2023 March - Pro Football Rumors

Titans Re-Sign WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

March 16th, 2023 at 5:48pm CST by Ben Levine

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine will be back in Tennessee next season. The team announced that they’ve re-signed the wide receiver.

Westbrook-Ikhine was non-tendered by the Titans earlier this week, making him an unrestricted free agent. Even the lowest, right-of-first-refusal tender would have attached the wideout to at least a $2.6MM salary, so the Titans presumably got a slight discount by temporarily letting him hit free agency.

The former undrafted free agent out of Indiana saw time in all 33 games (20 starts) for the Titans over the past two seasons. After hauling in 38 receptions for 476 yards and four touchdowns in 2021, Westbrook-Ikhine contributed another 25 receptions for 397 yards and three touchdowns in 2022.

Westbrook-Ikhine could be in store for an even bigger role in 2023. The Titans wide receivers room is currently in flux, with 2022 first-round pick Treylon Burks joining the likes of Kyle Philips and Racey McMath.

Bengals Sign OL Cody Ford

March 16th, 2023 at 5:35pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bengals continue to make additions to their offensive line. The team announced that they’ve signed offensive tackle Cody Ford to a one-year contract.

Ford was a second-round pick by the Bills, but he only lasted three seasons in Buffalo before getting dumped to Arizona. He continued serving in his standard reserve role with the Cardinals in 2022, starting three of his 11 appearances while seeing the field for 350 offensive snaps.

The 26-year-old has spent time at both guard positions and right tackle. Pro Football Focus hasn’t been particularly fond of his performance at any position, but his versatility should still come in handy for Cincinnati. There’s a chance La’el Collins sticks around as a backup lineman, but there’s a better chance the 2022 starter is cut or traded, opening a role for Ford as a top backup.

The Bengals made headlines yesterday when they inked Orlando Brown Jr. to a contract. According to Albert Breer of TheMMQB (via Twitter), the Bengals couldn’t deny the opportunity to acquire an elite blocker at a reasonable price ($16MM). One of Brown’s free agent demands was that he wanted to continue playing left tackle, and it looks like the Bengals will oblige. Per Breer, the team is planning to move 2022 LT starter Jonah Williams to right tackle, and they’ll make a decision on incumbent RT Collins “down the line.”

Colts, QB Gardner Minshew Agree To Deal

March 16th, 2023 at 4:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Colts have made the latest addition on the veteran QB market. Indianapolis has agreed to terms on a deal with Gardner Minshew, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link).

Pelissero adds that the contract is one year in length and has a base value of $3.5MM, with the potential for more via incentives. His colleague Ian Rapoport tweets that Minshew’s base compensation is fully guaranteed, and that he could earn up to $5.5MM. The $3.5MM is guaranteed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets.

The 26-year-old spent the past two seasons with the Eagles, and spent time with then-offensive coordinator Shane Steichen. The latter is now in place as the Colts’ head coach, so this move will give both parties a high degree of familiarity. Minshew is the latest passer to follow the Philadelphia-to-Indianapolis path.

Nick Foles joined the Colts last offseason at the behest of Frank Reich, whose inability to implement a strong passing game during his tenure played a large role in his midseason firing. The Colts have had a revolving door under center for years, and Foles joined Matt Ryan as the latest signal-callers targeted as veteran additions at the position. The latter has been released after he struggled with injuries and underperformed in 2022.

Minshew saw two starts in each of his Eagles seasons, making nine total appearances. Over that span, he posted a passer rating of 92.8, roughly on par with his career figure. He is now three years removed from his time as the Jaguars’ starter coming to an end, but his return to the AFC South could prove to be a good fit.

The Colts gave 2022 sixth-rounder Sam Ehlinger a brief audition amongst their QB uncertainty, but his play in that span did nothing to incentivize the team to look anywhere but at the quarterback position in next month’s draft. Currently holding the No. 4 pick, they will have a prime opportunity to add a long-term solution under center. Whomever is added in the near future, though, they will have an experienced backup behind them on the depth chart.

Panthers To Host WR DJ Chark

March 16th, 2023 at 4:34pm CST by Adam La Rose

After the deals which have taken place so far amongst free agent wideouts, DJ Chark may very well be the top option still available at the position. He will visit the Panthers tomorrow, as first reported by Jordan Schultz of The Score (Twitter link).

Chark went through free agency for the first time in his career last offseason, after his rookie contract with the Jaguars expired. He inked a one-year, $10MM deal with the Lions as a contract aimed at giving Detroit a boost in the passing game and allowing the 26-year-old to prove his abilities when healthy. He was limited to just 11 games this season, but his production was still noteworthy.

The former second-rounder recorded 502 yards and three touchdowns on 30 receptions in his debut Lions campaign. That yielded a yards-per-catch average of 16.7, the second-highest total of his career. Having reaffirmed his status as one of the league’s top deep threats, Chark figures to have a notable market for his services this offseason. The Lions are interested in a deal which would keep him in the Motor City, but outside offers are likely as well.

