Thursday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
Washington Commanders
Maguranyanga is the latest rugby player to join an NFL team as part of a bid to play football professionally. The 22-year-old is Zimbabwean and joins Washington via the International Player Pathway program. At 6-4 and 222 pounds, Maguranyanga will look to develop into a depth option along the edge, an area of need for the Commanders as the draft approaches.
Terry McLaurin enjoyed a productive season during Jayden Daniels‘ rookie campaign, and he faces high expectations heading into 2025. That represents McLaurin’s walk year at this point, but a new Commanders deal could be in place this offseason. 
General manager Adam Peters said on Monday (via JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington) “positive” discussions have taken place regarding McLaurin’s future. Peters added his desire for the two-time Pro Bowler to remain in Washington for “a long time.” As a result, a strong push to work out a third contract in the near future would not come as a surprise.
One of many impact wideouts from the 2019 draft class, McLaurin inked a three-year pact averaging $23.2MM per season. The receiver market has surged on more than one occasion since that deal was signed in 2022, and Ja’Marr Chase now leads the way at $40.25MM in annual average value. McLaurin will not approach that figure on his next pact, but having reeled off five straight 1,000-yard seasons (and after scoring a career-high 13 touchdowns in 2024), the 29-year-old has a strong case for a raise.
Washington entered the offseason in need of another veteran receiver, and that vacancy was filled by the Deebo Samuel trade. The 49ers’ 2024 offseason was dominated by the possibility of a Brandon Aiyuk swap, and he was known to be interested in a deal sending him to the Commanders (and thus reuniting him with Daniels, his former college teammate). Had such an agreement been reached, McLaurin would have been a San Francisco target regarding compensation.
Instead, the Ohio State product remains on the Commanders’ books at a scheduled 2025 cap hit of $25.5MM. That figure could be lowered with an extension tying McLaurin to the team for the foreseeable future, and it will be interesting to see if he matches the team’s desire to work out a new agreement. Elsewhere on the team’s offense, though, it is unclear if Washington’s new left tackle will be in place for years to come.
Laremy Tunsil was acquired this offseason as part of the Texans’ multi-faceted efforts to rebuild up front. The five-time Pro Bowler’s departure was driven in no small part by Houston’s preference to commit funds elsewhere on the roster, leading to questions about how willing the Commanders would be to extend him. On that note, Peters said no contract talks have taken place yet (h/t Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post).
Two years remain on Tunsil’s pact, and he is attached to a cap charge of $21.35MM for both campaigns. No guaranteed salary exists for the final season of the 30-year-old’s deal, so working out an extension before that point would be feasible from the team’s perspective. Other financial priorities appear to be in place as things stand, though.
Daniels’ rookie contract provides the Commanders with a window of opportunity to build off their surprise run to the NFC title game last season. Both McLaurin and Tunsil will play key roles in that effort for at least the 2025 campaign, but they could be on separate paths with respect to their respective futures in the organization.
Veteran offensive tackle Andrew Wylie agreed to a revised contract with the Commanders that reduces his 2025 compensation by $3.75MM, according to OverTheCap.
In return, the Commanders guaranteed $3.5MM of Wylie’s existing money, per ESPN’s John Keim, including a $1MM signing bonus and a fully-guaranteed $2.5MM base salary for the 2025 season. The seven-year veteran can earn $255k in per-game roster bonuses and and $250k in workout bonuses, $50k of which is new money.
Wylie will now count for $6.6MM against the Commanders’ salary cap, bringing the team to over $28MM in available cap space.
The renegotiated contract represents a growing trend around the NFL of teams asking veteran players to take a pay cut in the final year of their contract when little or none of their salary is guaranteed. Players often have little leverage in these situations, especially after the first wave of free agency has passed. Other teams have less money to spend with fewer needs to fill, meaning a smaller market if the player is released. Players also may not want to change teams after multiple years in the same city due to their familiarity with their coaches, teammates, and scheme, as well as personal and family considerations.
Wylie, however, had a legitimate argument to reject the pay cut and stay at his previous salary after starting 29 games for the Commanders over the last two years. He is not considered an elite tackle, but his $10.4MM cap hit still represented a solid value for a proven veteran at a premium position. The Commanders also have plenty of cap space remaining to sign their 2025 draft class and fill out their roster, even after trading for Deebo Samuel and making several signings in free agency.
