2023 March - Pro Football Rumors

Colts To Sign DE Samson Ebukam

March 14th, 2023 at 7:04pm CST by Ben Levine

Samson Ebukam has found a new home. The free agent defensive end is signing with the Colts, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).

Ebukam is inking a three-year deal with the Colts. The contract can be worth up to $27MM, including more than $11MM due in the first year.

The former fourth-round pick played out his rookie contract with the Rams before inking a two-year deal with the 49ers prior to the 2021 campaign. After starting 11 of his 17 appearances during his first year in San Francisco, Ebukam started all 15 of his appearances in 2022.

He ultimately finished this past season with 36 tackles and career-highs in sacks (five) and QB hits (13). Pro Football Focus only ranked him 72nd among 119 qualifying edge defenders, although they did grade him as an above-average option at the position in 2021. At the very least, he should help fortify a Colts pass rush that’s also brought in linebacker E.J. Speed.

As for the 49ers, the team will need to find a new rusher to play opposite Nick Bosa. With Javon Hargrave now in the picture, Arik Armstead could end up seeing more time on the edge in 2023.

Patriots To Re-Sign S Jabrill Peppers

March 14th, 2023 at 6:40pm CST by Ben Levine

Jabrill Peppers is sticking around New England. The safety is re-signing with the Patriots, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Peppers is inking a new two-year deal.

This contract includes a max value of $11MM, per ESPN.com’s Field Yates, who adds $6MM will be guaranteed (Twitter link). Coming off an injury in 2022, Peppers signed a one-year deal worth $2MM. He upped his value a bit with the Pats last season.

A former first-round pick by the Browns, Peppers had an uneven three years with the Giants. His final year in New York ended prematurely when the player suffered a torn ACL and high ankle sprain, and Peppers ended up settling for a one-year pact with the Patriots last offseason.

Despite having to come back from the severe injury, Peppers managed to appear in all 17 games for New England last season, collecting 60 tackles. He ended up grading as PFF’s 16th safety (among 88 qualifiers), the first time he cracked the top-20 at his position since the 2018 campaign.

Peppers was used as a bit of a Swiss Army Knife last season, splitting time between the box, the slot, deep in the secondary, and the perimeter. With Devin McCourty retired and out of the picture in 2023, there’s a chance that Peppers serves as more of a traditional safety in 2023, although with Adrian Phillips still on the roster, the Patriots could continue to take advantage of Peppers’ versatility.

Panthers To Host WR Adam Thielen

March 14th, 2023 at 6:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Panthers’ wide receiver situation has gone through major changes over the past few months. Most recently, the team sent D.J. Moore to the Bears in a package for the No. 1 overall pick. This leaves Carolina with a significant need at receiver.

Carolina is planning to host Adam Thielen on a free agency visit, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Recently released by the Vikings, Thielen is slated to trek to Charlotte on Wednesday.

A Minnesota native who also played his college ball in the state, Thielen has only played for the Vikings over the course of his 10-year career. But the Panthers have multiple openings at the position to start Frank Reich’s tenure. The team needed to give up one of the best receivers in franchise history to complete the eight-spot draft climb. With Moore in Chicago, the Panthers will need to supply Andy Dalton and their to-be-determined rookie quarterback with more aerial support.

Although Thielen is 32, he still displayed the capabilities of being a complementary target last season. Opposite Justin Jefferson, the red zone threat caught 70 passes for 716 yards and six touchdowns. Those numbers are in line with Thielen’s 2021 work, which included 10 touchdowns. During the 2020s, Thielen has totaled an eye-opening 30 receiving scores. That total ranks fifth this decade, with Thielen behind only perennial Pro Bowlers Davante Adams, Mike Evans, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill.

The Panthers still have Terrace Marshall (490 receiving yards last season) on their roster, and Matt Rhule-era trade acquisition Laviska Shenault is going into a contract year. Both former second-rounders could be part of Reich’s attack, but the Panthers will likely be on the hunt for help in the draft in addition to their interest in free agent targets. Jakobi Meyers and Allen Lazard are off the board, but several wideouts — including Thielen, Mecole Hardman, Darius Slayton and DJ Chark — remain available for the retooling team.