The Panthers have a need at the position after they included D.J. Moore in the trade package sent to the Bears for the top pick in this year’s draft. Replacing Moore’s contributions will likely involve multiple additions out wide after the former first-rounder comfortably outpaced the rest of the team’s contributions in the passing game. As a team, Carolina ranked 29th in the league with an average of 176 passing yards per game in 2022.

The new quarterback the Panthers will draft next month will go a long way in determining the team’s ability to improve in that regard in 2023. To little surprise, though, they have already hosted fellow veteran free agent Adam Thielen as part of their search for additions in their receiver room. Chark will be the next member of that process, as he searches for his best fit on what will be his third NFL contract.

Giants To Re-Sign WR Darius Slayton

March 16th, 2023 at 3:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Giants have a few new members of their pass-catching corps, but a familiar face will remain as well moving forward. New York has agreed to terms on a new deal with wideout Darius Slayton, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link). ESPN’s Jordan Raanan tweets that it is a two-year contract. In an update, Garafolo notes that the base value of the pact is $12MM, while incentives could push it to $16.5MM (Twitter link).

The 26-year-old’s preference was to remain in the Big Apple, and now he will be able to do so. A fifth-rounder in 2019, Slayton had a consistent start to his career with yardage totals of 740 and 751. His eight touchdowns scored as a rookie has been a mark he has been unable to match since, however, and the 2021 season left his future in a very different place than many may have expected.

Slayton put up only 339 yards in 15 games that year, and he was required to take a considerable pay cut this past offseason to ensure his spot on the Giants’ roster. With only one year remaining on his rookie contract, his production in 2022 was thus critically important for both team and player in this situation. He responded with a bounce-back season which made him eligible for a noteworthy new deal with the Giants or another team.

The Auburn product posted a 46-724-2 statline this past season, giving him reception and yardage totals almost identical to his first two campaigns. His 15.7 yards per catch average was a new career-high, though, and confirmed his status as one of the top deep threats in this year’s free agent WR class.

The Giants have traded for tight end Darren Waller and agreed to terms on a deal with free agent wideout Parris Campbell. Those additions figure to give the team’s passing offense more upside for 2023, a year in which all eyes will be on the recently extended Daniel Jones and his ability to produce with an upgraded supporting cast around him. Slayton will remain a member of that group, having secured the opportunity to extend his stay in New York.

Bengals Agree To Terms With Trent Taylor

March 16th, 2023 at 3:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

A key member of the Bengals’ special teams units will remain in place for 2023. Cincinnati is re-signing receiver and returner Trent Taylor on a one-year deal, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).

The 28-year-old has spent the past two seasons with the Bengals, also on one-year pacts. Over that span, he has made only eight catches in a limited offensive role. The lone time in which he was used more on offense than special teams was the first two years of his 49ers tenure to begin his career. That stretch included 430 receiving yards as a rookie.

Taylor has primarily been known for his success in the return game since then, however. He ran back six kickoffs with the Bengals over the past two years, but returned 40 punts over that span. In 2022, he totaled 340 yards on 33 returns, which ranked fourth in the NFL. His average of 10.3 yards per return marked the second-highest mark of his career, and ranked third in the league.

Given that level of success, it comes as little surprise that the Bengals have elected to keep him in the fold for another year. The team has a highly-productive receiver trio on offense, though Taylor’s previous experience qualifies him as a potential fill-in option if necessary. The Bengals’ weakness in terms of DVOA in 2022 was their special teams, a unit which ranked 18th in that regard.

Taylor’s individual performance has obviously not been seen as the cause for that, though. He will look to repeat his success in a third Bengals campaign (and perhaps earn a longer-term deal in the process), while the AFC North champions prepare to have one of the better return games in the league once again.

Seahawks, OL Evan Brown Agree To Deal

March 16th, 2023 at 2:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks may have identified their Austin Blythe center replacement. They are signing former Lions starter Evan Brown, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets.

It is a one-year deal, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter). This move comes minutes after the Lions agreed to a deal to bring back one of their former interior O-line starters (Graham Glasgow). Brown started 24 games for the Lions — both at center and guard — from 2021-22.

With his starting role in Detroit in jeopardy given Glasgow’s arrival, Brown will move to his fifth career NFL franchise. The 26-year-old also has experience with the Dolphins, Giants and Browns preceding his two-plus-year stint in the Motor City.

Brown originally received more favorable PFF grades for his pass protection than his run blocking, including an impressive 80.1 grade in the former category in 2020. Recently, however, his metrics have shifted and he has graded out better in the run game while struggling in protection. He earned a PFF rating of just 45.5 in pass protection in 2022, after being charged with two sacks and 22 pressures allowed.

In spite of those struggles, the former UDFA will bring experience to Seattle as they look to replace Blythe (who retired at the end of the season) individually, but also maintain their success on offense from 2022 in general. Improved play up front was a key factor in the Seahawks’ top-10 scoring unit, which included a pair of rookie tackles in Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas.

With Brown in place, Seattle will have an experienced option in the middle of their re-vamped O-line. He will likely compete with former sixth-rounder Joey Hunt for the No. 1 center spot, or with veteran Phil Haynes at the right guard position. Seattle will have a number of options up front, regardless of what other depth is added in the coming weeks.

