Browns To Re-Sign C Ethan Pocic
The Browns enjoyed a surprisingly high level of play at center in 2022, and the player responsible for that is set to remain in place. Cleveland is expected to re-sign Ethan Pocic, as first noted (on Twitter) by CBS Sports’ Josinia Anderson. Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com adds that a deal is in place (Twitter link). 
Providing financial terms on the deal, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network tweets that the Browns are giving Pocic a three-year, $18MM contract. Incentives could push the value higher, but that base figure point to how the team is reacting to his success in his debut Cleveland season. Pocic took on the starting center role for 13 games in 2022, and will now continue in that capacity.
Pocic spent the first five years of his career in Seattle, where he alternated between stints as a starter and backup. This past campaign represented by far the best of his career, something which wasn’t expected given the presence of Nick Harris, the presumed 2022 starter. The latter was sidelined for the season in August, putting Pocic in line to take on a first-team role.
The 27-year-old performed admirably when on the field, earning a career-high PFF grade of 79. That marked a substantial improvement from his Seahawks days, leading to Pocic unsurprisingly making his intentions clear of staying in Cleveland for years to come. With this deal in place, he will be able to do so, and without drawing the attention of several center-needy teams, as was reported to be a strong possibility over the weekend.
The Browns have one of the top o-lines in the league at both tackle and guard positions, so Pocic’s impressive performance could be a reflection of the quality of players around him. In any case, he will be counted on to repeat his impressive level of play in 2023 and beyond, as the Browns look to keep their strong rushing attack in place through consistent performances up front.
Panthers, S Vonn Bell Agree To Deal
Both the Bengals’ starting safeties became eligible to negotiate with other teams Monday. While Jessie Bates has not committed to a deal yet, Vonn Bell is planning to leave Ohio.
The Panthers intend to sign Bell, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com report. Bell will head back to the NFC South, joining his third NFL organization. Bates is expected to land a deal far north of his 2022 franchise tag price. This Bell-Carolina agreement points to the Bengals losing both their starting back-liners.
Bell agreed to a three-year deal worth $22.5MM, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets. He will be guaranteed $12MM, Joe Person of The Athletic adds (on Twitter). The Panthers are guaranteeing $6MM of Bell’s 2024 base salary, giving the veteran defender a bit of security. This contract marks a slight raise for Bell, who played out a three-year, $18MM Bengals deal last season.
The Bengals did come to terms with Germaine Pratt, keeping the fifth-year linebacker in the fold. This Bell departure may be the cost of that business. The Panthers, however, will be employing one of the NFL’s more consistent safeties. The former Saints second-round pick notched a career-high four interceptions last season. Despite going into his eighth NFL season, Bell is just 28.
Pro Football Focus viewed Bell as a top-25 safety in both 2020 and ’21. Last season, PFF slotted Bell 35th overall. But Bell was a constant in run support with the Bengals, posting 114- and 97-tackle seasons in 2020 and ’21. He also deflected eight passes in both 2021 and ’22. Bell will join Jeremy Chinn and Xavier Woods in Carolina, for the time being.
Although the Bengals retained Pratt, Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer notes they wanted to bring back Bell as well. Lou Anarumo expressed concern about the Bengals losing both Bates and Bell. That reality could be upon the AFC North champions, though they did begin preparing for at least one such departure by drafting Dax Hill in the 2022 first round. Hill did not see too much time as a rookie, but that will change in 2023.
Vikings To Sign TE Josh Oliver
Josh Oliver‘s run-blocking ability will secure him a nice payday. The Vikings plan to sign the former Ravens tight end, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
Oliver agreed to a three-year, $21MM Minnesota deal, one that Garafolo notes comes with $10.75MM guaranteed. Incentives could bump the contract up to $24MM. This represents a big commitment to the tight end position for the Vikings, who traded for T.J. Hockenson at the deadline last year.
