Titans To Sign T Andre Dillard
Needing nearly an entire new starting offensive line, the Titans are moving on that project. They are signing former Eagles first-round pick Andre Dillard, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com report (on Twitter).
Despite Dillard having not secured a spot in the Eagles’ starting lineup, a market formed for his services. The Titans are giving once-coveted prospect a three-year, $29MM contract, Garafolo tweets.
The Eagles passed on Dillard’s fifth-year option in 2022, having removed him from their plans to be a long-term left tackle option. The Washington State product will land another opportunity in Tennessee, being tabbed to replace Taylor Lewan. Tennessee released Lewan, making the former Pro Bowl left tackle part of a salary purge under new GM Ran Carthon.
Although Orlando Brown Jr. and Donovan Smith are on the market, the Titans look to be prepared to go with a cheaper option at left tackle. Dillard has played both left and right tackle as a pro but has fared better on the blind side. The Titans also have perhaps their lone returning O-lineman, Nicholas Petit-Frere, at right tackle.
Philadelphia traded up for Dillard in the 2019 first round and had hoped he would become Jason Peters‘ heir apparent. Instead, rugby convert-turned-seventh-rounder Jordan Mailata ended up succeeding the Hall of Fame candidate. Mailata received an extension to work on Philly’s blind side long-term, leaving Dillard without a place. The Titans will give him a redemption opportunity.
Dillard, 27, made nine starts with the Eagles — in 2019 and 2021 — and drew trade interest due to his diminished role with the organization. That said, Pro Football Focus viewed Dillard’s five-game starter — particularly his pass-blocking chops — sample fairly well in 2021. It will interesting to see the rest of the puzzle pieces during one of the more notable O-line overhauls in recent NFL history.
Commanders To Sign LB Cody Barton
Cody Barton is heading east. The Commanders are signing the former Seahawks linebacker, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). It’s a one-year, fully guaranteed deal for Barton.
The Utah product was a third-round pick by the Seahawks in 2019. After starting five games through his first three seasons in the NFL, Barton took on a larger role in 2022.
The Seahawks turned to Barton to fill the void created by Bobby Wagner alongside Jordyn Brooks. Replacing the greatest linebacker in team history and a future Hall of Famer in the lineup certainly presented a difficult task for the former third-rounder. But he was quite productive in his first extended duty. He started 11 of his 17 appearances, finishing with 136 tackles and a pair of sacks. Barton was ranked 59th among 81 qualifying linebackers, per Pro Football Focus.
Through his first three seasons in the NFL, Barton played a significant role on special teams. While the Commanders are likely going to give him a shot on defense, the acquisition can contribute on ST at the very least.
The Commanders are expected to be busy reshaping their defense this offseason. After agreeing to a new deal with defensive tackle Daron Payne, the front office has brought in new additions like defensive back Cameron Dantzler.
49ers To Sign QB Sam Darnold
John Lynch indicated the 49ers may need to add a veteran quarterback. Rather than seek an experienced backup, the 49ers are landing a veteran starter to join their Brock Purdy–Trey Lance QB room.
Sam Darnold is signing with the 49ers, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. San Francisco will add the former No. 3 overall pick to a one-year deal. The 49ers now have two former No. 3 overall picks in the draft, in Lance and Darnold, though Purdy is the early favorite — depending on his post-surgery timetable — to stick as their starter.
Darnold will follow Josh Rosen as 2018 first-rounders to have joined the 49ers under the Lynch-Kyle Shanahan regime, and it will be interesting to see the former Jets and Panthers starter’s role on his new team.
The 49ers are in an unusual position, with both their top QBs coming off injuries. Lance is expected to be ready to return from his broken ankle by OTAs, but Purdy may not be fully cleared until September. Given the form Lance has shown so far, the 49ers entered free agency in an odd position. Darnold stands to provide intriguing insurance.
The Panthers had begun negotiations to keep Darnold, but their plans changed after pulling the trigger on a blockbuster trade for the No. 1 overall pick. Darnold, 25, will exit Carolina after two seasons. Those two seasons did not produce what the Panthers sought when they traded three draft choices — including a 2022 second-rounder — for him in 2021, but the USC product does bring considerable experience to this Purdy-Lance room largely devoid of it. Darnold has made 55 NFL starts.
