Cardinals Re-Sign K Matt Prater
Matt Prater will return to the Cardinals for a third season, and it will be his 17th in the NFL. Arizona announced another Prater agreement Tuesday.
Going into his age-39 season, Prater has played for three teams. The former Broncos and Lions specialist has camped in Arizona for his late 30s, signing a two-year deal with the Cardinals initially in 2021. Despite Prater’s age and the organization adding a new HC-GM combo, Tuesday’s agreement is also for two years.
Prater had a down year during his final season in Detroit in 2020, connecting on only 75 percent of his field goal attempts. He’s rebounded nicely during his two years in Arizona, connecting on 83.9 percent of his field goal attempts. He was especially efficient this past year, connecting on 88 percent of his field goals, his best rate since 2015. Prater also connected on 17 of his 18 extra point attempts.
The veteran kicker did miss a handful of games this past year thanks to a midseason hip injury. This was the first time Prater missed a game since the 2014 campaign, and considering the two-year commitment, the Cardinals clearly aren’t concerned about the player’s health moving forward.
Kicker Elliott Fry was signed to a futures deal after the 2022 campaign and should provide Prater with some competition during the preseason.
Commanders Release RB J.D. McKissic
J.D. McKissic was one of a few players to back out of an agreement during the 2022 free agent period. He pivoted to the Commanders as a result of that decision, but his time in the nation’s capital has come to an end. Washington announced on Tuesday that they have released the veteran running back. 
The 29-year-old initially had a deal in place to head to Buffalo, but he backed out of it to remain with the Commanders. That set him up for another season operating as the team’s primary pass-catcher out of the backfield, one which already featured Antonio Gibson. McKissic’s season ended up being cut short by a neck injury, however, making this release a distinct possibility.
By cutting the former UDFA – who had one year remaining on his contract – immediately, the Commanders would see $1.23MM in cap savings, while creating a dead money charge of $2MM. Designating him as a post-June 1 cut would make more sense from a financial perspective, as their savings would increase to $2.73MM against just $500K in dead money.
McKissic saw only 22 carries in eight games this season, though he added 27 catches for 173 scoreless yards. Rookie Brian Robinson Jr. took on a considerable role upon being medically cleared to play in 2022, which helped clarify the Commanders’ pecking order in the backfield. Robinson, along with Gibson and veteran Jonathan Williams remain under contract for next season.
After three seasons spent in the nation’s capital, McKissic will now search for a new home. The former Seahawk and Lion is joined by a number of free agent running backs, something which is, coupled with his age and injury, likely to hurt his value. His efficiency in the passing game when healthy, however, should allow him to land a depth opportunity in a new backfield.
Chargers To Re-Sign RT Trey Pipkins
One of the Chargers’ top priorities in the build-up to this year’s free agency period was retaining RT Trey Pipkins. They have reportedly done just that, as ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry tweets that an agreement has been reached on a three-year deal to keep him in Los Angeles. The three-year deal is worth $21.75MM, per SiriusXM’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter).
The right tackle spot was lined with several big-name options in this year’s free agent class, and a few lucrative deals have already come about at the position as a result. Pipkins could have tested the market against the Chargers’ best offer, but he will instead remain with the team that drafted him in the third round in 2019.
The 26-year-old operated primarily as a backup across his first three seasons in the league. He took on a full-time starting role for the first time in 2022, however, logging a career-high 898 snaps in 14 regular season games. He dealt with an MCL sprain throughout the campaign, one in which he was charged with 28 pressures allowed in pass protection by PFF. As a result, he earned an overall rating of just 59.2.
It was expected, though, that the Chargers would value Pipkins more than most other teams, and he was thus at or near the top of the team’s to-do list for March. With a new deal in place, the Division II product has financial security to along with an extended opportunity to retain his starting spot on the right edge. The Chargers will now have several young options to choose from at the tackle spots.
