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Trey Smith Signs Chiefs Franchise Tender

March 9th, 2025 at 8:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

It does not appear Trey Smith will consider a holdout. He signed his franchise tender Sunday, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. This will guarantee the Pro Bowl guard’s $23.4MM salary.

The Chiefs naturally want this to be a placeholder, and an extension would reduce that $23.4MM cap hold. Kansas City did trade Joe Thuney to Chicago, but the team agreed to terms with Nick Bolton earlier today. This will still leave the Chiefs with work to do on the cap front.

One of just two players tagged this year (along with Tee Higgins), Smith now has a clear path to an extension. The Chiefs broke up their highly paid guard tandem — shortly after it became a high-priced duo — by sending Thuney to the Bears. Smith will be in line to join Creed Humphrey and Jawaan Taylor as a starting O-lineman on a high-end contract. Taylor may well be going into his final year with the team, as the RT has not justified his $20MM-per-year contract, pointing to Smith and Humphrey being the Chiefs’ pillars up front moving forward.

While the Chiefs viewed Bolton as a high priority, they have plenty of work left to do. Before the Bolton money is factored in, OverTheCap lists Kansas City as being more than $9MM over the cap. Even the Saints, who restructured Derek Carr‘s deal yet again, have passed them for available funds. Kansas City could turn to a Patrick Mahomes restructure for a fourth time, though. Regardless of how the Chiefs get there, they need to reach cap compliance by 3pm CT Wednesday. They will also need to carve out spending room to add talent, as left tackle is expected to be an area of emphasis.

Smith, 25, has been the Chiefs’ starting right guard since his 2021 rookie season. He climbed from sixth-round pick, who fell in the draft because of a blood clot issue, to Pro Bowl level. Well regarded by both Pro Football Focus and ESPN’s win rate metrics, Smith is positioned to enjoy his prime protecting Mahomes in Kansas City. The Chiefs will need to be ready for a monster payday to make that happen, and the Thuney trade will arm Smith’s camp with more leverage.

The Chiefs could not come to terms with Orlando Brown Jr. by the July 2022 tag deadline, as the now-Bengals LT declined a six-year offer he deemed light on guarantees. Kansas City gave Humphrey a center-record (by a wide margin) $18MM per year last summer. Smith is positioned to outdo Landon Dickerson‘s $21MM-per-year guard record. The Chiefs will have until July 15 to work out a deal.

Falcons, Jake Matthews Agree On Extension

March 9th, 2025 at 7:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Michael Penix Jr. ascent no longer makes Jake Matthews a blindside blocker, the Falcons are planning for the veteran tackle to help guide the young quarterback during his rookie-contract years.

Despite turning 33 earlier this year, Matthews has scored a fourth NFL contract. The Falcons are giving Matthews a two-year, $45MM deal, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reports. This does not look to be a wait-and-see agreement for 2026, as Garafolo adds Atlanta is guaranteeing its longtime left tackle $38MM at signing.

Matthews already was signed through the 2026 season, as the Falcons huddled up with him on a three-year, $55.5MM extension in 2022. GM Terry Fontenot authorized that extension, but Atlanta’s plan has changed significantly since. After keeping Matthews in the fold to help post-Matt Ryan, the Falcons bailed on their Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder experiments to both sign Kirk Cousins and draft Penix eighth overall. The Cousins part of that backfired, via a benching, and the veteran is trying to engineer a release. Cousins remains on the Falcons’ roster, for now, but Penix will be taking the reps with Matthews during the offseason program.

While the Falcons have long-term O-line pieces in Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary, Matthews goes back to a previous era for the franchise. He and Grady Jarrett are the last players remaining from Atlanta’s Super Bowl LI roster. The Falcons chose Matthews in the 2014 first round (sixth overall), installing him as a Ryan blindside protector. Matthews blocked for the former MVP for eight seasons, earning first extension (five years, $72.5MM) in 2018. As the cap has climbed by more than $100MM since, Matthews continues to cash in.

Jake’s father, Hall of Fame O-lineman Bruce Matthews, displayed some of the greatest longevity in NFL history. The former Oiler/Titan mainstay played 19 seasons. Jake has logged 11 but has missed only one career game; that came all the way back in 2014. The Falcons have been able to count on Jake Matthews for more than a sixth of their existence. Pro Football Focus graded the LT stalwart as the league’s 15th-best tackle last season. Though, the third-generation NFL player has just one Pro Bowl (2018) on his resume.

