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Falcons Sign RFA C Ryan Neuzil

May 28th, 2025 at 7:46pm CST by Ely Allen

Last year, the Falcons were able to avoid tendering center Ryan Neuzil as an exclusive rights free agent with a one-year extension. With Neuzil as a restricted free agent this offseason, Atlanta ended up tendering him. That tender is a thing of the past, though, as Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Neuzil and the Falcons have agreed to a two-year, $9.5MM deal.

Neuzil signed with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent out of Appalachian State in 2021. After spending his rookie year on the practice squad, Neuzil made his NFL debut in Week 9 of his sophomore campaign, getting called up as a practice squad elevation. He would appear in every game for the rest of the 2022 season, appearing only on special teams, except for five offensive snaps in the team’s regular season finale.

In 2023, injuries to starting guard and primary backup center Matt Hennessy opened the door for Neuzil to climb the depth chart as the new top option to back up then-starter Drew Dalman. Neuzil entered the year playing the same special teams role in which he ended 2022, but he earned his first career start in Week 6, though only as a technicality as he was an extra lineman on the first play of the game and only played five offensive snaps.

Later in the season, though, Dalman would be forced to miss three games, opening the door for Neuzil to finally start a full game at center and earn snaps on the line during games in which he didn’t start. Ending the season with four starts under his belt likely helped him earn his extension as the primary backup to Dalman. When Dalman missed eight games with a high ankle sprain this past season, Neuzil was the one to fill in. Dalman wanted to return to Atlanta this offseason, and the two sides even met to discuss a new deal, but ultimately, Dalman ended up signing with the Bears, leaving the Falcons seemingly no choice but to sign Neuzil as the team’s new primary center.

According to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, Neuzil had been working out and practicing with the team without a deal signed, but likely under the impression that he would, at the very least, sign his restricted free agent tender. Now, with a new contract in hand, Neuzil officially rejoins the roster to likely serve as the Falcons’ starting center in 2025.

NFL Minor Transactions: 5/28/25

May 28th, 2025 at 6:50pm CST by Ely Allen

Wednesday’s only minor moves:

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers already swapped punters today, and strangely, that transaction was the one to make headlines. It’s likely because Surratt and White have also primarily been special teamers so far in their careers. White, an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma in 2023, has split the last two years between the UFL and NFL, spending short stints with the Bills and Raiders before finally seeing an active roster in San Francisco, where he made his NFL debut.

Surratt’s special teams status is a bit more surprising. After switching from starting quarterback to linebacker after a season-ending injury and a head coaching change at North Carolina, Surratt became an All-American defender, racking up 206 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks in his two years at the position. Those two impressive seasons helped convince the Vikings to draft him in the third round.

After only appearing on special teams in nine games as a rookie, Surratt was waived before his sophomore season, rebounding with the Jets. He made five starts while playing in all 17 games last year, but he’s only got 37 total tackles in his four-year career.

49ers Sign P Thomas Morstead, Release P Mitch Wishnowsky

May 28th, 2025 at 4:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

4:40pm: The Morstead signing is now official, and it will not spark a punter competition. Wishnowsky was released on Wednesday, per a team announcement. The latter move will generate just $266K in cap savings for San Francisco, and in the wake of Wishnowsky’s 2024 struggles and back injury questions will be raised about his NFL future.

9:06am: Thomas Morstead looks to have secured a chance to play a 17th NFL season. Once again released by the Jets, the veteran punter appears set to land with a 49ers team that has gathered some recent Jets personnel.

The former Super Bowl-winning specialist revealed Wednesday morning a 49ers commitment looms. This will reunite Morstead with Robert Saleh and former Jets special teams coordinator Brant Boyer. One of the Jets’ Greg Zuerlein fill-ins, Greg Joseph, is also set to vie for the 49ers’ kicker job.

Although Morstead held his Jets gig during the first several weeks of the 2025 league year, he received walking papers two weeks after the draft. The Jets dumped he and Zuerlein; the latter remains unsigned after an injury-marred season. Morstead punted in 34 games for the Jets over the past two seasons, completing a second stint with the team. The longtime Saint’s first Jets work came in Saleh’s debut season as HC (2021); Boyer coached Morstead during both his Jets tours as well.

