2023 March - Pro Football Rumors

Dolphins To Release CB Byron Jones

March 15th, 2023 at 6:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

MARCH 15: The release is now official, according to ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter).

MARCH 7: The Dolphins are following through with this expected transaction. They have informed Jones they will release him on the first day of the 2023 league year (March 15), Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Miami will designate Jones as a post-June 1 cut, per Schefter. This move will create $13.6MM in cap space, though the Dolphins will not collect the savings until that June date. Teams can designate two players per year as post-June 1 releases.

FEBURARY 25: As Byron Jones‘ recovery timetable kept being pushed back, it looked increasingly likely his Dolphins tenure was coming to an end. The veteran cornerback’s comments Saturday pointed to his career being over.

Jones, who has not played since the 2021 season, underwent surgery nearly a year ago. He said Saturday he “can’t run or jump because of my injuries sustained playing this game.” Still attached to what was once a record-setting cornerback contract, Jones has made it seem likely he will not play again.

“It was an honor and privilege to play in the NFL but it came at a regrettable cost I did not foresee,” Jones said (on Twitter). “In my opinion, no amount of professional success or financial gain is worth avoidable chronic pain and disabilities. Godspeed to the draft class of 2023.”

That said, the talented cover man is not planning to submit his retirement papers, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald tweets. The Dolphins are likely to designate Jones as a post-June 1 cut. Teams can make two of those designations per year. With the Dolphins being able to create $13.6MM in cap space — after June 1, that is — and Jones coming off a missed season, that seemed the logical endpoint here. Jones has been with the Dolphins since 2020, starting 30 games with the team.

The Dolphins gave Jones a five-year, $82.5MM contract during the 2020 free agency period. Although Jalen Ramsey, Jaire Alexander and Denzel Ward now earn north of $20MM per year, Josh Norman‘s $15MM-per-year figure resided as the position’s top AAV for three years. Xavien Howard barely topped it in May 2019. Jones’ $16.5MM-per-year pact began breaking that ice (and later prompted Howard to push for another contract), and corner salaries began rising.

Should Jones retire now, he could owe the Dolphins $4.2MM in signing bonus money, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes. A smaller injury-protection sum would also stand to come Jones’ way if/once the Dolphins cut him, but the former Cowboys first-round pick has no guaranteed money remaining on his deal. Two years remain on the contract, with two void years tacked onto the end of it for cap-saving purposes. Following a successful conversion from safety to cornerback that produced a Pro Bowl and a free agency bidding war, Jones secured $40MM at signing from the Dolphins.

Jones lobbed an apparent salvo at the Dolphins in a separate tweet, advising other injured players to be leery of medications advised by team staffs. Despite that comment, Jackson adds Jones is not planning a lawsuit against the Dolphins. The surgery Jones underwent was not believed to be a procedure that threatened his 2022 season; he was initially believed to be on track to return by training camp. But he never came off Miami’s PUP list last season. The unexpected hurdles that appeared during Jones’ recovery have understandably become a sore subject with the former Pro Bowler.

Commanders Re-Sign OL Tyler Larsen

March 15th, 2023 at 6:39pm CST by Ben Levine

Tyler Larsen is returning to Washington. The offensive lineman is re-signing with the Commanders, according to ESPN’s John Keim (on Twitter).

The former undrafted free agent had a five-year stint with the Panthers before joining Washington in 2021. Intended to be a reserve offensive lineman, Larsen has found himself in and out of the starting lineup over the past two years, starting 11 of his 18 appearances.

Larsen’s deal includes just $150K guaranteed, JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington tweets. Overall, the veteran interior offensive lineman will be attached to a one-year, $1.3MM accord.

After starting the 2022 season on PUP, Larsen quickly found himself starting at center in place of Nick Martin. Larsen would proceed to start eight of his nine appearances before suffering a dislocated kneecap in Week 13, ending his season prematurely. Pro Football Focus wasn’t particularly fond of his performance last season, ranking him 29th among 36 qualifying centers.

Larsen’s role will likely be in flux heading into training camp. However, his versatility provides him with a definitive role on the Commanders…it just remains to be seen what that role will end up being.