Instead, Wylie opted to stay in Washington for additional guarantees, though the deal does not contain incentives that would allow him to make up the lost money. He is still slated to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season.
As the 2025 NFL Draft continues to draw nigh, teams are beginning to do their due diligence on each prospect, including hosting several for visits.
A perfect example of this saw the Saints host a bevy of Longhorns for a dinner last night, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. The list of Texas prospects included possible first-rounders cornerback Jahdae Barron and wide receiver Matthew Golden as well as defensive tackle Vernon Broughton and quarterback Quinn Ewers.
The Saints weren’t the only team to spend time with Ewers yesterday, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Both the Jets and Raiders sent staffers to meet with the 22-year-old in Austin prior to the team’s pro day. Ewers has several visits planned following today’s pro day, as well, including meetings with the Cowboys, Colts, and Raiders, again, in early April.
Another potential Longhorn first-rounder, wide receiver Isaiah Bond, has also reportedly set up a number of visits following today’s pro day, per CJ Vogel of On Texas Football. Bond apparently has top-30 visits scheduled in the next month with the Falcons, Bears, Packers, and Rams.
Here are some more rumors concerning the 2025 NFL Draft:
Today’s minor moves in the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
Green Bay Packers
Kansas City Chiefs
Las Vegas Raiders
New England Patriots
Seattle Seahawks
Washington Commanders
4:25pm: Unsurprisingly for a player making an NFL comeback, Gallup will sign with the Commanders on a one-year veteran minimum contract worth up to $1.335MM, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. With six accrued seasons, his base salary will be $1.17MM, indicating that the deal includes $165k in incentives, though full contract details have not yet been reported.
12:38pm: Add another ex-Cowboy to Dan Quinn‘s Commanders roster. After making a visit to Washington early in free agency, Michael Gallup signed with the Commanders on Thursday.
Gallup visited the Commanders last week and scheduled a Seahawks meeting as well, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Gallup will make his comeback attempt for a team rostering a few former Cowboys. Noah Brown is among them, as the ex-Dallas wideout re-signed with Washington last week.
The Commanders’ receiver room is becoming crowded. Beyond the two former Cowboy cogs, the team traded for Deebo Samuel and re-signed K.J. Osborn. Third-round pick Luke McCaffrey is going into his second season. Gallup could add an interesting piece to the Commanders’ Terry McLaurin support stable, but he had trended downward before a 2024 retirement.
Signing with the Raiders after becoming a Cowboys cap casualty, Gallup did not end up playing in Las Vegas. He instead stepped away from the game before training camp. While this did give Gallup a year to rest up — well after an ACL tear came to define his career — his recent exit may provide an uphill battle regarding a spot on Washington’s 53-man roster. But Gallup has shown a gear Brown and the other batch of tertiary options in Washington have not.
Gallup posted an 1,107-yard season with the Cowboys, moving into four-digit territory (his only such season) in 2019. This came before the Cowboys drafted CeeDee Lamb. Still, Lamb’s arrival did not diminish Gallup’s role too much. Despite Dak Prescott going down early in the 2020 season, Gallup totaled 59 receptions for 843 yards and five touchdowns. These two seasons enticed Dallas to re-sign Gallup on a five-year, $57.25MM deal in 2022. Dallas re-signed Gallup rather than keep Amari Cooper for a third season; that became the wrong decision, as the former third-round pick could not live up to his midlevel WR deal.
A December 2021 ACL tear sidetracked Gallup, who missed eight games that year due to multiple injuries. Although Gallup returned in Week 4 of the 2022 season, he has not flashed the same form since the setback. After catching 39 passes for 424 yards and four TDs in 2022, the 6-foot-1 wideout totaled just 418 yards and two scores in 2023. This prompted the Cowboys to move on, as big-ticket Lamb and Prescott paydays loomed. Gallup will look to recapture some of his pre-injury form, and he is running out of chances.
Samuel will be in position as Washington’s No. 2 receiver next season, leaving McCaffrey, Osborn and the ex-Cowboys to vie for auxiliary roles. Gallup brings success in the past and impressed the Commanders at last week’s visit in order for the NFC runner-up to circle back and greenlight a comeback opportunity.
