HEADLINES

Transactions News & Rumors

Raiders, LB Germaine Pratt Agree To Deal

June 11th, 2025 at 9:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

Germaine Pratt has managed to find his next opportunity rather quickly. Shortly after being released by the Bengals, the veteran linebacker has lined up a Raiders agreement.

Pratt will head to Vegas on a one-year deal, as first reported by Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. The pact has a maximum value of $4.78MM. Pratt will collect $4.25MM in base pay, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network adds.

For most of his six-year career, Pratt operated as a full-time starter at the second level of Cincinnati’s defense. Multiple indications pointed to a parting of ways taking place this offseason, however. That became official when the 29-year-old was released earlier this week. Pratt clearly drew immediate interest on the open market.

Indeed, Schultz notes several teams reached out once he became a free agent. Pratt has 88 starts to his name, and he has increased his tackle figures every year of his career. The former third-rounder has totaled 261 stops across the past two seasons, adding four interceptions, four forced fumbles and nine pass deflections during that time. Another productive campaign with his latest team could help Pratt land a multi-year commitment in free agency next spring.

In the aftermath of the Bengals’ decision to move on, many pointed to the Colts as a logical Pratt suitor. Former Cincinnati defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is now Indianapolis’ DC, so a reunion would have provided the Colts with a first-team linebacker option familiar with the team’s scheme. Instead, Pratt will work with new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll and returning D-coordinator Patrick Graham.

The Raiders ranked 25th in points allowed last season, but the team finished 15th in total defense. Similarly, Vegas finished 13th against the run, and improvement in that regard will be a goal for the first year with Carrol at the helm. Pratt will look to provide the team with a veteran presence at the LB spot, and the base value of his late-offseason deal suggests a starting spot awaits him.

Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo departed in free agency. Vegas brought in a veteran in the form of Elandon Roberts while also taking a flier on former top-five pick Devin White (a familiar face to general manager John Spytek given their time together in Tampa Bay). Seventh-round rookie Cody Lindenberg will compete for a depth/special teams role, but the new-look linebacker setup leaves room for an established contributor. Pratt will look to fit that description in 2025.

Eagles Sign First-Round LB Jihaad Campbell

June 11th, 2025 at 8:26pm CST by Ely Allen

One of the last seven unsigned first-round picks of the 2025 NFL Draft put pen to paper today. Alabama defender Jihaad Campbell signed his rookie contract with the Eagles today, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The four-year deal with a fifth-year option is reportedly worth $14.90MM. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 adds that Campbell’s deal includes a signing bonus of $7.48MM.

Campbell comes out of Alabama, where he originally committed to the Crimson Tide as a five-star edge rushing prospect out of IMG Academy (FL). Injuries to the team’s defense forced Campbell out of his natural spot as he filled in as an off-ball linebacker and excelled there. He spent the team’s 2023 campaign almost exclusively playing linebacker but was able to get some playing time back at his old position last year as Alabama utilized his versatility.

There were rumors in the weeks after the draft that Campbell could be the latest in the mold of former Penn State linebackers Micah Parsons and Abdul Carter, who both became eventual pass rushers in the NFL, with thoughts that Campbell could have a chance to return to his old position after all. It doesn’t quite look like that will come to pass, though. Campbell hasn’t been working out, as he continues to rehab a shoulder injury from his last season with the Tide, but defensive coordinator Vic Fangio told the media last week that, once he returned to the field, Campbell would be working out with the linebackers.

Part of his current assignment could be due to the assumption that Nakobe Dean will start the 2025 NFL season on the physically unable to perform list as he continues to recover from a torn patellar tendon suffered late last season. With only last year’s fifth-round linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. to fill in if Dean and Campbell aren’t there, Campbell’s talents are likely needed more at linebacker to start his career. There’s always a chance, though, that Philadelphia ends up cross training him and giving him more freedom and flexibility across the defense.

With Campbell signing his name on the dotted line, the Eagles only have one more rookie to sign to finish up their class. Second-round Texas safety Andrew Mukuba is the lone remaining un-signed rookie in Philadelphia. Here’s a look at the Eagles’ rookie class:

NFL Minor Transactions: 6/11/25

June 11th, 2025 at 6:36pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the midweek minor moves from around the NFL:

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Signed: TE Kevin Foelsch
  • Waived: DT Siaki Ika

Ika’s struggles in the NFL continue. A member of LSU’s 2019 National Championship squad, Ika was a third-round pick four years later for the Browns in 2023. After appearing in four games as a rookie, Ika failed to make the roster in his second year in Cleveland. Since October, Ika has signed with and been cut from the practice squads of the Browns, Eagles, and now the Chiefs, with whom he signed a reserve/futures deal at the end of this past season.

