Chargers Re-Sign DL Christian Covington
Christian Covington is returning to the Chargers. The team is re-signing the free agent defensive end, reports Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (on Twitter).
[RELATED: Chargers To Sign DL Austin Johnson]
Following a four-year stint with the Texans to start his career, Covington has bounced around the NFL a bit over the past few years. He had stints with the Cowboys and Bengals before landing in Los Angeles in 2021.
He ended up getting into 16 games (three starts) for the Chargers last season, collecting 52 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. He saw time on 48 percent of the Chargers defensive snaps, and he also got some run on special teams.
Defensive linemen Justin Jones and Linval Joseph combined for 23 starts last season, but both players are hitting free agency. As a result, Covington could see a larger role next season.
Panthers Sign LB Damien Wilson
Following a career year in Jacksonville, Damien Wilson is heading elsewhere. The free agent linebacker is signing with the Panthers, reports NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (via Twitter). Wilson is signing a two-year deal.
Wilson spent his first four seasons as a backup in Dallas, but he got a starting gig with the Chiefs in 2019. He ended up starting all 29 of his games through two seasons with the organization, and he added another six playoff starts (including three during the Chiefs’ run to a Super Bowl championship).
He caught on with the Jaguars last offseason, and he ended up having a career year for his new team. He started 17 games for Jacksonville, collecting a career-high 106 tackles to go along with three sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception.
The Panthers are adding a new player to the linebackers room, but the team has also focused on retaining their depth at the position. The organization previously re-signed Julian Stanford and Marquis Haynes.
Vikings Won’t Re-Sign CB Mackensie Alexander
We’re uncertain where free agent cornerback Mackensie Alexander will play in 2022, but it definitely won’t be in Minnesota. According to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (on Twitter), the Vikings won’t be re-signing the defensive back.
Fortunately for Alexander, he’ll be able to continue his career elsewhere. According to the reporter, there are “several teams interested” in the cornerback.
The 2016 second-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career in Minnesota before moving on to Cincinnati in 2020. He returned to Minnesota for the 2021 campaign and ended up collecting a career-high 51 tackles in 16 games (five starts).
The Vikings could have a completely different looking cornerbacks corps in 2022. Patrick Peterson is also a free agent, and some draft pundits have predicted that the organization will select a cornerback in the first round of the upcoming draft.
Bengals To Sign Hayden Hurst
The Bengals appear to have found a short-term replacement for C.J. Uzomah. Cincinnati is signing tight end Hayden Hurst, to a one-year deal according to ESPN’s Field Yates (Twitter link). 
[RELATED: Jets To Sign C.J. Uzomah]
Hurst, 28, started his career in Baltimore. He flashed potential in two campaigns with the Ravens, totalling 43 catches and 512 yards in 28 games. With Mark Andrews ahead of him on the depth chart, however, it became clear that Hurst would need to go elsewhere to have an opportunity as a starter. He requested – and was granted – a trade to Atlanta in 2020.
In his first season with the Falcons, the former first rounder played closer to the level he was capable of with increased playing time. He totalled 56 catches for 571 yards and six touchdowns. However, the Falcons drafted Kyle Pitts last offseason, which again limited Hurst’s target share. It’s not surprising, then, that he is on the move again.
In Cincinnati, Hurst will step into a sizeable opening left by Uzomah’s departure. His production in the passing game – along with his blocking ability – should keep him on the field for a Bengals offense which was among the league’s best in 2021. This addition should help compliment the team’s talented WR trio enough for the Bengals to replicate their success in the passing game.
Bills To Sign Shaq Lawson
Shaq Lawson is back in Buffalo. On Thursday, the edge rusher agreed to a one-year deal with the Bills (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). 
[RELATED: Bills To Sign V. Miller]
Lawson, 27, was a first rounder of the Bills back in 2016. He racked up 16.5 sacks during his four-year stay in Buffalo, which wasn’t enough for the team to pick up his fifth-year option. He stayed in the division when he signed with the Dolphins in 2020 on a three-year, $30MM deal. His production was essentially on par with his days in Buffalo, though, and he found himself being traded to the Texans one year later.
Lawson never played in Houston, however, being moved once again later that offseason, this time to the Jets. In New York, he managed just one sack and was let go before the end of the campaign. Over his six years in the NFL, he has established himself as a capable rotational pass rusher, and a return to Buffalo could allow him to get back to his old form.
The Bills, meanwhile, get to bolster their pass rush despite a limited budget. Much of their cap room has been allocated towards Von Miller, who will team with Lawson up front.
Giants To Cut Logan Ryan
The Giants are releasing defensive back Logan Ryan (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The Giants will not classify this as a post-June 1 designation, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic (on Twitter), which means they’ll absorb the full dead money hit in 2022. 
[RELATED: Latest On Giants’ Bradberry]
Ryan, 31, first joined the Giants on a one-year, $7.5MM deal. Towards the end of the 2020 season, the Giants re-upped him on a three-year, $31MM extension. That deal has now been cut short — instead of making $9.25MM with the G-Men this year, Ryan is back on the market.