This extension stands to reduce Matthews’ 2025 cap number, which was previously at $21.77MM. The Falcons came into Sunday in the red in terms of cap space, residing more than $5MM over before this Matthews payday. This could point free agent center Drew Dalman out the door. We placed Dalman 14th among free agents this year. He appears certain to become an eight-figure-per-year player soon. The Falcons having Matthews and Lindstrom as their O-line anchors, with McGary and Matthew Bergeron as other starters under contract, would keep them in decent shape if Dalman departs. They would need a center replacement, though.

Broncos To Re-Sign QB Jarrett Stidham

March 9th, 2025 at 6:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

After seeing their Bo Nix draft choice create considerable promise, the Broncos relegated Jarrett Stidham from a starter competition to 17-game backup. But the team is planning to extend its Stidham partnership.

Nix’s 2024 backup is staying in Denver, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. This will be Stidham’s second Broncos contract, after he initially arrived on a two-year deal to back up Russell Wilson. Stidham is staying on a two-year, $12MM deal, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini tweets. This is a slight raise for the former Patriots draftee, who played out a two-year, $10MM contract. Stidham, 28, will see $7MM guaranteed, per the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel.

Stidham became contract protection for a second straight year, closing out the 2023 season as a two-game Broncos starter. As the Broncos moved to protect against Wilson’s injury guarantee from vesting, they made the move at the same juncture (Week 17) the Raiders did when they moved him into their 2022 starting lineup. Stidham replaced Derek Carr for two games but did not stick around, signing with the Broncos. Rather than bail after Nix won last year’s job and delivered a strong rookie season, Stidham will remain as a mentor.

A six-year veteran, Stidham had entered camp taking first-string reps. But with Nix making a Division I-FBS QB-record 61 starts at Auburn and Oregon, Stidham — Nix’s Auburn QB1 predecessor — never looked like a real threat to hold off the rookie for too long. As it turned out, Nix impressed in the preseason and Sean Payton gave his handpicked passer the job. Stidham’s second Broncos contract will overlap with the two additional seasons in which Nix must stay on a rookie deal.

Stidham went 1-3 as a starter during his 2022 and ’23 two-fers, delivering an impressive performance in a Raiders shootout loss to the 49ers. He guided the Broncos to a win over the Chargers in Week 17 of the 2023 season as well. Those are Stidham’s only four career starts, but the former fourth-round pick has made a nice career as a backup. Stidham did beat out Zach Wilson to become Nix’s backup throughout last season, and with this contract, the former No. 2 overall Jets pick may need to head elsewhere in free agency.

Patriots To Re-Sign TE Austin Hooper

March 9th, 2025 at 6:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Patriots have made a big-ticket outside addition in the form of edge rusher Harold Landry, but the team is also making an internal move ahead of free agency. Tight end Austin Hooper will remain in New England for 2025.

Hooper has a one-year deal in place, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The pact has a base value of $5MM and can top out at $7MM. He will continue to operate in a tandem with Hunter Henry after doing so in 2024. Hooper will see $4MM guaranteed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets.

After playing out his rookie contract with the Falcons, Hooper bounced around the NFL. He saw time with the Browns (2020-21) followed by one-year stints in Tennessee and Vegas. That was followed by another one-year commitment in 2024, this time by the Pats. Hooper produced 45 catches, 476 yards and three touchdowns in his debut New England campaign.

That came on a $3MM deal which included $2.41MM in guarantees. Hooper has earned a raise on another-one-year pact based on his 2024 play. Henry remains in place as a result of the three-year, $27MM deal he inked last offseason, and after setting new career highs in catches and yards last season he will be counted on to remain a key member of New England’s passing game moving forward. Hooper, 30, represents an effective complement, though.

Adding at the receiver position remains an obvious priority for the Patriots this offseason, and the list of remaining free agents includes Chris Godwin, who has been linked to strong New England interest should he depart the Buccaneers. New England will still have plenty of cap space left once the Landry and Hooper deals are official, and it will be interesting to see if the team moves quickly in making another skill-position move in the coming days.

Cowboys To Re-Sign Markquese Bell

March 9th, 2025 at 6:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

Playing multiple positions for the Cowboys over the past two years, Markquese Bell will be staying in town. A day before the legal tampering period launches free agency, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports Bell is re-signing with Dallas.

Bell, who has played both safety and linebacker with the Cowboys, is staying on a three-year deal that can max out at $12MM. Most of Bell’s first two seasons will be guaranteed, Fowler adds. This deal comes as Bell was to be a restricted free agent.