The 49ers roster seventh-year punter Mitch Wishnowsky, who is tied to a four-year, $11.2MM contract that runs through the 2026 season. But the veteran’s 2024 season ended early due to a back injury. Wishnowsky landed on IR after nine games, the first absences of the Australian punter’s career.

Wishnowsky, 33, is set to carry a $2.25MM cap number, though the 49ers would take on nearly $2MM by releasing him due to signing bonus proration. Nevertheless, it appears he will have competition to retain his longtime role this offseason.

Going into what would be an age-39 season, Morstead averaged 47.2 yards per punt in 2024. That was down slightly from his 48.8-yard average in 2023. Wishnowsky finished at 45.2 last season. Morstead punted for the Dolphins in 2022, after splitting the 2021 season between New York and Atlanta. He is still best known for a 12-season Saints tenure, which began with the SMU alum punting for the Super Bowl XLIV-winning New Orleans squad as a rookie.

Cardinals Place CB Sean Murphy-Bunting On NFI List

May 28th, 2025 at 12:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

MAY 27: A knee injury will send Murphy-Bunting to the NFI list, Jonathan Gannon said. The former Buccaneers and Titans cornerback needed to have surgery to repair the malady, which occurred away from the Cardinals’ facility (via AZCardinals.com’s Darren Urban).

MAY 22: Sean Murphy-Bunting has landed on the reserve/non-football injury list, per the transactions wire. As a result, the Cardinals corner will miss the entire 2025 campaign.

Murphy-Bunting began his career with the Buccaneers, and he made 36 starts during his time in Tampa Bay (although only five of those came during his final year with the team). That spell was followed by a one-year Titans pact, and the former second-rounder returned to full-time starting duties. His Tennessee performance resulted in a much stronger free agent market.

The Cardinals inked Murphy-Bunting to a three-year, $22.5MM deal last March. $17.39MM of that figure consisted of guarantees, including the entirety of the 27-year-old’s 2025 base salary ($7.7MM). This news will leave Arizona without a first-team option at the cornerback spot after Murphy-Bunting started all 15 of his appearances last year. He notched three interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles along the way, and the Cardinals will be tasked with replacing that production this season.

Arizona has finished mid-pack against the pass over each of the two years with Jonathan Gannon in place as head coach and Nick Rallis as defensive coordinator. Murphy-Bunting delivered positives and negatives in terms of coverage in 2024; the Central Michigan product allowed a passer rating of 84.1 as the nearest defender (the second-lowest of his career) but also surrendered a 70.7% completion percentage (the second-highest of his career). His attention will now turn to recovery in advance of the 2026 season, in which none of his base salary is guaranteed.

The Cardinals have made a number of draft investments at the cornerback spot in recent years. That includes Garrett Williams in the third round in 2023; after seeing his snap share jump to 76% last season, another notable workload can be expected for the Syracuse product. Arizona then added Max Melton and Elijah Jones on Day 2 of last year’s draft, and the team double-dipped once again (Will Johnson, Denzel Burke) in April.

A number of options will therefore be in place for the Cardinals as they look to replace Murphy-Bunting internally. Taking another step forward and reaching the postseason in Year 3 of the regime led by Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort will require further improvement on defense (and other areas), though, and this news represents a blow. If Arizona seeks an outside addition at the CB spot, one will certainly be feasible given the team’s $32MM in cap space.

Commanders Re-Sign DT Carl Davis

May 27th, 2025 at 9:17pm CST by Ben Levine

The Commanders are hanging on to some extra depth on the defensive line. The team announced that they’ve signed defensive tackle Carl Davis.

A former third-round pick by the Ravens, Davis has settled into true journeyman status at this point of his career. The Commanders represent the defensive tackle’s eighth NFL team; in addition to his time in Baltimore and Washington, the veteran has had stints with the Browns, Colts, Jaguars, Patriots, Seahawks, and Cowboys.