Last year, Ryan logged 117 total tackles, two tackles for loss, a pair of forced fumbles, and eight passes defensed across 15 games. While he’s still productive, he’ll likely have to settle for a lesser deal elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the Giants’ new regime still has to figure out what to do with James Bradberry. Teams have made trade inquiries on Dave Gettleman‘s high-priced addition, but the offers have been underwhelming so far. The Giants could keep Bradberry, table trade talks until sometime after the draft, or just release him outright. Cutting Bradberry would save the team upwards of $10MM in 2022.
Eagles To Release Fletcher Cox
In a cost-cutting move, the Eagles have, at least for now, parted ways with a mainstay of their defense. The team has released defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link). 
He adds that Cox is being designated as a post-June 1st cut. The reason for the release’s timing is due to the fact that at 4:00 PM EST, $18MM of the compensation he was owed – nearly the entire amount – would have become fully guaranteed. Cutting him in this way creates over $12.8MM in dead money, while opening $2.1MM in cap space.
Garafolo does note, however, that a return to Philadelphia is still possible, something corroborated by ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Both Cox’s representatives and the team are in communication to work out a new contract. Cox originally had one more season on his deal, along with two void years.
Cox, a first rounder in 2012, has spent his entire career with the Eagles. Included in his tenure there is a stretch of six consecutive Pro Bowls from 2015 to 2020. He also earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2018. The 2021 season was essentially on par with his career averages, as he totalled 35 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
However, he generated trade buzz both around this season’s trade deadline and during the offseason. A swap would’ve been complicated by his sizeable contract. As a free agent now, though, he should be more affordable to interested teams.
Rams To Sign Allen Robinson
The league’s top free agent receiver has reportedly found a new home. The Rams are signing Allen Robinson to a three-year, $46.5MM deal, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link). He adds that the contract includes $30.7MM in guaranteed money. 
Robinson, 28, has spent four seasons with each of the Jaguars and Bears. Despite playing with underwhelming quarterbacks throughout most – if not all – of that span, he has established himself as one of the league’s most productive possession receivers. He has three 1,000 yard seasons to his name.
However, his time with the Bears was thought to be coming to an end before the 2021 season had finished. With the exception of 2017, where he only appeared in one game, the former second rounder produced career-lows statistically. He totalled 38 receptions for 410 yards and a single touchdown.
That lack of production created the possibility of a depressed market for his services. However, many saw the disappointing campaign more as an indictment of Matt Nagy and the Bears’ overall struggles on offense than a sign of Robinson slowing down. That, coupled with the fact that other top options such as Davante Adams and Chris Godwin were franchise tagged (and subsequently extended, in the latter’s case) left the Penn State product at the top of the list in terms of available options.
In Los Angeles, Robinson will join a receiving corps which already includes Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. With newfound money due to Von Miller leaving in free agency, the team could afford a splashy signing such as this one. However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds that the Rams “still have money left over for Odell Beckham Jr. and hope to re-sign him” (Twitter link).
While it remains to be seen if Beckham remains in L.A. now, the Rams have, in any event, upgraded what was already one of the league’s best passing attacks. With Matt Stafford in place, along with an even more talented skill-position core around him, they should remain firmly in contention to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
Steelers To Re-Sign Ahkello Witherspoon
The Steelers are holding on to Ahkello Witherspoon. The cornerback has reached agreement with the team on a brand new two-year deal, according to a league source who spoke with Josina Anderson of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). The deal is worth $8MM, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (on Twitter).
[RELATED: Steelers Cut Joe Schobert]
While Witherspoon is staying put, the Steelers may be bracing for Joe Haden‘s departure. Haden is out-of-contract and in talks with other clubs and the Steelers have already added Levi Wallace on a low-cost deal. Haden, in theory, could still be brought back, but it’d have to be at something near the veteran’s minimum.
Witherspoon is not a world-beater but he did have some strong performances down the stretch of the 2021 season. He’s also got youth on his side as he’ll turn 27 early next week.
Last year, Witherspoon notched a new career with three interceptions and 15 total tackles in just nine games (three starts). If he’s healthy, he should be in line for more substantial work in 2022.
Bengals To Re-Sign Brandon Allen
The Bengals are set to retain the top two names on their quarterback depth chart. The team is re-signing backup Brandon Allen on a one-year contract, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link). 
Pelissero notes that Allen “was Cincinnati’s top choice” to serve as Joe Burrow‘s No. 2, so the move shouldn’t come as a surprise. The 29-year-old has been with the Bengals for the past two seasons, after he spent one year in Denver. He’s made a total of nine starts in his career, going 2-7 while completing 56.2% of his passes. The former sixth round pick has thrown 10 touchdowns and six interceptions.
In his time in Cincinnati, the numbers look slightly better. Allen’s completion percentage sits at 60.8% with the Bengals, and his passer rating is 82. While he doesn’t seem destined to find a starting role in the NFL, the former Razorback has clearly pleased the Bengals enough for him to be their preference as a backup.
Before the deal was announced, the Bengals still had just under $13MM in cap space to work with. That should leave them the flexibility to make at least one more noteworthy signing to augment the roster of last season’s AFC-winning team. In any event, they will at least carry over the same quarterbacks that they had that season into 2022.