The Cowboys acquired Bell as a UDFA out of Florida A&M and deployed him as a backup in 2022. After the first of Demarvion Overshown’s major injuries (an ACL tear) occurred in 2023, Dallas slid Bell into a linebacker role primarily. Bell was certainly undersized for the position but made 94 tackles (three for loss) and forced two fumbles.

Dallas did transition Bell back to safety last season, as Overshown returned and Eric Kendricks arrived in free agency. Bell did not factor into Dallas’ defense much during Mike Zimmer’s return, as he finished with just six tackles. Bell missed eight games as well, so it will be a bit interesting to see the base value of this deal.

The Cowboys still roster safety starters Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker. Barring another return to linebacker, Bell will be in position as a top backup and special-teamer heading into his age-26 season.

Patriots, Harold Landry Agree To Deal

March 9th, 2025 at 6:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

Harold Landry was among the many veterans (including several edge rushers) released in recent cost-shedding moves. As a result, he was free to sign with an interested team at any time prior to the start of free agency.

Landry has done just that. He and the Patriots have a three-year agreement in place, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The deal is worth $43.5MM and includes $26MM in guarantees. With a maximum value of $48MM, this pact is a clear indication of the Patriots’ willingness to spend big this offseason.

A second-round pick in 2018, Landry had spent his entire career with the Titans until his release. He played a total of six years with the team, having missed the 2022 campaign due to an ACL tear. Landry proved to still be highly effective upon returning from the injury, though, notching 10.5 sacks in 2023 and adding another nine this past season.

Given his time spent in Tennessee, Landry is of course a familiar face for new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. It comes as little surprise the Boston College product has elected to reunite with his former coach during his first foray into free agency. Expectations will be high for strong production on the part of the 28-year-old given the lucrative nature of this commitment.

The Patriots relied heavily on Matt Judon for three years before trading him last offseason. New England ranked last in the NFL in sacks in 2024 without him in the fold, so at least one notable splash in the EDGE market was expected. Landry will be tasked with replacing Judon’s production and experience with the Patriots as Vrabel and Co. aim to fortify the Pats’ offensive and defensive lines.

2023 second-rounder Keion White operated in a rotational capacity during his rookie season, but in 2024 he took a step forward with five sacks. A starting role should again await him next year, but Landry will in place as a fellow first-team option for 2025 and beyond. A draft investment along the edge would not come as a surprise, but if one is not made early in April a Landry-White tandem will be tasked with handling much of the load next season.

Jets To Re-Sign LB Jamien Sherwood

March 9th, 2025 at 6:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jamien Sherwood‘s contract year will bring a considerable reward. The three-year backup-turned-C.J. Mosley fill-in has landed a high-end deal to stay with the Jets.

Gang Green will pay Sherwood $45MM over three years, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Sherwood will pull in $30MM guaranteed at signing. While the Jets could certainly have an issue with Quincy Williams at this point, due to the gap between the two LBs’ money, Sherwood is staying ahead of his age-25 season.

The Jets have Williams signed to only a three-year, $18MM deal. Williams, who has an All-Pro honor on his resume, is heading into a contract year now tied to less than half of what Sherwood is now making. It would stand to reason the Jets, who are expected to cut Mosley, will give Williams an update. Though, a new regime is making the calls now; that will be a storyline to monitor for Gang Green.

A former fifth-round pick, Sherwood capitalized on Mosley’s absence and led the NFL with 98 solo tackles. He made 158 stops overall and ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 18 off-ball linebacker. Sherwood had combined for only 77 tackles over his first three seasons, as Mosley and Williams formed one of the NFL’s top LB duos.

A Cinderella story of sorts formed behind them, as the player who had been an afterthought fetched a deal north of where Mosley was last season. The new Jets regime certainly liked what it saw in Sherwood’s first extended run of defensive playing time.

Sherwood and Nick Bolton are now tied as the NFL’s fourth-highest-paid ILBs, with each agreeing to terms today. Bolton has proven far more, as a four-year starter on a perennially sound defense, but Sherwood came on strong enough he generated considerable momentum ahead of free agency. Although the Patriots looked into Sherwood — who had possible landing spots with Jeff Ulbrich (Falcons) and Robert Saleh (49ers) — the Jets are keeping him off the market.

Seahawks To Re-Sign Ernest Jones

March 9th, 2025 at 5:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

Another high-profile linebacker has avoided free agency. Ernest Jones has worked out a new Seahawks agreement in lieu of testing his market.

This will be a three-year, $33MM pact, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. $15MM in guarantees is present, he adds. After being acquired via trade by the Seahawks, Jones will now remain a key member of their defense for the foreseeable future.