During Matt Rhule’s third and final year with the franchise, the Panthers gave Baker Mayfield their starting job out of training camp. Darnold suffered a high ankle sprain late in the preseason but had already lost the job. It took the ex-Jets franchise-QB hopeful until midseason to return, but Darnold regained his starting job. He finished last season with an 8.2 yards-per-attempt number — by far the highest of his career — and threw seven touchdown passes compared to just three interceptions. This came with a 58.6% completion rate, but Darnold looked in better form compared to what he showed for most of the 2022 season.
Purdy did not need Tommy John surgery and is tentatively expected to begin throwing in June. His UCL repair will still mean extensive first-team reps for Lance, reopening the door for the former North Dakota State prospect. Purdy has been expected to hang onto his staring gig, but that cannot be considered a lock given the circumstances. Darnold’s experience may throw another wrench into San Francisco’s mix, which stands to be one of the more fascinating QB rooms in recent memory. It will be interesting to learn the 49ers’ offseason plans for their newest passer.
Commanders Claim DB Cameron Dantzler
After getting waived by the Vikings earlier this week, Cameron Dantzler has found a new home. The defensive back has been claimed off waivers by the Commanders, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).
The 2020 third-round pick has a year remaining on his rookie contract. The cash-strapped Vikings created about $2.7MM by moving on from the defensive back, and Washington will inherit his $2.9MM cap hit.
Dantzler has found himself in and out of the starting lineup during his three seasons in Minnesota, starting 26 of his 35 appearances. Pro Football Focus graded Dantzler outside the top-60 at corner this past year, but the Vikings continued to rely on him despite the selection of Andrew Booth in the second round. Booth eventually suffered a season-ending injury, but he was unable to overtake Dantzler before the setback.
Dantzler also spent time on injured reserve last season with a high ankle sprain. His lack of production and Minnesota’s lack of cap flexibility ultimately made him a cap casualty, even with the Vikings losing a whole lot of depth at the position.
The Commanders will hope they can get more out of the defensive back during the 2023 season, and Dantzler will have one season to audition for his new squad before hitting free agency next offseason.
Buccaneers To Re-Sign CB Jamel Dean
Coming back from being nearly $60MM over the cap, the Buccaneers are planning to still retain their top free agent. Jamel Dean intends to re-sign with Tampa Bay, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
The Bucs have now re-signed Dean and fellow cornerback Carlton Davis in back-to-back legal tampering periods. Although the Tom Brady void-years bill led to the belief the Bucs were not planning a particularly active free agency period, they viewed Dean as a priority.
Dean agreed to terms on a four-year deal worth $52MM, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports tweets. This checks in at a manageable rate for the Bucs. Expected to attract a bit more interest on the market, Dean will be back in Tampa at just $13MM per year. This is well outside the top five at cornerback, and it does not check in among the top 12 contracts at the position. Dean will stay with the Bucs as the NFL’s 14th-highest-paid corner. The deal includes $26MM guaranteed, Jordan Schultz of The Score tweets.
Breaking through as a full-time player in 2022, Dean ranked as a top-10 corner in the view of Pro Football Focus. The former third-round pick’s coverage numbers were a bit better in 2021, when he allowed just a 50.0 passer rating as the closest defender. That number climbed to 86.0 last season, but Dean will keep developing in Todd Bowles’ system. Considering the Bucs’ performance last season, retaining one of their top pieces stands to be vital as they move forward post-Brady.
Dean is surprisingly now tied to less in average salary than Davis, whom the Bucs drafted on Day 2 a year before selecting Dean. Sean Murphy-Bunting, the other recent Bucs Day 2 cornerback pick, is still a free agent.
The Buccaneers have been focused on clearing room in recent weeks, restructuring a number of contracts. Still, the front office did have to move on from a number of notable players, including running back Leonard Fournette, tight end Cameron Brate, and offensive linemen Donovan Smith and Shaq Mason.
Browns, OLB Obo Okoronkwo Agree To Deal
The Browns were thought to be in the market for an addition to their pass rush this offseason, and it has reportedly arrived. Cleveland is set to sign Obo Okoronkwo to a three-year deal with a base value of $19MM (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network).
Rapoport adds that the contract includes $12.5MM guaranteed, and can reach up to $22MM in value. That represents a notable payday for the 27-year-old, whose rookie contract is set to expire on Wednesday when the new league year begins.