Falcons To Re-Sign OL Kaleb McGary

March 14th, 2023 at 6:26pm CST by Ben Levine

The Falcons are retaining a key piece on their offensive line. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that Atlanta has agreed to a deal with offensive lineman Kaleb McGary.

As Rapoport notes on Twitter, it appeared that the offensive lineman was heading elsewhere. However, the Falcons continued to negotiate with the lineman, and the two sides ultimately agreed to a new deal.

That new deal is a three-year pact worth $34.5MM, according to Rapoport. This is a significant deal when compared to some of the deals signed by other top free agent linemen. Jawaan Taylor inked a four-year, $80MM deal with the Chiefs, while Mike McGlinchey received a five-year, $87.5MM deal from the Broncos.

Last year at this time, it was uncertain if McGary would even be able to secure a multiyear deal. The former first-round pick had his fifth-year option declined, making him a free agent this offseason. With free agency coming a year early, McGary showed up in a big way. After grading out as a below-average offensive tackle through his first three seasons in the NFL, he finished fourth among 81 qualifying offensive tackles in 2022, per PFF. This included the league’s second-best mark in run blocking.

Now, he’ll have a chance to build off his breakout season without having to make an offseason move to a new squad. The new contract will keep him in Atlanta through the 2025 season.

Raiders To Sign WR Phillip Dorsett

March 14th, 2023 at 6:23pm CST by Ben Levine

Josh McDaniels has recruited yet another former Patriots player to Las Vegas. Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports (via Twitter) that the Raiders have reached an agreement with free agent wideout Phillip Dorsett.

The former first-round pick was paired with McDaniels in New England for three seasons. Despite receiving passes from Tom Brady, Dorsett still wasn’t able to show his first-round pedigree during his time with the Patriots. In 45 games (eight starts) with the organization, Dorsett had 73 receptions for 881 yards and eight touchdowns.

After bouncing around the NFL during the 2021 campaign, Dorsett found a full-time gig in Houston for the 2022 campaign. The wideout got into 15 games (four starts) last year, finishing with 20 receptions for 257 yards and one touchdown.

Dorsett will be joining a new-look Raiders offense in 2023. McDaniels has brought in a pair of Patriots players already, signing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and wideout Jakobi Meyers. The Raiders are also rostering running back/special teamer Brandon Bolden and fullback Jakob Johnson, both former Patriots.

Dorsett will likely find himself behind Meyers, Davante Adams, and Hunter Renfrow on the depth chart, although the Raiders did open up some targets today when they traded tight end Darren Waller.

Chargers To Cut G Matt Feiler

March 14th, 2023 at 5:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Hours after reaching an agreement to bring back right tackle Trey Pipkins, the Chargers will lose one of their starting offensive linemen. They are releasing guard Matt Feiler, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

This previously rumored move will create $6.5MM in cap space for the Bolts, who are prepared to staff this position internally. Jamaree Salyer, who filled in for Rashawn Slater for most of 2022 at left tackle, is expected to step in at Feiler’s left guard gig, Daniel Popper of The Athletic tweets.

The Chargers made a push to upgrade their O-line around Justin Herbert‘s rookie contract in 2021, adding Feiler, Slater and Corey Linsley. The latter two will continue on, but Feiler will be looking for a third NFL team. Feiler, 30, spent the first four years of his career with the Steelers.

Pro Football Focus viewed Feiler’s 2021 as a much better offering than his 2022 season, when the advanced metrics site ranked the sixth-year veteran outside the top 60 at guard. Salyer filled in effectively for Slater, who went down with what turned out to be a season-ending injury in September.

A sixth-round pick out of Georgia, Salyer mostly played left tackle for the powerhouse SEC program. But he filled in at guard at points. The Chargers are evidently confident they can roll out a best-five formula that includes Salyer between Slater and Linsley. As for Feiler, he will join a UFA guard contingent that still houses Isaac Seumalo, Dalton Risner, Will Hernandez, along with fellow cap casualties Gabe Jackson and Graham Glasgow.