Jones was traded from the Rams to the Titans in August, setting him up to spend his walk year in Tennessee. Instead, the 2021 third-rounder wound up being dealt to Seattle ahead of the trade deadline. Jones racked up 94 tackles and an interception in 10 games upon returning to the NFC West, and talks on a long-term deal allowing him to remain in Seattle for 2025 and beyond took place.

Those discussions were temporarily paused, but it remained clear leading up to this point that a mutual interest still existed for a deal to be worked out. Now, in line with several other linebackers remaining in place before gauging their markets during the legal tampering period, an agreement has been reached. Defensive tackle Jarran Reed was re-signed earlier today, and he and Jones will remain impactful members of the front seven moving forward.

Jones underwent knee surgery following the regular season, something which may have hurt his market to an extent had he elected to speak with outside suitors. Instead, he will remain in place for a Seahawks team already aware of his health situation. Jones’ new pact will move into the top 10 in AAV for linebackers once it and the many other recent deals at the position becomes official.

The likes of Zack Baun (Eagles), Nick Bolton (Chiefs), Bobby Wagner (Commanders), Lavonte David (Buccaneers) and Jamien Sherwood (Jets) have all re-upped with their respective teams recently. Once the new league year begins later this week, few options of note will be available at the position in free agency. Jones could have used that as a means of landing a more lucrative deal, but he will continue his career in the Emerald City.

Bengals To Re-Sign OL Cody Ford

March 9th, 2025 at 4:39pm CST by Adam La Rose

Cody Ford has served in a number of capacities over the past two seasons with the Bengals. The veteran offensive lineman is set to continue doing the same.

Ford has avoided free agency by re-signing with the Bengals, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. This will be a two-year deal, he adds. Ford logged 16 appearances and nine starts last season, and he will represent a familiar face for the team at multiple O-line positions moving forward.

The former second-rounder did not develop as planned during his time with the Bills, and he started only three games during his one-year run with the Cardinals. Ford took a one-year pact worth just over $1MM to join the Bengals in 2023, and despite playing only 79 snaps that year he was retained on another (slightly more lucrative) pact. The 28-year-old’s performance from 2024 has now earned him a multi-year commitment.

Ford’s 689 snaps from last season were the second-most of his career, trailing only his rookie pact. The Oklahoma product saw most of his time at left tackle, although he also worked at the other tackle spot as well as left guard. He will be able to compete for a first-time gig on the inside this offseason or operate as an experienced swing tackle depending on how the Bengals address their O-line this spring.

Cincinnati cut Alex Cappa after three years as a full-time starter. Cordell Volson is a pending 2026 free agent, meanwhile, so the team could look to make multiple guard additions between the open market and the draft. Even if new competition for starting gigs emerge in the coming months, Ford will remain in place as (presumably) a low-cost depth option capable of stepping into a larger role as needed. .

Vikings, Aaron Jones Agree To Deal

March 9th, 2025 at 3:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

Aaron Jones will continue his Vikings stay. The veteran running back has agreed to a two-year, $20MM deal, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The move is now official, per a team announcement.

The pact includes $13MM in guarantees, nearly double what Jones took last offseason on his one-year Minnesota pact. Of that total, $11.5MM is fully guaranteed, according to OverTheCap. The longtime Packers starter was a cap casualty in advance of the team’s decision to make a long-term commitment to Josh Jacobs. That resulted in Jones making the intra-divisional move, one which proved to be fruitful.

The 30-year-old handled a career-high 255 carries during his debut Vikings season; Jones also set a new personal mark with 1,138 rushing yards. Topping 1,500 scrimmage yards for the third time in his career, the veteran demonstrated he can still be effective in leading a backfield. He will be counted on to do so again with this new agreement in place.

Jones said in January he aims to finish his career in Minnesota, and today’s news is a step in that direction. A mutual interest existed from the team to work out a new agreement, with Jones’ void date being pushed back to March 11. That decision gave the parties additional time to hammer out a contract without any dead money charges from the 2024 one coming into play.

After Jones racked up 306 touches in the regular season, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said the team would look to reduce his workload in the event a new deal were to be worked out. As a result, Minnesota could be in play for a modest free agent investment in the backfield or the addition of a rookie sometime in April’s draft. The Vikings only have four picks as things stand, though, so other positions could be seen as a higher priority.

Minnesota will have Jones on the books as well as Ty Chandler in the backfield. Cam Akers is a pending free agent, and if he were to depart the team would need to add depth over the course of the offseason. Regardless of what plays out on that front, Jones will be in line to remain the Vikings’ lead back.

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