Okoronkwo progressively took on a larger role in each of his three seasons with the Rams, before spending 2022 in Houston. He topped 500 snaps for the first time in his career with the rebuilding unit, and he responded with a notable increase in production. The Browns are banking on his career ascent continuing in his third NFL home.
The Oklahoma alum set new career highs in sacks (five), tackles (44) and pressures (17), among other stats. He ranked 13th in ESPN’s pass rush win rate (19%), a feat made more notable by the fact that he consistency faced double-teams as Houston’s top pass rusher. PFF has likewise noted him as one of the top available edge defenders; his 81.8 pass rush grade last season ranked 14th at the position.
Myles Garrett remains in place as the anchor of Cleveland’s edge group, but it has long been assumed that fellow veteran Jadeveon Clowney would be headed elsewhere this offseason. This news points to the latter being replaced as a starter, as the Browns add more upside as a pass rusher in particular to their new-look defense.
A deal with highly-touted defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones is considered a strong possibility, something which would further add considerably to the Browns’ defensive line if it were to happen. Even if they are forced to turn elsewhere along the defensive interior, however, the addition of Okoronkwo will represent a notable upgrade for Cleveland on the edge.
Steelers To Sign CB Patrick Peterson
Patrick Peterson is heading to the AFC. The veteran cornerback is signing with the Steelers, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter), Peterson will be inking a two-year pact with Pittsburgh. As the reporter notes, Peterson previously stated a desire to play two more seasons, meaning he’ll likely end his illustrious career with the Steelers.
The former All-Pro corner will score a two-year deal worth $14MM, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets, adding $5.85MM is guaranteed. Peterson, 32, had landed one-year pacts in each of the past two seasons. While the former top-five pick said he wanted to stay in Minnesota, the parties will break up after two seasons.
Peterson established himself as one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL during his 10 seasons with the Cardinals. The 2011 fifth-overall pick earned eight Pro Bowl nods and a pair of All-Pro recognitions during his time with the organization, culminating in him earning a spot on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
The cornerback signed with the Vikings prior to the 2021 campaign. He was limited to only 13 games during his first season in Minnesota but rebounded by appearing in all 17 contests in 2022, finishing with 66 tackles, five interceptions, and 15 passes defended. He also finished as PFF’s 12th-best cornerback among 118 qualifiers, including one of the best coverage scores at his position. This was the first time Peterson finished in PFF’s top-10 at CB since the 2018 season.
The Steelers were especially in need of a cornerback after losing Cam Sutton to Detroit earlier today. The team also had to move on from William Jackson III earlier this offseason, necessitating at least one move at the position.
Lions To Re-Sign LB Alex Anzalone
The Lions have already made one major addition to their defense today, but a key returning member of the unit will remain in place. Linebacker Alex Anzalone is re-signing in Detroit on a three-year, $18.75MM contract (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network). 
The 28-year-old was set to earn a considerable raise on the open market this year, after his previous time in Detroit consisted of modest, one-year pacts. It was reported after the season ended that a more long-term deal would likely be necessary to keep him in the Motor City. This new contract will comfortably exceed his previous earnings from throughout his career.
Anzalone began his career with the Saints, but he never saw more than a rotational role in New Orleans. That changed immediately upon his first Lions deal, where he saw a snap share of 87%. That figure jumped to 95% in 2022, the first season in which he topped 1,000 snaps. The Florida product responded with a new career-high in tackles (125), adding 1.5 sacks and one interception.
Adding on defense has universally been seen as Detroit’s top priority this offseason, given the shortcomings of the unit in 2022 compared to their efficient offense. The Lions have been active on that side of the ball on Monday, re-signing defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs and agreeing to terms on a deal with Cameron Sutton, one of the top corners available in this year’s free agent class. Keeping Anzalone in the fold represents moves made at all three levels of their defense.
Anzalone will remain atop the linebacker depth chart for Detroit in the coming years, with not much else in place in terms of financial commitments at the position. While that could leave the door open to future additions in free agency or the draft, the team’s top decision amongst their LBs has likely already been made.