Left tackle Rashawn Slater was limited to just three games in 2022 due to a biceps tear. That injury forced Los Angeles to turn to rookie Jamaree Salyer on the blindside, giving them an even more inexperienced tackle tandem for much of the year. While Pipkins underperformed compared to the latter, per PFF, his level of play was sufficient to earn him an extended look on the o-line. All three lineman will now be under contract for 2023 and beyond as the Chargers look to take another step forward next season.
Panthers Release OL Pat Elflein
In the wake of the Panthers re-signing Bradley Bozeman and ensuring their entire starting offensive line from last season will return, they are releasing one of their former O-line starters.
Carolina cut ties with Pat Elflein on Tuesday, according to the team. This move will save the Panthers $4.3MM in cap space. Elflein began last season as a Carolina O-line starter, but an injury will lead the veteran blocker to relocate. By releasing Elflein now, Adam Caplan of Sirius XM notes the Panthers avoid payment of a $1MM roster bonus due later this week (Twitter link).
A Bozeman summer injury led Elflein to beginning the year as Carolina’s starting pivot, but a subsequent hip surgery ended the former third-round pick’s season. The former Vikings and Jets starter should be able to attract interest, but Elflein’s next deal likely will not match his three-year, $13.5MM pact considering the recent injury.
Elflein began his Panthers tenure as a guard in 2021, with Matt Paradis then in place at center, and he ended up starting 15 games for the team. But injuries intervened in each season. Elflein ended up missing 26 games over his two Panthers campaigns. The former Vikings third-round pick has not played 10 games in a season since 2019.
The Panthers’ two-year Bozeman re-up locks him in alongside Ikem Ekwonu, Taylor Moton, Brady Christensen and Austin Corbett. Headed into an age-29 season, Elflein — he of 64 career starts — will join a few interior line-starters-turned cap casualties (Graham Glasgow, Gabe Jackson, Matt Feiler) and attempt to find a spot in a starting five elsewhere.
Titans Expected To Sign LB Azeez Al-Shaair
More off-ball linebacker dominoes are falling Tuesday, the latest involving the Titans. They are signing former 49ers linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, Dianna Russini of ESPN.com tweets.
Al-Shaair has a clear connection to Tennessee, with new Titans GM Ran Carthon being in San Francisco when the 49ers acquired him back in 2019. After the 49ers gave Fred Warner a then-record extension back in 2021 and then extended Dre Greenlaw, it became clear Al-Shaair would need to sign his second contract elsewhere.
The former UDFA had multiple clear options — both in the AFC South — to choose from in leaving the Bay Area. DeMeco Ryans being the Texans’ coach created a clear avenue to Houston, and the Titans’ rivals were believed to be interested. But Al-Shaair will reunite with Carthon in Tennessee.
A Greenlaw 2021 injury opened the door for Al-Shaair to audition as a three-down linebacker. He made regular contributions to Ryans’ first San Francisco defense, and Pro Football Focus graded the Florida Atlantic product as a top-20 off-ball ‘backer in 2022. Al-Shaair, 25, came off IR around the midseason point and remained a regular, though Warner and Greenlaw garnered more playing time. Al-Shaair, who made 102 tackles during his extended audition in 2021, should have a chance to be a three-down ‘backer with the Titans.
The Titans are retooling at linebacker, and although this project may not be as significant as the one the team is working on along its offensive line, both David Long and Zach Cunningham are no longer on the roster. The Titans cut Cunningham and let Long agree to a Dolphins deal Monday. This opens the door for Al-Shaair, who will be a great be to be a three-down regular in Tennessee next season.
Browns, LB Sione Takitaki Agree To Deal
Although Sione Takitaki‘s ACL tear affected his value, the Browns will give him a chance to recover and re-establish himself next season. They are signing the veteran linebacker to a one-year deal, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot first reported the sides were expected to agree to another contract.
Takitaki’s deal is set to check in around $2.6MM. He will return to a Browns team that also has Jacob Phillips recovering from a season-ending injury. The Browns have not re-signed trade acquisition Deion Jones. Takitaki said in January he wanted to stay in Cleveland.
