2024 March - Pro Football Rumors

Month: November 2024

Dolphins To Sign DL Benito Jones, Re-Sign DT Da’Shawn Hand

March 14th, 2024 at 6:35pm CST by Ben Levine

The Dolphins have agreed to contracts with some familiar faces. The Dolphins are expected to sign defensive lineman Benito Jones, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. The team is also expected to re-sign defensive tackle De’Shawn Hand, according to Russini.

Jones spent the first two seasons of his career in Miami, although he was limited to only six games between the two campaigns. He was claimed off waivers by the Lions prior to the 2022 season and proceeded to get into 34 games for Detroit over the next two years. This culminated in a 2023 campaign where Jones started 15 of his 17 appearances, finishing with a career-high 26 tackles.

Hand joined the Dolphins last August and ended up getting into a career-high 16 games with his new squad. He appeared in about 20 percent of his team’s defensive snaps, finishing the year with 17 tackles and one sack.

The Dolphins have been busy adding to their defensive line after Christian Wilkins left for the Raiders. The team has also added Isaiah Mack, Daviyon Nixon, and Neville Gallimore, and the team will be counting on their new additions to soak up some DL snaps in 2024.

WR Corey Davis Aiming For NFL Return; Jets Open To Trading Allen Lazard

March 14th, 2024 at 6:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

Corey Davis stepped away from football last August, putting pause on his Jets tenure and leading to questions about his NFL future. The veteran wideout has applied for reinstatement, though, per ESPN’s Field Yates.

As Yates’ report notes, the Jets were expected to release Davis from the reserve/retired list on Thursday; per a team announcement, that move has indeed been made. As such, the 29-year-old is now a free agent. Yates and others have noted, however, that a new agreement with New York could be in play.

Davis did not declare he was retiring at the time he announced his decision to leave the team temporarily. That absence proved to last the entire 2023 campaign, but he could receive interest from the Jets or outside teams over the coming days and weeks. The former fifth overall pick was attached to a three-year, $37.5MM deal signed in 2021.

The Jets invested in a number of ex-Aaron Rodgers teammates last offseason, including a lucrative deal for Allen Lazard. The former Packer inked a four-year, $44MM pact, one which led to major expectations with New York. Even with Rodgers tearing his Achilles in Week 1, Lazard proved to be an underwhelming addition in his debut Jets campaign. The 28-year-old was a healthy scratch in November, and he also sat the final two weeks of the campaign. 2023 may prove to be Lazard’s only campaign in New York.

The Jets are open to dealing Lazard, Dianna Russini and Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic report. The former UDFA is owed $10MM guaranteed in 2024, and he is set to have a cap hit of $13.18MM in 2025 and ’26. Given the disappointing nature of his season last year, it would come as a surprise if teams showed much interest in swinging a deal for Lazard. New York is not actively shopping him at this time, Connor Hughes of SNY notes.

The Jets struggled mightily on offense after Rodgers went down, ranking 30th in passing yards per game. A healthy Rodgers (and a new backup quarterback in the form of Tyrod Taylor) would go a long way toward helping the team’s efforts to rebound from 2023. A better receiver corps would be beneficial as well, of course. It will be interesting to see if Davis is retained on a new deal and if Lazard remains in the fold for 2024.

Falcons To Sign WR Ray-Ray McCloud

March 14th, 2024 at 6:15pm CST by Ben Levine

The Falcons continue to add to their offense. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the team has agreed to a deal with Ray-Ray McCloud.

The wideout/return man is inking a two-year deal with Atlanta. The contract can be worth up to $2MM.

The former sixth-round pick has bounced around the NFL, spending time with five organizations through his first six professional seasons. He spent the past two campaigns serving as the 49ers’ primary returner, as the 27-year-old returned 57 punts and 36 kickoffs between 2022 and 2023. He also hauled in 26 catches over the past two seasons.

