made at the end of a Week 8 loss.

The Jets allowed 2024 RT Morgan Moses to defect to the Patriots, and it would be surprising if Okorafor represented New York’s primary Moses replacement plan. He will nonetheless provide experienced depth at a (presumably) inexpensive rate.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Jets To Re-Sign CB Isaiah Oliver

March 12th, 2025 at 4:28pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Jets are re-signing cornerback Isaiah Oliver, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Oliver is a seven-year veteran who appeared in all 17 games for the Jets in 2024 with seven starts. He played primarily in the slot in New York, but didn’t make many plays on the ball with just three passes defended and zero interceptions. Oliver will likely return to a similar role in the Jets defense in 2025 while continuing to contribute on special teams.

Originally a 2018 second-round pick by the Falcons, Oliver emerged as a starter during his second season in Atlanta. He started 28 games across 2019 and 2020 and was poised for a similar workload in 2021. A knee injury ended his season after just four games, and Oliver missed the first five games of the 2022 season as he worked he was back to full health.

Oliver then signed a two-year, $6.75MM deal with the 49ers in 2023. He started five of San Francisco’s first eight games, but played sparingly for the rest of the year. The 49ers released him after the season, and Oliver signed with the Jets for $2.5MM in 2024.

The Jets lost D.J. Reed and Brandin Echols in free agency this week, so retaining Oliver alongside new addition Brandon Stephens was important to maintaining their secondary depth.

Titans, G Kevin Zeitler Agree To Deal

March 12th, 2025 at 4:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

Continuing to play well into his mid-30s, Kevin Zeitler will once again command a solid one-year deal in free agency. The nomadic starter is heading to Nashville.

The Titans are adding Zeitler on a one-year, $9MM deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Zeitler is moving back to the AFC after a season in Detroit. This will continue a long-running career for Zeitler, who entered the NFL in the 2012 first round.

Although Zeitler is a former Browns blocker, his Cleveland years predated Bill Callahan‘s time as Browns O-line coach. The current Titans OL boss will still coach one of the most experienced guards in NFL history. Zeitler made 16 more starts last season, running his career total to 197. Among guards, that is tied for eighth all time. With 10 starts in 2025, Zeitler can move to third on that list. With another 16-start season, Zeitler can move into the top 15 all time for starts among all offensive linemen.

The Titans have added both Zeitler and left tackle Dan Moore Jr. this offseason. Zeitler will provide tremendous experience on an O-line that features two rookie-contract players (JC Latham, Peter Skoronski) and veterans with inconsistent resumes (Lloyd Cushenberry, Dan Moore). This is a fully revamped O-line now, as two additions have come in each of the past two offseasons. Even as he reaches an age-35 season, Zeitler may be the safest bet here.

This could sting Detroit, which relied on Zeitler to help launch a full-on Jahmyr Gibbs breakout season alongside David Montgomery. Pro Football Focus graded Zeitler as the No. 3 overall guard last season. The Lions were considering a second Zeitler contract, but nothing transpired on that front. He will now head to a team that won 12 fewer games than his previous squad last season.

The former Bengals, Browns, Giants, Ravens and Lions blocker will not exactly be going to a team expected to contend. But the Titans may well be bringing in a first-round quarterback. Having Zeitler around to help that to-be-determined prospect — and/or Will Levis — stands to help a team that went 3-14 in 2024.

Colts To Sign RB Khalil Herbert

March 12th, 2025 at 4:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts are signing veteran running back Khalil Herbert to a one-year deal, per Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. After backing up Chase Brown down the stretch last year, Herbert will move to a Jonathan Taylor RB2 role.

Having flashed at points in Chicago, Herbert will bring more to the table than the Colts’ array of 2024 backups did. Indianapolis did not opt to do much to replace Zack Moss, whom Cincinnati eventually acquired Herbert to fill in for last season. Herbert could provide more cover for Taylor, who has battled injuries after a healthy start to his career.

Working in what amounted to a role as Justin Fields‘ ground-game sidekick, Herbert impressed in 2022 by gaining 731 rushing yards — at a slick 5.7 per carry — and helping the Bears lead the NFL in that category. The former sixth-round pick managed to get there despite starting only one game. Next Gen Stats’ rush yards over expected metric placed Herbert fourth that season, but he gradually fell out of favor with the Bears as his rookie contract progressed.