Commanders To Extend DB Jeremy Reaves

June 11th, 2025 at 11:22am CST by Sam Robinson

Jeremy Reaves‘ Commanders tenure is now set to extend beyond this season. The veteran defensive back/special-teamer agreed to terms on a deal that keeps him tied to the team through 2026, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports.

Washington signed off on a one-year add-on for Reaves, who has worked as a key special teams presence during his seven-season stretch with the team. Reaves, 28, has a first-team All-Pro nod on his resume for ST contributions and will remain a central part of this equation under the Adam Peters-Dan Quinn regime.

Acquired during the Bruce Allen-Jay Gruden years, Reaves has remained in his role through the Ron Rivera period and into Peters’ GM run. Peters has overhauled the Commanders’ roster to the point Reaves is the team’s second-longest-tenured player — behind only punter Tress Way, who has been with the team since 2014.

A 2018 UDFA, Reaves has made 11 career starts. None have come over the past two seasons, as the veteran safety has settled into his role as a pure special-teamer. Reaves has played only four defensive snaps since 2023, having logged 70% and 68% ST snap rates in those years. He reached an 81% rate in 2022, collecting first-team All-Pro honors for his work in the niche role. The South Alabama alum also notched a forced fumble during Washington’s narrow wild-card loss to Tampa Bay in 2020.

Helping the Commanders to an unexpected playoff berth last season, Reaves made 20 tackles in his seventh Washington slate. He had been tied to a two-year, $6MM deal. Peters signed off on that contract weeks into his GM tenure. By agreeing to new terms already, the second-year Commanders exec certainly appears to like the Allen-era acquisition’s fit on the rejuvenated team.

Broncos To Sign RB J.K. Dobbins

June 10th, 2025 at 10:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

10:05pm: Chubb’s terms do resemble Dobbins’, as Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports the sixth-year back will join the Broncos for $2.75MM in base value. The contract can max out at $5.25MM through incentives. The incentives will be tied to yards from scrimmage, Florio adds. Rushing yards also factor into the incentive package, per 9News’ Mike Klis.

2:37pm: J.K. Dobbins left his Denver visit without a contract, but the sides circled back to such business. The 2024 Chargers starter is indeed committing to the Broncos, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports.

Dobbins agreed on a one-year deal to join the team, which will be his third in three seasons. This will be a notable change for Denver, which used a second-round pick on R.J. Harvey in the draft. Dobbins’ signing comes a day after the Texans gave Nick Chubb a $2.5MM deal; it will be interesting to see if Dobbins’ Broncos terms are similar.

The Chargers had placed a UFA tender on Dobbins in May, but like Elijah Moore, such a move will not lead to a return. The Bolts had made other plans this offseason, signing Najee Harris and using a first-round pick on Omarion Hampton.

Tuesday’s signing could mark a significant change for the team, which lost primary 2024 starter Javonte Williams in free agency. That said, Denver still employs rookie-contract holdovers in Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime. The latter’s path to a notable role may well become blocked by Dobbins, who delivered a bounce-back season in Los Angeles following an injury-plagued Baltimore stay. Dobbins would stand to pair with Harvey, offering a seasoned early-downs option to go with the team’s No. 60 overall choice.

Sean Payton, who confirmed Tuesday (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) the team was close to signing Dobbins, had said the Broncos viewed Harvey as a three-down back. It would not seem the team has changed its stance so soon on the Central Florida product, as shoulder pads do not come on until early in training camp, but it does appear the Broncos may not be ready to give the prospect a three-down role from the start. Dobbins represents high-end insurance, and a committee would seem likely based on this agreement.

Denver used a committee approach last season, primarily giving time to Williams and McLaughlin. The latter is a third-year UDFA who has operated as a change-of-pace option and pass-game weapon. Dobbins’ signing would not stand to affect McLaughlin’s aerial role, but Harvey’s arrival certainly could. One season remains on McLaughlin’s rookie contract; three are left on Estime’s. The Broncos used a fifth-round pick to bring in Estime out of Notre Dame, but an early-season injury and fumbling issues plagued his rookie year. Not much of an outlet option for Bo Nix, Estime looks to have seen his stock fall during the Broncos’ offseason program.

Dobbins, 26, finished second in Comeback Player of the Year voting — behind Joe Burrow — last season. Given a one-year, $1.61MM deal that included just $50K guaranteed, the former Ravens second-rounder overtook the higher-paid Gus Edwards to become the Bolts’ starter. Dobbins averaged 4.6 yards per carry, accumulating 905 to help the Chargers to the playoffs. Jim Harbaugh used a more run-focused offense last season, and Dobbins also managed to shake off another injury — a midseason MCL sprain — to return and help a late-season charge to the wild-card round.