His most productive stretch came in New England between 2021 and 2022. He got into 33 games over that span, collecting 30 tackles and a pair of sacks. After getting cut by the Cowboys at the end of the 2024 preseason, he caught on with Washington’s practice squad. He ended up getting into three games with the big-league club last season, collecting three stops.

The Commanders aren’t in desperate need of defensive tackle help, even after the team moved on from Jonathan Allen this offseason. Daron Payne and Jer’Zhan Newton return after leading the position grouping in snaps last year, and the organization also brought in Javon Kinlaw via free agency. Davis will likely be competing for a spot with fellow free agent acquisition Eddie Goldman, who also inked a deal for the vet minimum.

NFL Minor Transactions: 5/27/25

May 27th, 2025 at 8:07pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Miami Dolphins

Pittsburgh Steelers

We learned last week that the Cardinals were moving on from DL Ben Stille, and we’ve now got some clarity on his direct replacement on the roster. The team has signed Patrick Jenkins, an undrafted rookie out of Tulane. The defensive lineman got a look at Saints rookie minicamp but left without an offer. His showing at Tulane included 13 sacks and 28 tackles for loss.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/27/25

May 27th, 2025 at 7:49pm CST by Ben Levine

One late-round signing to pass along:

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are now one step closer to completing the signing of their rookie class after inking Cameron Williams to his first NFL pact. The lineman got into 37 games during his time with the Longhorns, with the majority of his snaps coming at right tackle. He’ll likely settle into a depth role for the 2025 campaign.

With the signing, the Eagles only have a pair of unsigned draft picks: first-round LB Jihaad Campbell and second-round S Andrew Mukuba.

Bears Extend G Joe Thuney

May 27th, 2025 at 2:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

MAY 27: Thuney’s fourth contract (when the 2020 franchise tag is counted) pays out its guarantees by 2026. The accomplished blocker will be due a $1MM roster bonus in March 2027, according to Spotrac. That will help the Bears determine if they want to keep Thuney around for an age-35 season, but he effectively ensured status on the 2026 Bears’ roster via this re-up. Though, Thuney’s cap hit will climb from $8MM this year to $21.5MM in 2026 and ’27.

MAY 20: Before making his Bears debut, Joe Thuney has a new deal in hand. The All-Pro guard agreed to terms on a two-year extension, his agent announced on Tuesday.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports this pact is worth $35MM and brings Thuney’s scheduled earnings up to $51MM over the next three seasons. $33.5MM is fully guaranteed at signing. Rather than entering the coming season as a pending free agent, Thuney is now on the books through 2027. To no surprise, this agreement will lower his 2025 cap hit, with Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune noting it will be cut in half to $8MM.

The 32-year-old represented a key element of the Bears’ multi-faceted efforts to improve along the interior of the offensive line. He, like fellow guard Jonah Jackson, was acquired via trade in March prior to the outset of free agency. Those two are set to join free agent signing Drew Dalman, who departed the Falcons on the open market to take on center duties in Chicago.

After a strong five-year run in New England to begin his career, Thuney enjoyed plenty of individual and team success during his time with Kansas City. He added another two Super Bowl titles to his resume with the Chiefs while earning a Pro Bowl nod during each of the past three seasons. That stretch includes the 2024 campaign, during which Thuney took on left tackle duties out of necessity with the team’s other blindside options falling short of expectations.

That setup proved to be effective enough for the Chiefs until their Super Bowl loss, one which did not damper Thuney’s value. Kansas City’s need to budget for a Trey Smith commitment at the other guard spot – which to date consists of using the franchise tag with an extension likely coming in the near future – resulted in the Thuney trade, though. The NC State product was dealt to the Bears in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick. He will handle his familiar left guard spot, with Jackson moving over to the RG position upon arrival in Chicago.

At first, Thuney was non-committal about signing an extension prior to the start of the 2025 season. In April, however, general manager Ryan Poles made it clear a new deal on this front was a team priority. Jackson inked a one-year extension shortly after he was acquired, and today’s move means both of Chicago’s guards are under contract until the 2028 offseason. The same is also true of Dalman.