Giants To Re-Sign DE Jihad Ward

March 16th, 2023 at 1:48pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Giants have made some notable outside additions so far in free agency, but a targeted incumbent player is staying in the fold. New York has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with defensive end Jihad Ward, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan (Twitter link).

The 28-year-old bounced around to four different teams before landing in the Big Apple last offseason. His decision to head to New York proved to be a wise one, as he earned a starting role for the second time in his career (and first since his rookie season) in 2022.

Ward saw a 58% snap share in his debut Giants season, one in which he reunited with defensive coordinator Don Martindale. The pair worked together with the Ravens in 2019 and ’20, and Ward’s familiarity with the latter’s scheme allowed him to enjoy a productive campaign. The former second-round pick matched his career high in sacks with three, and set new personal marks in tackles (43), QB hits (13) and pressures (15). Retaining him was thus one of the Giants’ top priorities this offseason.

New York has invested in their pass rush in recent years, a process which included the selection of Kayvon Thibodeaux in the first round of last year’s draft. Like the latter, Ward has the ability to play both on the edge and inside, a degree of versatility which has helped earn him earn numerous opportunities despite never putting up eye-popping statistics. He is now in line for an extended look in his latest home, one which has been the site for plenty of activity so far this offseason.

The Giants will have both quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley in place for next season, and their offense has been augmented with the trade acquisition of tight end Darren Waller. Defensively, the signing of linebacker Bobby Okereke will help the unit’s second level. By re-upping Ward, though, they will maintain continuity up front as they look to repeat the surprising success of 2022.

OL Graham Glasgow To Return To Lions

March 16th, 2023 at 1:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

Three years after losing Graham Glasgow in free agency, the Lions intend to bring him back. The veteran interior offensive lineman is signing with his former team Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

The Lions drafted Glasgow in the 2016 third round but lost him to the Broncos’ four-year, $44MM deal in 2020. Detroit is planning to sign Glasgow to a one-year deal worth up to $4.5MM. The Broncos made Glasgow a cap casualty late last week.

Detroit features one of the league’s better O-lines this time around. Ex-Glasgow teammates Taylor Decker and Frank Ragnow remain in place, while 2020 third-rounder Jonah Jackson joins them as a locked-in starter. Penei Sewell is also a cornerstone piece up front for Detroit. Evan Brown, who has played both guard and center, is a free agent. And Halapoulivaati Vaitai missed most of last season, clouding his future with the team.

This contract would point to Glasgow reprising the role he began last season with: inside swingman. The Broncos used Glasgow as a Week 1 starter in 2021 and ’22, but Quinn Meinerz — Glasgow’s 2021 injury replacement — kept Denver’s first-string right guard gig this year. Glasgow, however, saw extensive run in replacing both Meinerz and center Lloyd Cushenberry. Glasgow, 30, ended up starting 13 games for the Broncos last season. Pro Football Focus rated Glasgow as the No. 27 overall center last season

In Detroit, Glasgow worked as a four-year starter. The Lions mostly used him at guard but played him at center during stretches of his rookie-contract run as well. The Lions can save $6.5MM by releasing Vaitai, who missed all of last season due to injury. That number rises a bit if Vaitai is designated as a post-June 1 cut.

Glasgow started 58 games for the Lions from 2016-19, creating a nice market. After the Broncos shed that deal from their payroll ahead of its final year, the Michigan alum will try and carve out a spot for his first NFL team.

Ravens To Re-Sign S Geno Stone

March 16th, 2023 at 1:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley was the only member of the Ravens’ group of restricted free agents to be tendered yesterday. That briefly left safety Geno Stone‘s future in the air, but he will remain in Baltimore for the 2023 season.

Stone is re-signing with the Ravens, per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley (Twitter link). Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic tweets that the new contract is one year in length. Applying the right of first refusal tender would have cost the Ravens $2.63MM, so this new pact will presumably come in at a lower rate.

The 23-year-old has primarily been with the Ravens for three seasons, spending time on both the practice squad and 53-man roster. He played almost exclusively on special teams as a rookie, something which influenced the team’s decision to waive him in December 2020. The Texans claimed him, but he didn’t see any game action in Houston before ultimately returning to Baltimore.

The former seventh-rounder saw a jump in playing in 2021, as his defensive snap share rose to 23%. He took on a even larger workload this past season, with that figure spiking to 41% as the Ravens employed a number of different looks in the secondary. A midseason injury to free agent signing Marcus Williams allowed Stone to register seven starts and compile 38 tackles, a new career-high, while maintaining his special teams role.

The Iowa product could be in line for a more consistent role in 2023, after Baltimore traded away veteran safety Chuck Clark. That move was expected given the financial benefits it gave the Ravens, and their investment in not only Williams but also 2022 first-rounder Kyle Hamilton at the position. Those two are in line to start on the backend moving forward, but Stone should be able to secure a backup role behind them as he looks to play his way into a more long-term contract down the road.