Next Gen Stats’ rush yards over expected metric placed Dobbins 12th last season (115); Williams (minus-83) landed near the bottom of that chart. Williams has not been the same since a 2022 injury, ACL and LCL tears, but the Broncos will now turn to a player with a more significant medical sheet. Dobbins has missed 46 games since suffering a late-summer ACL tear in 2021. That injury cost him nine games in 2022, which required an IR stint after he had returned, and an Achilles tear cost the Ohio State product 16 games in 2023.

Payton regularly relied on backfield committees in New Orleans, as Pierre Thomas and Mark Ingram respectively gave way to flashier options in Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara. Dobbins-Harvey appears the veteran HC’s next top duo, as the Broncos ranked 16th in rushing yards last season. Nix contributed 430 to the team’s cause; he will now have more help on the ground.

Injuries have crushed Dobbins’ NFL earning potential, but his Chargers reemergence will present an opportunity — via this Broncos commitment — at building up more value during his mid-20s.

Bills Sign LB Shaq Thompson

June 10th, 2025 at 9:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

Shaq Thompson has lined up his next NFL gig. The veteran linebacker signed a one-year deal with the Bills on Tuesday, per a team announcement.

Thompson was informed by the Panthers in February he would not be re-signed. That decision ended his 10-year run with the franchise and left him in need of joining a new team for the first time in his career. The 31-year-old will now spend the summer looking to carve out a role in Buffalo.

Immediately after learning his time in Carolina was over, Thompson made it clear he had no intention of retiring. Since that point, no clear links had emerged to known suitors until today’s news. It comes as no surprise, however, that the Bills have elected to bring the former first-rounder into the fold.

During the first two years of Thompson’s career (2015-16), he worked under then-Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott. The latter has been Buffalo’s head coach since 2017, so this deal represents a reunion between the two. Thompson will look to return to his previous form by avoiding the injuries he has dealt with over the past two years. Over that span, he has played just six total games.

Thompson produced a stretch of four consecutive seasons with 104 tackles or more prior to his injury-shortened campaigns, and he if can manage to remain healthy he could offer Buffalo a first-team option at the linebacker spot. More realistically, the 112-game starter could provide experienced depth at the second level of the team’s defense. The Bills have Terrel Bernard, who inked a $42MM extension this offseason, in place as their highest-paid linebacker.

Matt Milano and Dorian Williams will also return from last year’s team, and they will be expected to handle key roles in 2025. Nonetheless, Thompson could carve out a spot on the depth chart during training camp. His acclimation to his new team will begin this week during Buffalo’s minicamp.

The Bills entered Tuesday with a league-low $1.69MM in cap space, leaving them short on finances to make free agent additions. Thompson was on track for a pact at or near the veteran minimum from any suitor, though, and that will no doubt be the case with this Buffalo agreement.

Patriots Place OL Wes Schweitzer On Reserve/Retired List

June 10th, 2025 at 4:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Not long after Ronald Darby went from offseason free agent signing to retiree, Wes Schweitzer is traveling the same path. The Patriots placed the offseason pickup on their reserve/retired list Tuesday.

Assuming this is it for the veteran offensive lineman, he will close his NFL service with nine seasons of work spent in Atlanta, Washington and New York. Following his two Jets seasons, Schweitzer signed a one-year deal worth $1.56MM in mid-March. The Patriots pact included just $150K guaranteed.

A 62-game starter, Schweitzer played in only 10 contests with the Jets (on a two-year, $5MM deal) over the past two seasons. The 2025 season would have been an age-32 campaign for Schweitzer, who managed to become an NFL regular as a sixth-round Falcons draftee out of a mid-major program. He had been competing for a guard spot during the Pats’ offseason program, as the team signed Garrett Bradbury to take over at center.

Schweitzer brought experience at center but spent most of his NFL days at guard. The San Jose State alum surpassed the 300-snap mark at both center (2021) and right guard (’22) with Washington, doing so after splitting time (nearly 1,000 snaps) at left and right guard for the 2020 Washington squad that made the playoffs at 7-9. Schweitzer had signed a three-year, $13.5MM Washington contract in 2020; that became his most notable NFL agreement, one he played out.

The Falcons, however, served as the most notable stop for Schweitzer. Drafting him 195th overall in 2016, Atlanta did not use him in a game during its Super Bowl LI season but deployed him as a full-time starter in Year 2. Schweitzer started 16 games at right guard during the Falcons’ most recent playoff season (2017) and made 33 more starts with Atlanta until his rookie contract expired. Pro Football Focus graded Schweitzer as a top-20 guard in 2020, as the Falcons paired him with first-rounder Chris Lindstrom, helping to command that free agency accord.

Schweitzer landed on IR in both Jets seasons, with the 2023 season featuring two such placements (and two return designations). This came after a concussion keyed a 2022 IR trip in Washington. A hand injury sent Schweitzer to IR before Week 1 last year, and he missed three months. A late-season activation from IR commenced. For his career, Schweitzer will retire having earned more than $21MM.