Panthers Plan To Sign RB Miles Sanders

March 15th, 2023 at 6:23pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers will have a new-look offense in 2023, and that includes a new running back. The Panthers are planning to sign running back Miles Sanders, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via Twitter). Mike Garafolo of NFL Network tweets that a deal has been agreed to, while Adam Caplan of Inside the Birds adds that it is a four-year contract (Twitter link). ESPN’s David Newton tweets that the deal is worth $25MM, while Garafolo tweets that the deal contains $13MM in guaranteed money.

The 25-year-old was arguably the top option in this year’s free agent class, one which included a bevy of noteworthy options at the position even after three of them received the franchise tag. Especially now that David Montgomery has a deal in place with the Lions, Sanders represented the biggest RB domino yet to fall as of Wednesday. Knowing that Sanders would price himself out of their range, the Eagles turned to Rashaad Penny yesterday on a low-cost, one-year deal.

Sanders, a 2019 second-round pick, handled a lighter workload than many expected during the first three years of his career. His 5.1 yards per carry average over that span suggested he could produce considerable numbers if utilized as a true No. 1 in the backfield. Sanders found himself in exactly that situation in 2022, and he lived up to expectations.

Pacing the Eagles’ elite running game, the Penn State alum enjoyed a career year during the team’s run to the Super Bowl. He ran for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns, adding another 148 yards and a pair of score in the postseason. While Sanders’ pass-catching duties were reduced compared to earlier in his career, he earned himself a relatively sizeable market with his all-around skillset.

By joining the Panthers, Sanders will be reunited with Duce Staley, who holds the title of assistant head coach in Carolina as part of the team’s new coaching staff. He will also coach the team’s running backs, as he did in Philadelphia during Sanders’ rookie season. Head coach Frank Reich has notable ties dating back to his Eagles tenure, so there will be at least a degree of familiarity on that front.

With Sanders in place, Carolina will not be retaining D’Onta Foreman, who took on the lead role after the Panthers traded away Christian McCaffrey. The former’s success to close out the season was expected to earn him considerable interest on the open market, but the Panthers are investing heavily in Sanders instead. He will move atop the team’s RB depth chart as he starts a new chapter of his career, while the Panthers add a significant element to what should once again be a strong ground game.

Saints To Sign RB Jamaal Williams

March 15th, 2023 at 6:01pm CST by Ben Levine

Jamaal Williams is staying in the NFC. The free agent running back is signing with the Saints, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).

Williams is inking a three-year deal with the Saints, according to Schefter. The three-year pact is worth $12MM, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). The deal includes $8MM in guaranteed money.

There was some initial hope that the veteran would end up returning to Detroit next season, but those hopes were seemingly eliminated when the Lions pivoted to David Montgomery. Most recently, Williams was connected to a number of potential suitors, including the Bills, Bengals, Panthers, and Bears, per Tyler Dunne on Twitter.

Instead, Williams will land in a bit of a surprising spot in New Orleans, although he appears to be a natural fit behind Alvin Kamara. Backup running backs Mark Ingram and David Johnson are both free agents, and Williams provides much more upside than that duo either as a change-of-pace RB or as a fill-in to the starter.

Williams made a name for himself in Green Bay, collecting at least 600 yards from scrimmage in each of his four seasons with the Packers thanks in part to his pass-catching ability. He joined the Lions prior to the 2021 campaign and had modest success during his first season with the organization, compiling 758 yards from scrimmage.

The RB was a touchdown machine in 2022. Williams ended up leading the NFL with a whopping 17 rushing touchdowns while adding a career-high 1,066 rushing yards on 262 carries. The Saints shouldn’t expect that kind of production in 2023, although the team will be much less reliant on the RB’s production than the Lions were in 2022.

Bills To Sign QB Kyle Allen

March 15th, 2023 at 5:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bills are adding another body to their QB room. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Bills are signing quarterback Kyle Allen.

The 27-year-old spent the 2022 season in Houston, the third stop in his NFL career. He saw a pair of starts with the Texans, as they attempted unsuccessfully to give Davis Mills an opportunity to establish himself as the team’s full-time No. 1. Allen went 0-2, completing 59% of his passes and throwing twice as many interceptions (four) as touchdowns (two).