Herbert, who had played behind David Montgomery that year, made nine starts in 2023. He saw his YPC number drop to a still-respectable 4.6, but the team signed D’Andre Swift last year, giving the former Lions and Eagles starter $14MM fully guaranteed. Herbert entered the Bears’ 2024 training camp on the roster bubble and was ultimately shipped out for a sixth-round pick weeks after the Bengals lost Moss for the season.

After Moss fared well as a Taylor 2023 fill-in — during his contract impasse and later amid the starter’s injury absence — the Colts saw backup Trey Sermon average just 2.8 yards per tote. Sermon is unsigned for 2025, but Tyler Goodson, who performed a bit better as a third-stringer, remains under contract. Herbert will be positioned to spell Taylor, and he should be fairly fresh. The ex-Bears and Bengals contributor has accumulated just 400 career carries.

Titans To Trade Kenneth Murray To Cowboys

March 12th, 2025 at 4:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kenneth Murray‘s Tennessee stay looks set to end after one season. The Titans and Cowboys have a deal in place that would send the former first-round linebacker to Dallas.

The teams closed out a negotiation that appears to be a pick swap, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reporting the clubs are expected to exchange late-round choices. The Cowboys will be taking on Murray’s two-year, $15.5MM deal. Murray is due a $5.99MM base salary — well north of his 2024 paragraph 5 number — next season. A classic pick-swap structure wrapped this deal, with Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz adding the Titans will receive a sixth-rounder in exchange for Murray and a seventh.

This qualifies as a midlevel contract, as Murray did not justify his draft slot in Los Angeles. While teams annually pass on off-ball linebacker fifth-year options, Murray’s was not exactly a complex decision for the Bolts. They had benched the Oklahoma product at points, though a market still formed. Murray had fans in Tennessee last year, but after one season, he is out.

The Titans signed Cody Barton in free agency but also did not tender Jack Gibbens as an RFA. This comes a year after Tennessee did not extend its partnership with Azeez Al-Shaair past one year. Last season, the team also shipped August trade pickup Ernest Jones to the Seahawks for Jerome Baker, who has not re-signed. As of late, Nashville has not been a hub for linebacker continuity. The Cowboys, however, also have issues to sort out on their defensive second level.

While Pro Football Focus has never been remotely high on Murray, he was productive last season. The 2020 No. 23 pick finished with 95 tackles (eight for loss), 3.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. PFF still labeled Murray as the third-worst full-time linebacker (among off-ball regulars). PFF has graded Murray outside the top 70 at his position in four of his five seasons. The Cowboys will take what amounts to a flier here, as they have Eric Kendricks — after ex-Vikings HC Mike Zimmer‘s second Cowboys stint was a one-and-done — unsigned and DeMarvion Overshown rehabbing a serious injury.

The Chargers had benched Murray in 2021, but by his contract year, he teamed with Kendricks and played 93% of the Bolts’ defensive snaps. Murray, 26, saw action on 94% of Tennessee’s defensive plays last season. That came in a 3-14 campaign that led to GM Ran Carthon‘s ouster. Nevertheless, Murray will have a clear path to first-string work to start Dallas’ 2025 season.

Chargers To Re-Sign LB Denzel Perryman

March 12th, 2025 at 4:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

Denzel Perryman served as a full-time starter in 2024, his return season with the Chargers. The veteran linebacker will remain in place for 2025.

Perryman plans to re-sign on a one-year deal, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. This will be a $3.65MM pact. The former Pro Bowler was limited to 11 games last season, but he operated as a key figure on defense during that time while also chipping in on special teams.

Perryman began his career with the Chargers as a second-round pick out of Miami while the team was still in San Diego. Injuries were a limiting factor for Perryman back then, as well, as he only played in 69 of a possible 96 games in his six seasons with the team.

Perryman departed Los Angeles in 2021 as a free agent, signing with the Panthers, but he was traded to Las Vegas before the season even started. With the Raiders that season, Perryman had the healthiest season of his career, starting in all 15 game appearances.

Finally able to put together a full season, Perryman showed what he could do when healthy, earning his first and only Pro Bowl selection with 154 total tackles (6th in the league that season). Despite only appearing in 12 games the next year, Perryman put forth another strong performance, with 83 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and two interceptions. He signed a one-year deal to join the Texans in 2023, starting 11 of 12 game appearances for the second straight year.

Last season, he made his return to Southern California. In his age-32 season, Perryman’s contributions were average as he served more importantly as a veteran leader for young linebackers like Troy Dye and Daiyan Henley. Dye joins Perryman as a re-signed linebacker, while Nick Niemann departed for Houston in free agency and Shaquille Quarterman, another depth/special teams piece is a free agent, as well. Henley and Perryman should continue to work as starters with Dye spelling Perryman in obvious pass situations.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.