Cardinals Sign First-Round DT Walter Nolen

June 10th, 2025 at 1:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

Walter Nolen is the latest member of the 2025 draft class to sign his rookie deal. The Cardinals’ top choice is officially on the books, per a team announcement.

Nolen’s four-year deal is worth $19.3MM (h/t ESPN’s Adam Schefter). That figure includes a $10.7MM signing bonus and is guaranteed in full. If the Cardinals pick up his fifth-year option, Nolen will be under team control through 2029.

The top recruit amongst defensive linemen in 2022 (and second nationally to only Travis Hunter), Nolen faced massive expectations in college. During his two years at Texas A&M, however, things did entirely go according to plan. He totaled five sacks and 11 tackles for loss with the Aggies before deciding to transfer within the SEC for his junior campaign. Nolen spent 2024 at Ole Miss, and he enjoyed a strong campaign there.

Nolen racked up 6.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and three pass deflections with the Rebels. Those totals helped earn him first-team All-SEC and All-American honors and cement his status as one of the top options in a deep defensive line class. While questions were raised early in the pre-draft process about his range, it was clear just before the opening round Nolen would likely not need to wait long to hear his name called.

Indeed, it came as little surprise when the Cardinals selected him at No. 16. Nolen joins an Arizona team which has been in need of improved play along the defensive front. Plenty of departures have taken place along the D-line this offseason, but the Cardinals reunited with Calais Campbell in free agency. The team also made notable splashes on the open market in the form of Dalvin Tomlinson and edge rusher Josh Sweat. Expectations will be high for a step forward from that unit in 2025.

Nolen will have at least a rotational role during his rookie season as part of the D-tackle group. Beyond that, he will be seen as a key figure along the interior for years to come if he develops as planned. Given today’s news, second-round corner Will Johnson is now the only unsigned member of the Cardinals’ draft class.

Packers Release CB Jaire Alexander

June 10th, 2025 at 1:14pm CST by Adam La Rose

JUNE 10: The Packers had the option of splitting the dead money charge from the Alexander release across the next two years. Instead, Schneidman reports the team will take that hit in full in 2025. As a result, Alexander will account for $17.04MM this year before coming off the books entirely in 2026.

JUNE 9: Jaire Alexander‘s time in Green Bay has come to an end. After talks regarding both a trade and a restructure took place this offseason, the Pro Bowl corner will hit free agency. Alexander is being released today, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The move is now official.

The team spoke with Alexander’s camp yesterday, Dianna Russini and Matt Schneidman of The Athletic add. It was during that meeting that the 28-year-old learned he would be let go. Instead of continuing to pursue a trade or a pact keeping Alexander in Green Bay at a reduced rate, team and player will now go their separate ways. Despite the financial impasse the parties arrived at, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky notes Alexander was planning to attend this week’s mandatory minicamp.

[RELATED: Alexander’s Contract Impeded Packers’ Trade Efforts]

Two years remained on the former first-rounder’s contract, one which included nonguaranteed base salaries for the remainder of the pact. Alexander was due to carry cap charges of $24.64MM and $27.02MM, figures which were not feasible from the team’s perspective given his inability to remain healthy in recent years. By making this move after June 1, the Packers will see $17.12MM in cap savings while generating a dead money charge of $7.52MM.

Alexander has spent each of his seven NFL seasons in Green Bay, operating as a full-time starter throughout his time with the team. The Louisville product has been one of the league’s top corners when healthy, and he collected a second-team All-Pro nod in 2020 and ’22. During the latter campaign, Alexander set a new career high with five interceptions while recording double-digit pass deflections (14) for the fourth time. Both years since then, however, he has played only seven games.

That lack of availability has made Alexander’s Packers future a talking point for some time now. A trade was not only explored in this case, but the team shopped him prior to free agency. No agreement was worked out on that front, and shortly after the new league year began Green Bay inked Nate Hobbs to a four-year, $48MM pact. The former Raider will be a key member of the Packers’ new-look secondary this season as the team looks to move forward without a defensive mainstay in the fold any longer.

In the meantime, it will be interesting to see how much of a market develops for Alexander late in the offseason. Suitors were understandably hesitant about parting ways with draft capital given his injury issues and the possibility of a release taking place. Now that Alexander is indeed set to become a free agent, any number of teams have the financial wherewithal to pursue what will no doubt be a short-term deal. Alexander was the league’s highest-paid corner at the time he inked his Packers extension, but his earning power will of course be greatly reduced this time around.

Jalen Ramsey looms as another high-profile corner available to interested teams, although the Dolphins All-Pro will (in all likelihood) be acquired via trade. Alexander, by contrast, can begin lining up visits with suitors once his release is processed later today.

Load More Posts