Pro Football Focus graded Oliver as the NFL’s second-best run-blocking tight end in 2022, behind only fellow Raven Isaiah Likely. Oliver will now have a chance to supplement Hockenson and bolster the Vikings’ ground game. While the Vikings won’t be overly reliant on their acquisition in the passing game, it’s worth noting that Oliver finished the 2022 season with a career-high 14 receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns. The 25-year-old tight end was a third-round pick by the Jaguars in 2019. He spent two seasons in Jacksonville before getting traded to Baltimore in 2021.
While Oliver started nine of his 17 appearances for Baltimore last season, the Ravens won’t miss him too much considering their depth at the position. Likely can easily fill in for Oliver’s blocking role, and the 2022 fourth-round pick also had more offensive upside as a pass-catching backup to Pro Bowler Mark Andrews.
Bengals To Re-Sign LB Germaine Pratt
Germaine Pratt‘s strong contract year upped his value, but he will not end up relocating. The Bengals have reached a deal to retain the ascending linebacker, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
The veteran linebacker will stay in Cincinnati on a three-year, $21MM deal that includes $10.35MM in Year 1. Pratt and Logan Wilson will remain in place as Cincy’s top linebackers, with the latter going into a contract year. Wilson should be expected to secure a higher-value extension, seeing as the Bengals use him as a three-down linebacker, but Pratt has become a key piece for Lou Anarumo’s defense.
As Pratt agreed to stay in town, the Bengals lost Vonn Bell to the Panthers. They are also expected to see Jessie Bates depart. That will provide a challenge for Anarumo, considering those two worked as Cincy’s primary safety starters for the past three years. Pratt returning will certainly help the team’s front seven, however.
Timing his contract year well, Pratt totaled a career-high 99 tackles (six for loss) and intercepted two passes. Pro Football Focus ranked the former third-round pick as its No. 11 off-ball linebacker in 2022. Pratt has been a regular throughout his career, having started 54 games for the Bengals.
This will create an interesting equation for the Bengals, who could have two off-ball ‘backers on notable contracts before this season begins. Wilson became eligible for an extension in January. The tackling dynamo has seen the field more often than Pratt, who voiced issues with being taken off the field in certain sub-packages. Pratt, however, is responsible for one of the most pivotal turnovers in Bengals history. He intercepted Derek Carr to lock up the team’s 2021 wild-card win over the Raiders. Pratt also picked off Tom Brady during Cincinnati’s comeback win in Tampa last year, and he log a career-high 76% snap rate on defense last season.
Starters flooded this year’s linebacker market, so it is not too surprising Pratt did not fetch an upper-crust deal here. He will stay with the Bengals for essentially lower-middle-class money at the position. As Joe Burrow‘s extension looms, however, the team finding money to pay a role player on defense could be important.
Jarrett Stidham, Broncos Agree To Deal
As the Raiders landed Jimmy Garoppolo, another of Josh McDaniels‘ ex-Patriots passers-turned-Raiders options is headed out of Nevada. Jarrett Stidham will trek to Denver.
The Broncos, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), are giving Stidham a nice backup quarterback contract — two years, $10MM — to step in behind Russell Wilson. The deal includes $5MM guaranteed, giving Stidham a clear runway to be Denver’s QB2 in 2023.
Stidham spent three seasons in New England. For a period in 2020, it looked like the Patriots would give him the keys post-Tom Brady. But they signed Cam Newton to take over instead. Stidham, a former fourth-round pick, sat behind Brian Hoyer in New England as well. McDaniels brought him to Las Vegas in 2022, but Sean Payton will land the Raiders’ end-of-season starter.
Stidham and new Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb have known each other since they were teenagers. Despite becoming Denver’s QBs coach, Webb — at 27 — is just one year older than Stidham. The Dallas-area natives will work together in Denver, though the Sean Payton-Wilson partnership will obviously generate the bulk of the headlines this season.
The Raiders made the surprising move to bench Derek Carr ahead of Week 17, moving Stidham into the starting lineup. Stidham’s first start produced a stunning stat line — 365 yards, three touchdown passes — against the 49ers’ top-ranked defense. The Raiders are giving Garoppolo a midlevel contract, and they have been connected to drafting a quarterback early as well. As such, Stidham is relocating. He had other suitors besides the Broncos, per Rapoport.