Panthers, Christian Rozeboom Agree To Deal

March 12th, 2025 at 3:41pm CST by Rory Parks

Christian Rozeboom enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, and he has landed a new contract early in free agency. The veteran linebacker has agreed to a one-year deal with the Panthers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Rozeboom, 28, signed with the Rams as a UDFA in 2020. He was waived during final cutdowns that year and ultimately spent the entire season on Los Angeles’ practice squad, though the club saw enough potential to keep him in the fold via a reserve/futures deal once the 2020 campaign ended. A similar fate awaited him in 2021, as he was waived before the start of the regular season and joined the Chiefs’ taxi squad shortly thereafter.

The South Dakota State product would go on to appear in one game for Kansas City in 2021 before the Rams poached him back by signing him to their active roster. He saw action in nine games for LA that year, with all of his snaps coming on special teams. He continued operating almost exclusively in the third phase in 2022 before getting his first real chance on defense in 2023.

That season, Rozeboom appeared in 17 games (five starts), and he enjoyed a 49% snap share. In 2024, he appeared in 17 games (11 starts), converting a 74% snap share into 135 total tackles — a top-20 figure — five tackles for loss, an interception, and a sack. Despite the high tackle totals, the advanced metrics were not high on his work, as Pro Football Focus considered him the 72nd-best LB out of 84 qualifiers and assigned him a roughly average grade against the run with subpar marks in the passing game.

There is some familiarity here, as Panthers DC Ejiro Evero was on the Rams’ defensive staff during Rozeboom’s first two years in the league. He will presumably compete for reps at the middle linebacker spot with incumbents Josey Jewell and Trevin Wallace, and he represents another part of the club’s plan to fortify its defense in free agency.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Steelers, CB Darius Slay Agree To Deal

March 12th, 2025 at 3:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

Darius Slay‘s Steelers agreement is now final. After being rumored to be close to landing the veteran cornerback, Pittsburgh will indeed bring in the two-time Super Bowl starter.

The team is adding Slay on a one-year, $10MM pact, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports. The deal comes fully guaranteed for Slay, who turned 34 shortly before the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX win. Slay will join running back Kenneth Gainwell in changing Pennsylvania addresses this week. Slay will also rejoin ex-Lions DC Teryl Austin in Pittsburgh.

This deal comes minutes after the 2025 league year starting greenlit Slay’s official Philadelphia exit. The Eagles had planned to cut Slay for a bit, but teams cannot designate players as post-June 1 releases until 3pm CT today. The Steelers waited a bit, but they have added a boundary starter opposite Joey Porter Jr. The player who primarily worked in that role last season, Donte Jackson, joined the Chargers this week.

While this transaction will officially end the biannual Darius Slay-Darius Slayton divisional matchup, Slay did well to secure an opportunity quickly at an age when most corners are long retired. The batch of corners that topped this year’s free agent market were in their late 20s, scoring nice third contracts after smartly inking two- or three-year deals previously.

This is Slay’s fourth contract, illustrating the talent the ex-Eagles and Lions defender has displayed. He played two seasons on a three-year, $39MM Eagles accord, but after Philly drafted first- and second-round CBs last year, they bid farewell to Super Bowl LVII starters Slay and James Bradberry.

Bradberry missed all of last season, but Slay was in place as the veteran corner giving the Eagles experience while Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean acclimated. Slay started all 14 games he played last season and logged an 81% snap rate. That was slightly down from his previous seasons, though given Slay’s age and the Eagles’ deep CB depth chart last season, it makes sense. Slay, however, played at least 85% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps in each of their four playoff games — including an 88% Super Bowl LIX rate.

Pittsburgh had given Patrick Peterson a chance to play an age-33 season in 2023; the Steelers will bet on Slay having one more good year in the tank. Slay has planned for 2025 to be his finale. If so, he will work in a familiar system, as the six-time Pro Bowler began his ascent under Austin in Detroit. Austin coached the Lions’ defense from 2014-17; Slay’s issues with the Lions came after Matt Patricia‘s 2018 arrival. Patricia played a central role in the Eagles’ defensive descent in 2023, but Slay had signed off on a reunion. After the Eagles moved back on track with Vic Fangio, Slay reestablished momentum to gain a shot at a rare age-34 CB season.

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