Cowboys Considered Darius Slay As Trade Option

March 14th, 2023 at 5:44pm CST by Ben Levine

The Cowboys made a splash in their secondary today when they acquired former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore. Before they acquired the cornerback from the Colts, Dallas pondered making a call to a division rival.

While an initial report indicated the Cowboys discussed Darius Slay with the Eagles, these proceedings might not have progressed that far. ESPN’s Todd Archer clarifies on Twitter that the Eagles did not reach out to Dallas, so the Cowboys were clearly sniffing around at CB options. But the team had Slay on the radar. Jane Slater of the NFL Network tweets that the Cowboys indeed kicked around the idea of acquiring Slay.

While the Cowboys could theoretically carve out enough room to afford a pair of pricey cornerbacks, there’s a better chance the two potential moves were mutually exclusive, meaning Dallas preferred Gilmore.

Slay was recently granted permission to seek a trade out of Philly. It’s uncertain which side opted for a divorce; there were reports that the Eagles wanted to keep the cornerback around and that Slay wanted to stay in Philadelphia. The most likely explanation is that the Eagles wanted Slay to take a pay cut, and both sides may be exhausting their options before the player gives in to a reduced contract or is cut.

One year remains on Slay’s Eagles extension, a three-year pact worth $50MM. The 11th-year veteran is attached to a $17MM base salary in 2023 and a lofty $26.1MM cap number thanks to restructures in 2021 and 2022. No guaranteed money remains on the deal. The team could open up $17.5MM in cap space by making Slay a post-June 1 cut.

Addressing the trade topic on his latest podcast, Slay said he still wants to finish his career with the Eagles. That said, he confirmed he will continue his career elsewhere if that is what the Eagles end up deciding. The team locked up James Bradberry earlier today.

“I know what’s going on. I hear the rumors; I hear everything,” Slay said (h/t NBC Sports Philadelphia). “I see everything all over the globe, all over the internet and I just want my fans to know Slay did not ask to be traded. But this is part of the business. There’s no bad blood against neither one of us, me or Howie [Roseman]. None of that. We all good, great understanding. It’s just the business part of it. A lot of guys go up for trades, you know, they got a lot of money involved in this situation so it’s nothing big, nothing too serious. It’s just part of the business, man.

“I do want to finish my career as an Eagle but we’ll see. We be looking forward to it, man. Got time here. But best believe, I do want to be an Eagle. But if my job requires me to go elsewhere, then I’ll go.”

Since joining the Eagles in 2020, the cornerback has earned a pair of Pro Bowl nods. This past season, Slay finished with 55 tackles, 14 passes defended, and three interceptions. He ended up landing at 21st among 118 qualifying cornerbacks in 2022, per Pro Football Focus…a considerable drop from his fourth-place finish in 2021 but a significant jump from his grades in 2019 and 2020. For comparison’s sake, Gilmore finished this past season as PFF’s ninth-best CB.

Seahawks To Bring Back DT Jarran Reed

March 14th, 2023 at 5:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Big on reunions with pass rushers in recent years, the Seahawks are planning to greenlight another comeback. They intend to bring back Jarran Reed, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).

Reed, who left Seattle under unusual circumstances related to his contract two years ago, intends to rejoin the team on a two-year deal. This comes just after the Seahawks notified Quinton Jefferson, whom they brought back in 2022, he will be a cap casualty. Reed is re-signing with the Seahawks on a deal that can max out at $10.8MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The base value will check in lower for a player the Seahawks once extended on a two-year, $23MM deal.

A refusal to restructure his deal in 2021 led Reed to Kansas City, and he played last season in Green Bay. The Seahawks wanted to retain Reed two years ago, but the young D-tackle sought a second extension. The sides could not agree on a resolution, leading to Reed becoming an unexpected free agent. The former Seattle second-round pick will attempt to pick up where he left off with the NFC West team, which reached reunion agreements with Jefferson and Bruce Irvin last year.