Pass protection was a major issue for the Bears in 2024; improved play from quarterback Caleb Williams in Year 2 will depend in large part on the team’s ability to deliver stronger play up front. New head coach Ben Johnson named changes along the interior of the O-line as something to watch for upon arrival. That took place on multiple fronts, and now all three of the unit’s new faces are attached to overlapping multi-year pacts.

Bengals, Cordell Volson Agree To Revised Contract

May 27th, 2025 at 10:17am CST by Nikhil Mehta

MAY 27: Volson’s base salary for the year has been reduced to $1.5MM as a result of the restructure, per Over the Cap (h/t Baby). He is now set to collect $500K in guarantees, and a total of $600K in per-game roster bonuses are present in the new deal. Volson’s 2025 cap charge is now $3.1MM.

MAY 23: The Bengals have agreed to a revised contract with offensive guard Cordell Volson, according to ESPN’s Ben Baby.

Volson started 48 games across the first three years of his career, qualifying him for the Level Two Proven Performance Escalator and boosting his 2025 salary to $3.656MM, though none is guaranteed.

That would normally be a bargain for a starting guard, but Volson was benched twice last season for Cody Ford, who re-signed in Cincinnati on a two-year, $6MM deal this offseason. The Bengals added even more guard depth by signing veteran Lucas Patrick and drafted Dylan Fairchild (third round, No. 81) and Jalen Rivers (fifth round, No. 153). Of the five, Volson had the biggest 2025 cap hit and the least guaranteed money remaining, putting him at risk of missing the 53-man roster if he didn’t emerge as a starter in training camp.

With more competition along the interior of the Bengals’ offensive line, Volson accepted the team’s offer of a reduced salary in exchange for guaranteed money, per Baby. Precise details have yet to be reported, but Volson may have the opportunity to earn additional money if he can hold down a starting guard job.

Volson has only played left guard in the NFL, so that’s likely his best path to starting. Ford started two games there in 2024, along with seven at tackle, while eight of Patrick’s 10 starts came at left guard for the Saints with the remaining two at center. Cincinnati’s rookies will offer some competition, too; both logged at least 850 snaps at left guard during their college careers. Fairchild was Georgia’s starting LG in 2023 and 2024, while Rivers started there in 2022 with another 219 snaps last season.

With a lower cap hit and added guaranteed money, Volson’s new contract should give him a better chance of hanging onto a roster spot even if he can’t carve out a starting role, though the versatility of his veteran competition may force him to develop some of his own.

Browns Sign First-Round DT Mason Graham

May 27th, 2025 at 9:38am CST by Adam La Rose

The Browns’ top pick from last month’s draft is now on the books. Defensive tackle Mason Graham agreed to terms on his rookie deal this morning.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes the pact is worth a total of $40.87MM over four years. That figure is guaranteed in full. Graham will be under team control through at least 2028, but the Browns will be able to extend that via the fifth-year option.

One of the defining characteristics of the 2025 draft was the strength of its defensive tackle class. In a year which saw five interior defenders selected on Day 1, though, it came as no surprise Graham was the first to hear his name called. The Michigan product was long seen as one of the top prospects – based on his floor in terms of production but also upside – at any position during the pre-draft process.

The Browns began the opening round of the draft with the No. 2 pick, leading to a widespread expectation they would select Travis Hunter. The Heisman winner did in fact come off the board at that spot, but only after Cleveland traded the pick to Jacksonville. That swap (which had been agreed to well before the start of the draft) moved the Browns down to No. 5 in the order. With Hunter, along with Cam Ward (Titans), Abdul Carter (Giants) and Will Campbell (Patriots) no longer available, the Browns made an expected move in selecting Graham.

The Michigan product played a central role in the team’s national championship in 2023, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors for the season. That feat was repeated during his junior campaign, one in which Graham also received a consensus All-American nod. The 6-4, 306-pounder totaled 6.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss during his two full seasons as a starter, and he will look to develop into an disruptive presence against the run and pass at the NFL level.

The Browns have veterans Maliek Collins, Shelby Harris and Maurice Hurst in the fold for 2025 after releasing Dalvin Tomlinson in March. Cleveland has cycled through a number of young options along the defensive interior, but Graham will be expected to make an impact during his rookie year and for several seasons beyond that as a key member of the D-line.

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