No immediate Deebo Samuel extension followed his Washington arrival, separating this trade of a 2019 second-round wideout from the trades involving D.K. Metcalf and A.J. Brown. Samuel will be assured of a nice 2025 payout, at least.
Samuel’s near-$17MM base salary will become fully guaranteed, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds $3MM in incentives will be attached to this revised agreement. That said, not too much has changed here; that may be more notable than any updated guarantee.
Metcalf agreed to a four-year, $128MM extension upon being traded to Pittsburgh. The ex-Seahawk joined Samuel in entering the NFL in the ’19 second round, and while Metcalf does not have a first-team All-Pro honor on his resume like the ex-49er does, he has been a more consistent player since each signed second contracts during 2022 training camp. Samuel saw injuries and modest performances ding his trade value, making the Commanders’ add more of a flier. Trade cost also separated this swap from the Steelers-Seahawks exchange, as Seattle obtained a second-round pick for Metcalf.
Samuel, 28, receiving guarantees early is not especially notable; as a vested veteran, he would have secured them shortly before Week 1. Remaining in a contract year, however, is key here. The Commanders may well look to evaluate their trade acquisition’s fit alongside Terry McLaurin, who joins Metcalf in having a more consistent career. Samuel’s best work has bettered both, but it has been a while since the versatile playmaker has made top-flight contributions.
Accumulating 1,770 scrimmage yards in 2021, Samuel powered the 49ers’ passing attack during Jimmy Garoppolo‘s final full season as the team’s starter. Samuel did improve on his 2022 dud with a 12-touchdown 1,117-yard 2023, but he struggled again in 2024. The 49ers moved on from Samuel after the near-$24MM-AAV player totaled just 670 receiving yards last year. The Commanders providing an extension now would not exactly be called for, given the South Carolina alum’s unreliability and potential durability concerns.
Still, Washington has secured what should be a substantial WR2 upgrade after being unable to provide McLaurin with a quality complementary option throughout the former third-rounder’s run. Samuel will give Jayden Daniels an interesting inside option, and the presence of Austin Ekeler may ensure not many handoffs go on Samuel’s odometer (202 career carries) this season. For now, though, the Commanders will wait and see on their trade asset’s post-2025 future.
Tuesday’s minor transactions:
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Las Vegas Raiders
Minnesota Vikings
New Orleans Saints
New York Giants
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Washington Commanders
Clapp returns to the Big Easy after three seasons away from the team. Clapp has enjoyed more opportunities to start with the Chargers and Bills over the past three years after only starting seven of 34 game appearances in New Orleans. He’ll likely serve as a reliable backup to Erik McCoy who has missed 19 games in the last four seasons, including 10 last year.
One of the more notable moves during the opening stages of free agency was the trade sending Laremy Tunsil from the Texans to the Commanders. The move came as a bit of a surprise, especially as Tunsil represented one of Houston’s only reliable lineman following a 2024 campaign where C.J. Stroud finished second in sacks.
While speaking with reporters today, the lineman revealed that the Texans’ decision was financially motivated. Tunsil said the Texans were prioritizing extensions for younger players, making his lucrative contract untenable.
“Pretty much, they’re just trying to keep the young guys together,” Tunsil said (via NFL.com’s Nick Shook). “It’s as simple as that … They drafted some young guys, and they hit on every draft pick. They’re trying to keep those guys together, so I fully understand … It’s no hard feelings. At the end of the day, it’s a business. I don’t take anything personal. It’s no hard feelings against the Houston Texans.”
Tunsil is plenty familiar with switching teams, as the lineman was once traded from Miami for a pair of first-round picks. Still attached to a three-year, $75MM deal, the lineman’s trade package in 2025 was highlighted by a second- and third-round pick. Tunsil was still productive during his age-30 season. He continued his three-year run as a top-20 offensive tackle via Pro Football Focus, and he finished this past year ranked 10th in pass rush win rate.
While Houston couldn’t budget for his impending cap hits, the Commanders were more than happy to take him on to their squad. With no remaining guaranteed money on his contract, the Commanders will still likely have to budget for some kind of extension with the veteran, although the team was surely preparing for that when they made the trade.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.
Today’s minor transactions:
Los Angeles Rams
Washington Commanders