The Browns ran into a number of injury issues at linebacker last season and struggled consistently against the run. Takitaki’s setback came after the team lost Anthony Walker and Jacob Phillips, but the former third-round pick was progressing toward a possible Browns extension prior to his knee tear. Pro Football Focus has viewed Takitaki as one of the NFL’s more consistent linebackers in recent years, rating him just inside the top 30 at the position last season.
Owusu-Koramoah remains Cleveland’s anchor at the position; he stands to be the team’s candidate to sign a lucrative extension among its linebackers. Takitaki could be a future candidate for a mid-tier deal. For now, the BYU product will need to work his way back. He is expected to be ready to go just before the season, per Fowler.
Takitaki, however, is already headed for his age-28 season. He is running short on time to capitalize on his value. The 2023 season, then, stands to be critical. In the wake of the Walker and Phillips injuries, Takitaki logged a 65% defensive snap rate. That came in well north of his previous three seasons, despite Takitaki starting 20 games from 2020-21. He finished with a career-best 71 tackles last season.
Eagles Agree To Terms With RB Rashaad Penny
The Eagles have seen some notable departures in the opening stages of this year’s free agent period. They are set to make an addition on offense, however. Philadelphia has agreed to terms on a deal with running back Rashaad Penny, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). 
The NFC champions enjoyed a career year from Miles Sanders in 2022 as the focal point of their elite rushing attack. After three teams elected to use the franchise tag on tailbacks of their own, however, Sanders is poised to be the top option at the position on the open market. As a result, he is widely expected to price himself out of Philadelphia.
Penny could prove to be a cost-effective alternative for the Eagles. The former Seahawk has dealt with myriad injuries throughout his career, including a torn ACL in 2020. More recently, the former first-rounder suffered a broken fibula midway through the 2022 season, derailing what had once again looked to be a promising campaign. Penny has yet to play in a full NFL season.
With veteran Chris Carson having retired after dealing with injury issues of his own, Penny took on the No. 1 role this season. He appeared to be well on his way to a strong year, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. The injury made Seattle’s previous decision to decline his fifth-year option an even more understandable one, though. Penny, 27, made $5.75MM on a one-year pact in 2022.
It is unlikely he will be able to top that figure on this new Eagles pact, but a short-term investment on Philadelphia’s part could prove to be worthwhile. Penny has averaged 5.7 yards per carry in his career (albeit with relatively limited opportunities), and could carry that efficiency over while running behind one of the league’s best offensive lines. The Eagles averaged just under 148 rushing yards per game last season, which ranked fifth in the NFL.
Sanders, along with fellow pending free agent Boston Scott, played a key role in that figure, of course. With Penny in place, however, high-end production on the ground should still be expected provided he can remain healthy.
Lions To Sign CB Emmanuel Moseley
The Lions have now agreed to terms with two free agent cornerbacks. They are bringing in Emmanuel Moseley, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter).
A former 49ers starter, Moseley is coming off an injury-shortened season. He suffered an ACL tear in October. The Lions are giving him a one-year, $6MM deal, per Schefter. This follows Detroit’s Cameron Sutton signing.
While Sutton profiles as a high-value get, given his market, the Lions have been a bit more cautious regarding their other defensive additions. They have now added Moseley and re-signed three of their own — defensive linemen Isaiah Buggs and John Cominsky and linebacker Alex Anzalone — as they attempt to move on from a season in which Aaron Glenn’s unit ranked last in scoring defense.
Moseley stayed in San Francisco on a two-year, $9.4MM contract back in 2021, and he played a starting role for the first of the team’s back-to-back 2020s seasons that ended in the NFC championship game. Moseley, who turns 27 next week, started a career-high 11 games that season. He added three postseason starts that year, but the ACL tear sustained the following season squashed the momentum he was building.
Had that ACL setback not occurred, this $6MM price may not come too close. A 49ers UDFA find, the 5-foot-11 cover man allowed passer ratings — as the closest defender in coverage — of 65.6 and 66.9 in 2021 and ’22. Pro Football Focus also viewed the young defender well, ranking him just outside the top 30 in both 2019 and ’21. He notched a pick-six for San Francisco’s No. 1-ranked defense prior to going down last season.