Commanders To Sign OL Nick Gates
The Commanders have agreed to terms with multiple offensive linemen Monday. In addition to adding Andrew Wylie, Washington is bringing in Nick Gates, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
It is a three-year deal worth $16.5MM, Garafolo adds (on Twitter), with an additional $1.5MM available via incentives. This will take a starter away from the Giants’ O-line as well. Gates served as a guard and center option in New York.
Gates saw a September 2021 injury in Washington threaten his career. After missing more than a year due to the fibula and tibia breaks he suffered that night, Gates will head back to D.C. to likely set up shop as a starter. Gates, 27, underwent seven surgeries on his injured leg but battled back to be a starter last season.
The Giants had aimed to re-sign Gates, along with Jon Feliciano, but they will need to look into other options up front. The team did draft Joshua Ezeudu and Marcus McKethan out of North Carolina last year. Turning to one of its rookie-contract guards would make sense opposite Mark Glowinski.
Gates gives the Commanders some options. Prior to his broken leg, he was operating as the Giants’ starting center. The Giants gave him an extension that ran through 2022 based on his center work. But the new regime added Feliciano in free agency last year. Gates ended up making his return at left guard, rotating with Ezeudu down the stretch. Pro Football Focus rated Gates just inside the top 50 at the position in 2022.
Washington used ex-Ron Rivera Panthers charges Andrew Norwell and Trai Turner as their top guards last season. They also lost center Chase Roullier at center early during the campaign. Norwell remains under contract, as does Roullier, but both Turner and Wes Schweitzer are unsigned.
Commanders To Sign RT Andrew Wylie
Andrew Wylie is on the move, but he will be working with a familiar face in 2023. The veteran right tackle is set to sign with the Commanders on a three-year deal worth $24MM, as first noted (on Twitter) by veteran reporter Ari Meirov). 
Wylie, 28, has spent all five of his career seasons with the Chiefs. That span includes 59 starts in 71 games; he operated as Kansas City’s full-time right tackle in 2022. He played out this past season on a one-year, $2.5MM pact, one which proved to be a bargain for the team. Wylie played a key role in the Chiefs’ success up front in the Super Bowl, which has helped earn him this new contract.
By heading to Washington, the East Michigan product will reunite with Eric Bieniemy, who took the Commanders’ offensive coordinator job after holding the same title with the Chiefs. Wylie will likely be counted upon for Washington after his strong performance in 2022, but his departure – something the Chiefs wanted to avoid – is leading to a significant shake-up on their o-line.
Kansas City has reportedly agreed to terms with fellow tackle free agent Jawaan Taylor, which will give them at least one high-end player on the edge. The significant investment made in him, however, points to Pro Bow left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. being likely to depart as well.
Wylie will give the Commanders a veteran option at the RT spot alongside swing tackle Cornelius Lucas. 2021 draftee Sam Cosmi and the recently re-signed Drew Himmelman are also in the mix as depth at the tackle spot. This addition comes on the same day that Washington has reached agreement on a deal with another o-lineman in Nick Gates. A new-look offensive front could give the Commanders a boost as they look to take a step forward in terms of production in 2023.
Texans To Bring Back QB Case Keenum
Case Keenum is coming back to Houston. After beginning his career with the Texans, Keenum — per veteran Houston reporter John McClain — is returning to the team.
A former Texans UDFA back in 2013, Keenum has journeyed the country as a starter and a backup. He is now coming back to Houston, where he played his college ball, on what looks like a bridge agreement. It is a two-year contract, McClain notes.
Keenum, 34, will come back for $6.25MM, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. He will collect $4MM guaranteed. This agreement should be expected to precede a Texans quarterback pick at No. 2 overall. Houston has not made a serious investment at the position since Deshaun Watson‘s off-field trouble surfaced.
Since leaving Houston back in 2016, Keenum has played in St. Louis, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Denver, Washington, Cleveland and Buffalo. Although he was DVOA’s top-rated quarterback in 2017, when he replaced Sam Bradford and took the Vikings on a stunning ride to the NFC championship game, Keenum has mostly filled in as a backup or bridge starter as a pro. He began that run with 10 starts for the Texans from 2013-14.