Falcons To Sign S Jessie Bates
Shortly after Vonn Bell committed to the Panthers, Jessie Bates will join him in the NFC South. The former Bengals safety agreed to terms with the Falcons on Monday afternoon, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
The deal will move Bates into the top five in NFL history at safety. He agreed to a four-year, $64MM contract with Atlanta, Rapoport adds (on Twitter). This agreement will move Bates into fourth place among safeties, checking in behind only Derwin James, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Jamal Adams.
Following through on a clear free agency fit, the Falcons are giving Bates $23MM in Year 1 and $36MM by Year 2, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter), to bring him to Georgia. PFR’s No. 6 overall free agent, Bates did not see a 2022 franchise tag suppress his value. He will now tack this monster Atlanta accord onto the $12.9MM he collected on the tag in his Cincinnati finale.
Bates, 26, negotiated with the Bengals in 2021 and ’22, and while he expressed a desire to stay during that time period, the tag failing to produce an extension by last July’s deadline began paving a path out of town. The Falcons entered free agency in second place for cap space, and they will use it to fill a position that has lacked consistency over the past few years. The Falcons have not been able to lock down their safety spot since the breakup of Super Bowl LI starters Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen. In Bates, they have a former second-round pick who became an instant starter.
Bates picked off Matthew Stafford in Super Bowl LVI, finishing a strong playoff run that ended his 2021 season on a better note. Bates ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 overall safety in 2020 but was less solid in 2021, admitting failed extension talks affected his play. But Bates notched two playoff interceptions and broke up a Patrick Mahomes overtime pass that led to a crucial Bell pick in the 2021 AFC championship game. Last season, PFF rated Bates 24th overall at the position; the Wake Forest product intercepted a career-high four passes.
The Chiefs avenged their upset loss in the AFC title rematch, and the Bengals will now be left without the Bates-Bell duo that had become one of the NFL’s top back-line tandems. Cincinnati used its 2022 first-round pick on a post-Bates contingency plan, in Dax Hill, but the team will need to do a little work at the position. Although this safety market is deep, the Bengals may have trouble matching the level of safety play they have received in recent years.
Entering Year 3 of the Terry Fontenot-Arthur Smith regime, Atlanta was expected to be active on the market. Now free of Matt Ryan dead money, the team has indeed been busy to start the legal tampering period. The Falcons have extended Chris Lindstrom, traded for Jonnu Smith, signed ex-Ryan Nielsen Saints D-line charge David Onyemata and now landed one of the biggest fish in this year’s free agency pool in Bates.
Bears, G Nate Davis Agree To Terms
The Bears will use some of their league-leading cap-space total on their offensive line. They are signing former Titans guard Nate Davis, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Davis agreed to a three-year deal to head to Chicago. Although the Bears have Cody Whitehair under contract and saw some positive signs from tackle convert Teven Jenkins last season, they are signing one of the better guards available on the market.
Continuing a Titans O-line overhaul, Davis will depart Nashville for a $30MM Chicago accord, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. The fifth-year guard will see $19.25MM guaranteed. This is a nice payday for Davis, who earned mixed reviews in 2022. But the former Titans third-round pick supplies extensive experience and will still join the Bears on what is effectively a midlevel guard deal.
Football Outsiders charged Davis with allowing an alarming eight sacks in 2022, and ESPN classified him as below average in run block win rate. But Davis also slotted in the top 25 in ESPN’s pass block win rate metric last season. And he held a vital role in helping Derrick Henry secure back-to-back rushing titles. Davis, 26, started 54 games in Tennessee and has consistently graded well, via Pro Football Focus, which slotted Davis as a top-25 O-linemen in each of the past three seasons (17th in 2022).
Jenkins graded as PFF’s No. 3 overall guard in 2022, showing considerable promise despite being a quick disappointment at tackle and drawing trade rumors early in Poles’ tenure. Whitehair has been with Chicago since 2016; he is under contract through 2025. It will be interesting to see how the Bears proceed here. Barring a Jenkins move back to right tackle or a Whitehair shift to center — where he started his NFL career — it would seem the Davis addition will lead to a shakeup at guard.
The Titans’ O-line situation goes well beyond “shakeup,” with Davis representing the third starter the unit is losing this offseason. The Titans released Taylor Lewan and Ben Jones and have 17-game guard starter Aaron Brewer unsigned. Unless new Tennessee GM Ran Carthon retains Brewer, 2022 third-rounder Nicholas Petit-Frere will be the only starter back up front for the retooling team.