Moseley will join Sutton in attempting to elevate Detroit’s cornerback crew. The team still has Bob Quinn-era draftee Jeff Okudah on its payroll, though the Ohio State product has not panned out as expected. Once on the extension radar, Amari Oruwariye is now a free agent. The Lions ranked 30th against the pass last season; they might not be done augmenting their corner contingent.
Dolphins Agree To Terms With RB Jeff Wilson
Not long after retaining one of their top running backs from the 2022 season, the Dolphins are set to keep the other. Miami is re-signing Jeff Wilson on a two-year deal worth up to $8.2MM (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). 
Earlier today, it was learned that the Dolphins had agreed to terms on a similar deal with Raheem Mostert, after he enjoyed a career-year in his debut Miami season. Wilson joined in him South Beach midway through the campaign, being deemed expendable by the 49ers after they acquired Christian McCaffrey. Now, he and Mostert will remain in place for the short-term future.
Wilson, 27, had exclusively played for the 49ers before being dealt to Miami in 2022. That time included work alongside Mike McDaniel, whose success in orchestrating the 49ers’ success in the run game helped earn him the head coaching position in Miami. Wilson had shown consistency from an efficiency perspective during his time in the Bay Area, but dealt with several injuries as well.
The former UDFA logged six starts in San Francisco last season, but only one in Miami after the trade. His snap share and number of carries, however, remained nearly identical in his new home. Wilson ran for 392 yards (on an average of 4.7 per carry) with the Dolphins, scoring four total touchdowns. His performance in the Dolphins’ playoff loss left plenty to be desired, but Miami is nevertheless content to keep him in the fold.
The Dolphins made it clear in the approach to the offseason that retaining both Mostert and Wilson would be an outcome they were amenable to. Despite their respective acquisitions, and several moves to bolster their offensive line, Miami struggled on the ground during the season. Further depth could be added, of course, but the top of their backfield depth chart will remain as is when the 2023 season kicks off.
49ers To Re-Sign C Jake Brendel
After a few years of changes at the position, the 49ers will establish some center continuity. They are re-signing Jake Brendel, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Inserted into San Francisco’s starting lineup following Alex Mack‘s retirement, Brendel started all 20 49ers games last season. He agreed to terms on a four-year extension, per Rapoport, who adds the Jets made a push to add him as well. The 49ers are giving Brendel $8MM guaranteed, with Rapoport adding (via Twitter) the deal maxes out at $20MM.
The 49ers showed considerable confidence in Brendel ahead of last season, passing on adding a proven option to give the career backup an opportunity. Brendel, who had made three starts over the previous six seasons, displayed consistency and helped the 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey-led rushing attack during the team’s 12-game win streak. ESPN’s run block win rate metric graded Brendel fifth among centers.
Pro Football Focus graded Brendel as the league’s No. 20 center, and a number of options — Connor McGovern (the older one), Ethan Pocic and Garrett Bradbury — were available. We have seen a run on center re-signings, however, with Pocic and Bradbury also returning to their teams (the Browns and Vikings, respectively). It will be interesting if these developments lead the Jets to keep McGovern.
Brendel will turn 31 before the season starts. The 49ers liked enough about what they saw from the former UDFA last year to reinvest. Brendel has been with 49ers O-line coach Chris Foerster since the latter’s Dolphins days, but he only started three games in Miami. The 49ers used Brendel as a backup option dating back to 2020.
The 49ers spent to fortify their center position early in Kyle Shanahan’s tenure, but Weston Richburg ended up suffering a career-ending injury to cut his time in San Francisco short. They used veteran Ben Garland post-Richburg, and Shanahan linked up with former Falcons pupil Mack in 2021. While Mack started every game for the 49ers that season, he retired last summer. The Niners now have Mack’s successor locked in at a reasonable rate. That contract will accompany Spencer Burford and Aaron Banks‘ rookie deals, along with Colton McKivitz‘s low-cost extension, on the Trent Williams-fronted line.