Most recently, Keenum got into two games as Josh Allen‘s backup in Buffalo during the 2022 campaign. He last started a game in 2021 when he earned two starts for the Browns. In those two games, the veteran completed 38 of his 57 pass attempts for 375 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. The Browns were 2-0 in those two games.
Dolphins To Sign QB Mike White
The Jets are awaiting news on their preferred 2023 starting quarterback, but in the meantime they are set to lose depth at the position. Mike White is signing with the Dolphins on a two-year contract worth up to $16MM (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). 
New York’s quarterback situation appeared to be relatively straightforward heading into the 2022 season. White was projected to serve as a backup to Zach Wilson, but things didn’t at all go according to plan. The latter missed time to start the season, and was benched in favor of White midway through the campaign.
The Jets’ offense performed better with White at the helm, though his individual numbers certainly weren’t eye-popping. He went 1-3 as a starter, completing 59% of his passes and throwing more interceptions (four) than touchdowns (three). Still, the team recently made it clear that they intended to keep him, given the potential showed on either side of a major rib injury suffered partway through the year.
Joe Flacco, like White, saw time in 2022 with the Jets. He is a pending free agent, however, which would have made retaining the latter even more of a priority in the event Wilson isn’t on the roster much longer. The Jets remain publicly committed to the 2021 second overall pick, but his struggles have led Gang Green to be all in on acquiring Aaron Rodgers.
While White’s absence could be acutely felt by the Jets, he could prove to be a savvy addition on Miami’s part. The Dolphins tried adding a veteran backup last offseason in Teddy Bridgewater, but he dealt with multiple injuries just as starter Tua Tagovailoa did. The latter’s concussion issues have led to speculation about his playing future, though the team will pick up his fifth-year option for next season. Even with stability at the top of the depth chart, Miami was widely expected to be in the market for a notable backup.
White will compete for the No. 2 role with Skylar Thompson, who was called into action late in the year and in the playoffs in 2022. The Jets, meanwhile, will have added motivation to keep Wilson in the fold while trying to land an upgrade under center.
Bills To Sign G Connor McGovern
Expected to make an effort to upgrade their offensive line this offseason, the Bills are signing Connor McGovern. This is the former Cowboys guard, the younger of the NFL’s two Connor McGoverns, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
It is a three-year deal worth $23MM, Garafolo adds. McGovern, who spent his contract year primarily working as Dallas’ left guard, will be expected to commandeer a Buffalo starting spot inside.
Pro Football Focus ranked the Bills’ offensive line 23rd last season, one that ended with an ugly home divisional-round loss to the Bengals. The team has Rodger Saffold unsigned from last year’s starting lineup. The ex-Rams and Titans blocker stepped in as a Bills guard starter in 2022. Buffalo also has Ryan Bates under contract, after matching a Bears RFA offer sheet last year. But McGovern is tied to starter-level money. It should be expected he will work as a first-stringer up front to help the AFC East champions.
McGovern, 25, started 29 games for the Cowboys from 2020-22. An injury kept the former third-round pick off the field as a rookie, and he did not secure a Week 1 starting gig until last season. But McGovern was viewed as having the lead on Tyler Smith for Dallas’ left guard spot — prior to Tyron Smith‘s avulsion fracture that changed the team’s O-line plans — in training camp. McGovern also held off Jason Peters for the Cowboys’ left guard gig, starting 15 games.
PFF did not view McGovern as especially sound in his contract campaign, slotting him outside the top 60 at guard. But the Bills were sold on the Penn State product — on a midlevel deal, at least. McGovern joins Bates, Mitch Morse and Dion Dawkins as veteran-contract players on Buffalo’s front, though none of these blockers is tied to top-five money at their respective position.
The Cowboys will lose an interior starter for the second straight year, with McGovern following Connor Williams to the AFC East. Dallas has higher priorities, however, and has Zack Martin signed to an upper-echelon guard deal. The team is still planning to keep both Tyron Smith and Terence Steele alongside Tyler Smith. It will be interesting to see if Dallas moves one of these blockers to guard to ensure each starts in 2023.