McCloud showed some offensive upside with the Steelers in 2021, finishing with 39 catches for 277 yards while getting into a career-high 538 offensive snaps. Despite the increased offensive responsibility, he still managed to pace the NFL with 38 punt returns.

In Atlanta, McCloud will likely compete with Avery Williams for return snaps, but he could also carve out a role on offense. The Falcons have provided Kirk Cousins with plenty of new targets, adding Darnell Mooney and Rondale Moore to a receivers room that was already highlighted by Drake London. McCloud will compete with the likes of Josh Ali and KhaDarel Hodge for reps behind the top three receivers.

Texans To Sign DT Tim Settle

March 14th, 2024 at 5:51pm CST by Ben Levine

After a two-year stop in Buffalo, Tim Settle is heading south. The free agent defensive tackle is signing a two-year deal with the Texans, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic.

The two-year pact is worth up to $7MM with incentives, according to NFL Mike Garafolo.

Settle inked a two-year deal with Buffalo back in 2022 and only missed a pair of games during his two seasons with the team. He played mostly a backup role in Buffalo, getting into more than a third of his team’s defensive snaps. In his 32 games, he compiled 33 tackles and two sacks. He finished this past season ranked 81st among 130 qualifying interior defenders on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings.

The former fifth-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career in Washington, where he started two of his 63 appearances. He had a career-high five sacks in 2020 but otherwise had two sacks in his other three seasons with the organization.

The Texans have been eyeing some DT depth after losing Sheldon Rankins to the Bengals and trading Maliek Collins to the 49ers. The team also attempted to sign Arik Armstead before the veteran signed with the Jaguars. Folorunso Fatukasi ended up catching on with the organization and can fill in at one of the starting spots, while Settle profiles as more of a depth piece in Houston.

Packers To Re-Sign RB AJ Dillon

March 14th, 2024 at 5:18pm CST by Ben Levine

AJ Dillon is sticking in Green Bay after all. Following plenty of speculation that the running back could be playing elsewhere in 2024, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that Dillon is expected to re-sign with the Packers.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport clarifies that the organization used the “rare” four-year qualifying offer to retain Dillon. This deal allowed the Packers to retain Dillon, and they’ll owe him $1.35MM more than his five-year minimum salary (h/t Matt Schneidman of The Athletic). That would mean Dillon is attached to a $2.6MM deal for the 2024 campaign.

Dillon played sparingly as a rookie, but he’s seen a consistent role on the Packers’ offense over the past three years. The team rolled with the Dillon/Aaron Jones duo for each of those three seasons, but the team’s sudden decision to pivot to Josh Jacobs put the two-headed monster’s Green Bay future in doubt. The team already cut Jones, and Dillon’s free agency made it seem like he wasn’t going to return to the Packers.

Even before the start of free agency, there were rumblings that Dillon wouldn’t be back in Green Bay. As a result, a handful of suitors started to line up for the former second-round pick’s services. We learned yesterday that Dillon was eyeing deals with the Cowboys, Giants, and Colts, and Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report notes that the RB garnered interest from at least two teams.

Instead, Dillon will return to the only NFL team he’s ever played for. Despite generally seeing the same number of touches over the past three seasons, Dillon’s numbers have dropped. After peaking with 1,116 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns (on 221 touches) in 2021, Dillon was limited to only 836 yards from scrimmage and two scores (on 200 touches) in 2023, and that was despite the fact that he started a career-high six games this past season. Despite the downtick in counting stats, Pro Football Focus still ranked Dillon 22nd among 59 qualifying running backs in 2023.

Dillon will likely see a similar role on offense in 2024, although he’ll now be playing behind one of the league’s top workhorse RBs. Still, Jacobs missed at least one game in each of his five seasons with the Raiders, so Dillon will likely be called on to lead the running backs room at some point next year.