The Texans still have Mills under contract for the next two years, but the team was interested in adding a veteran during the free agent period in anticipation of using their top pick on a rookie passer in the upcoming draft. They recently elected to reunite with Case Keenum a move which pointed to Allen being forced to find a new employer.

The former UDFA also has experience dating back to his time in Carolina and Washington, though he has just 19 starts to his name across five seasons. In Buffalo, he will enter the most desirable QB situation of his career from a team (but not playing time) perspective. Josh Allen comfortably sits atop the NFC East champions’ depth chart at the position.

The backup spot will now be up for grabs, however. Buffalo has Matt Barkley under contract for next season, after he began a second stint in Western New York in 2022. Allen will be able to compete with the latter, who has not seen game action for the past two years. That could give Allen an edge in his bid to take the No. 2 spot behind his namesake.

49ers To Sign CB Isaiah Oliver

March 15th, 2023 at 5:51pm CST by Ben Levine

Isaiah Oliver is heading out west. The 49ers are signing the former Falcons cornerback, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (via Twitter). It’s a two-year deal, according to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner (via Twitter).

Oliver was a second-round by the Falcons back in 2018. He inked a one-year extension with the organization last offseason, extending his Atlanta stint to five total seasons. The cornerback ultimately got into 62 games (38 starts) for the Falcons.

Oliver’s 2021 campaign was limited to only four games thanks to a knee injury, but he managed to get into 12 games (five starts) in 2021. The defensive back finished the campaign having compiled 37 tackles, seven passes defended, and one interception. Pro Football Focus was especially fond of his performance, ranking him 10th among 118 qualifying cornerbacks.

In San Francisco, Oliver is expected to compete for the nickel back job, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area (on Twitter). Deommodore Lenoir and AJ Parker will also provide some competition at that spot.

Browns To Sign S Juan Thornhill

March 15th, 2023 at 5:48pm CST by Ben Levine

The Browns are adding a two-time champion to their secondary. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter), Cleveland is signing safety Juan Thornhill. The defensive back is signing a three-year deal worth $21MM, including $14MM in guaranteed money that will be paid out in the first two years of the contract.

The former second-round pick out of Virginia spent the first four seasons of his career in Kansas City, starting 52 of his 65 games. This included a rookie campaign where he earned PFWA All-Rookie Team honors after starting all 16 games for the Chiefs.

This past season, Thornhill started all 16 of his appearances, missing only one game and finishing the year with 71 tackles, nine passes defended, and three interceptions. The 27-year-old started another three playoff games en route to a Super Bowl championship, compiling another 13 tackles and three passes defended. Pro Football Focus ultimately ranked Thornhill 20th among 88 qualifying safeties, including the 12th-best mark at the position in pass coverage.

Thornhill is headed to Cleveland to fill the starting safety spot vacated by John Johnson, who was released by the Browns at the end of February. The team had been linked to former Bengals safety Jessie Bates at the time but should be perfectly satisfied with nabbing Thornhill instead. Thornhill should slide in right next to starting safety Grant Delpit. The only other safeties currently on the roster are undrafted second-year safeties D’Anthony Bell and Bubba Bolden.

The official loss of Thornhill makes safety a priority for Kansas City. They return free safety Justin Reid, who is signed through the 2024 season, but the only other safety on the roster for the Chiefs is a backup from last year, Bryan Cook, whose only start last year came when Thornhill was inactive.

The Chiefs will likely have to turn to the draft or free agency to fill the hole left by Thornhill. The Browns, on the other hand, have found a reliable starter to place next to Delpit as he continues to develop. It’s a strong move for a team who finished fifth in the league last year in passing yards allowed to upgrade at a position they needed to fill.

Raiders To Re-Sign DT Jerry Tillery

March 15th, 2023 at 5:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Raiders acquired defensive tackle Jerry Tillery via waivers earlier in the season, and his stay in Vegas will be continuing. The two sides have agreed to terms on a new deal, as first reported by The Score’s Jordan Schultz (on Twitter).

The former first-rounder had a generally underwhelming tenure with the Chargers to begin his career. Following his college career, Tillery entered the league with significant expectations as a pass rusher in particular. He managed just 10.5 sacks across 54 games in Los Angeles, however, and his time in California officially came to an end when he was waived in November.