Reed has remained a starter-caliber interior pass rusher in his seasons outside of Seattle, totaling 26 QB hits from 2021-22. However, his best work has come with the Seahawks. Reed, 30, registered six sacks during his 2020 Seattle 1.0 finale and earned his initial extension after totaling 10.5 in 2018.

The Seahawks are swapping out Jefferson and Shelby Harris for Reed and Dre’Mont Jones. The latter will cost $17MM per year, so Reed is joining the Jones- and Uchenna Nwosu-led pass rush as a supplemental piece. Poona Ford remains unsigned, but the Seahawks still have Al Woods and Bryan Mone under contract.

Cowboys To Re-Sign Leighton Vander Esch

March 14th, 2023 at 5:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys have brought back Donovan Wilson and agreed to acquire Stephon Gilmore from the Colts. They have not forgotten about Leighton Vander Esch, it appears.

Dallas is close to re-signing the former first-round pick, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports a deal is expected. Vander Esch and the Cowboys are on the verge of completing a two-year, $11MM agreement, Rapoport adds (Twitter link). The first year will be guaranteed, Jane Slater of ESPN.com tweets.

This marks one of a few off-ball linebacker deals to commence Tuesday. While Dallas has been connected to Bobby Wagner for a second straight offseason, the team liked what it saw from Vander Esch in 2022. This contract matches the deal the Dolphins gave David Long on Monday. Wagner is unlikely to be in the picture any longer, per Slater, now that Vander Esch has agreed to terms (Twitter link).

The Steelers and Texans also pursued Vander Esch, Slater adds (on Twitter). But the Cowboys are bringing back the former Pro Bowler for a sixth season. They will give him a raise to return; the Boise State product signed for just $2MM in 2022.

Although Vander Esch has not matched his rookie-year form, as injuries intervened early in his career, he is still just 27 and should have some prime seasons remaining. Pro Football Focus viewed Vander Esch as a top-12 coverage linebacker last season. The 749 defensive snaps LVE logged were the most since his standout rookie season. He reached that total despite missing three games. Vander Esch totaled 90 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble during his 14-game run, and he added two pass deflections in Dallas’ blowout playoff win in Tampa.

The Buccaneers performance may well have helped Vander Esch secure this contract, as he came back after a shoulder injury sidelined him for the final three regular-season games. Concerns about Vander Esch’s past with neck injuries resurfaced, but this Cowboys agreement shows the team remains confident in his availability going forward.

The Cowboys have used Micah Parsons more as an edge rusher, leaving more snaps available at linebacker. The team also rosters Damone Clark and Jabril Cox but lost Luke Gifford to the Titans on Tuesday. Anthony Barr is also a free agent, after having signed a one-year deal last summer.

Cardinals To Sign LB Kyzir White

March 14th, 2023 at 5:21pm CST by Ben Levine

Another Eagles defender is out the door. Linebacker Kyzir White is signing with the Cardinals, reports Jordan Schultz of The Score (via Twitter).

White is inking a two-year deal that can max out at $11MM, per Schultz. The linebacker played last season on a one-year, $5MM deal, and he parlayed his strong performance into a multiyear contract.

White, a former fourth-round pick, took on a larger role during each of his four seasons with the Chargers. This culminated in a breakout 2021 campaign where he finished with 144 tackles, two interceptions, and a pair of forced fumbles. Despite the strong numbers, he had to settle for a one-year deal with Philly last offseason, and he ended up emerging as a key piece on the Eagles defense.

The linebacker started eight of his 17 games, finishing with 110 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He added another 11 stops in three postseason appearances. Pro Football Focus ended up ranking the 26-year-old 33rd among 81 qualifying linebackers. Today’s move will reunite White with new Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, who was Philly’s defensive coordinator last season.

With both White and T.J. Edwards gone, the Eagles will be searching for two new starting LBs next season. Javon Hargrave and Marcus Epps have also left in free agency and opened holes on Philly’s defense.