Upon his arrival in Vegas, the Notre Dame product saw a slight uptick in usage. His snap share jumped to 49%, an increase compared to his playing time in 2022 with the Chargers, but a far cry from the full-time starting role he occupied in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. In eight games as a Raider, Tillery totaled 10 tackles and was held without a sack.

Those figures point to a rotational role remaining the ideal one for the 26-year-old, which represents a disappointment relative to his high draft stock. Tillery drew considerable interest on the waiver wire, which suggests he could have fostered at least a modest market for himself as a free agent. Instead, he will opt for stability and seek to help the Raiders take a necessary step forward on the defensive front.

Vegas struggled in a number of defensive categories in 2022, though their run defense was middle-of-the-road. Given his skillset, Tillery is unlikely to make much of an impact in that regard, but realizing his potential as a disruptive presence in terms of interior rushing would help not only the Raiders but also set him up for a more promising financial future down the road.

Browns Release DE Jadeveon Clowney

March 15th, 2023 at 5:33pm CST by Ben Levine

For the fifth-straight offseason, Jadeveon Clowney is on the market. The Browns announced that they’ve released the defensive end.

After joining the Browns for the 2021 season, Clowney re-signed with the organization last offseason. While that contract technically featured some future seasons, the Browns would have had to commit more than $40MM to the defensive end if he was still on the roster on Friday. As a result, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweets that Clowney’s second contract with the organization was always intended to be a one-year deal.

The former first-overall pick helped rehabilitate his image in 2021 following a disappointing, zero-sack performance with the Titans in 2020. Clowney started all 14 of his appearances for Cleveland in 2021, with his nine sacks proving to be his best mark since the 2018 campaign.

However, things slightly went down hill in 2022. Clowney wasn’t nearly as productive in his 12 games (10 starts), collecting only a pair of sacks and four QB hits, his lowest total in that latter mark since his four-game rookie campaign. Further, after publicly questioning his playing time and hinting that he wouldn’t be back in Cleveland for the 2023 campaign, Clowney was sent home by the organization and was inactive for the season finale. The defensive lineman later apologized for his comments, but it seemed pretty clear that Clowney’s stint in Cleveland had all but come to an end.

Still, considering Clowney’s pedigree, there’s a solid chance he finds another gig this offseason. Despite his numbers being down, Clowney still finished as Pro Football Focus’ 27th edge rusher (among 119 qualifiers), with the site giving him a particularly high grade for his running defense.

Meanwhile, the Browns also officially announced that they’ve released safety John Johnson. We heard back in February that the Browns were planning to part ways with the veteran.

Eagles To Re-Sign DT Fletcher Cox

March 15th, 2023 at 5:15pm CST by Ben Levine

Fletcher Cox is returning to Philly. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the veteran defensive tackle is returning to the Eagles.

Cox is inking a new one-year, $10MM deal with the Eagles. Schefter notes that the player turned down more lucrative offers elsewhere and took a “hometown discount” to stick around Philadelphia.

The 2012 first-round pick has spent his entire career with the Eagles, making six Pro Bowl appearances and earning four All-Pro nods. The Eagles actually released him last offseason to avoid paying him $18MM in guaranteed money, but the veteran ended up quickly re-signing with the team on a one-year deal. He earned $14MM in 2022, so he’ll be taking a slight pay cut for the 2023 campaign.

Cox is two years removed from his last Pro Bowl appearance but is still a productive member of the Eagles defense. He finished last season having started all 17 games, compiling 43 tackles and seven sacks. The 32-year-old got into all three postseason games for Philly, as well, adding another six tackles and one sack. He only finished last season as Pro Football Focus’ 67th interior defender (among 127 qualifiers), the first time he’s finished outside the top-30 at his position since 2013.

Even with the reduced production, the Eagles were surely more than happy to welcome Cox back. The defending NFC Champions have lost a number of defenders during the early stages of free agency, including defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, linebacker T.J. Edwards, safety Marcus Epps, and linebacker Kyzir White.

As Schefter noted in his initial report, Cox turned down more lucrative offers from other suitors. One team that reached out to Cox was the New York Jets, per ESPN’s Dianna Russini (on Twitter).