Bills, WR Curtis Samuel Agree To Deal

March 14th, 2024 at 4:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

Buffalo lost Gabe Davis early in free agency, but the team has a new starting receiver in place. Curtis Samuel has agreed to a three-year, $30MM deal with the Bills, per his agency. ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds the pact has a base value of $24MM and includes $15MM guaranteed.

Samuel spent his first four seasons in Carolina, developing into a starter and two-way threat along the way. His best season came in 2020, when he posted 851 receiving yards while also rushing for 200. The former second-rounder notched five scrimmage touchdowns that year, after posting a combined 14 between the previous two campaigns.

Facing high expectations based on that production, Samuel signed a three-year, $34.5MM deal with the Commanders during his first trip to free agency. The 27-year-old was limited to five games in his debut Washington season, but in the two years after that he drew 92 and 91 targets. Samuel posted 1,269 yards and eight touchdowns over that span while also providing secondary contributions as a runner. He will likely be used all-but exclusively as a receiver in Buffalo, a team with a clear-cut lead back in James Cook.

Davis proved himself to be a succesful deep threat during his four years in Buffalo, but he was unable to develop into a consistent No. 2 option. After no substantive talks on a re-up took place, it came as little surprise when he departed on a deal with the Jaguars. Samuel will aim to step in as an effective secondary WR option behind Stefon Diggs on an offense also featuring an intriguing tight end in 2023 first-rounder Dalton Kincaid.

Mack Hollins has also worked out a deal with Buffalo, but Samuel’s pact is far more lucrative. The latter will be expected to continue his effectiveness as a pass-catcher with the potential to contribute on the ground as well. The Bills will have a number of new faces in place at the WR spot come the 2024 season, and a degree of their offensive success will depend on Samuel’s ability to fit in with a new scheme.

Texans To Extend RB Joe Mixon

March 14th, 2024 at 4:41pm CST by Adam La Rose

Not long after his arrival via trade, Joe Mixon has a new deal in place. The veteran running back has agreed to a three-year, $27MM extension including $13MM guaranteed, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Mixon had one year remaining on his Bengals contract and was due $5.75MM with a cap hit of $6.1MM. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes this agreement is a three-year accord which will take the place of his previous deal. It has a cashflow of $10MM in 2024 along with a base value of $25.5MM, he adds. The remaining $1.5MM will comprise incentives.

Once again facing an uncertain Bengals future, Mixon was traded to the Texans after it appeared he was bound to be released. Houston needed a new lead back with Devin Singletary joining the Giants, while Cincinnati moved on from the 27-year-old by signing Zack Moss. Rather than facing 2024 as a contract year, Mixon will now have some security with his new team.

The running back position has seen plenty of multi-year deals handed out early in free agency, despite the plethora of options at the position leading to the expectation of a buyer’s market. Mixon has joined the list of veterans receiving a (relatively) long-term commitment despite his age and usage. The Pro Bowler has received at least 210 carries in a season five times over the course of his career.

Despite questions about his sustainability as an every-down back, Mixon will clearly lead the depth chart in Houston given the terms of this deal. The Texans went on an impressive run to the divisional round of the playoffs thanks in large part to the play of quarterback C.J. Stroud and their passing game, but they struggled on the ground. The team ranked 22nd in the league in rushing, making RB a priority (especially in the event Singletary departed).

Mixon will partner with Dameon Pierce in Houston’s backfield for at least 2024 with the potential for a long-term arrangement. Pierce is on his rookie contract for two more years and, depending on the guarantee structure of Mixon’s pact, he likely will remain in place at least that long. It will be interesting to see how he fares on a new team for the first time in his career with a multi-year pact in hand.

Panthers To Sign D.J. Wonnum

March 14th, 2024 at 3:59pm CST by Ben Levine

The Vikings have already lost Danielle Hunter in free agency, and his edge partner will depart Minnesota as well. D.J. Wonnum has a two-year deal in place with the Panthers, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

Wonnum’s two-year deal with Carolina will be worth $12.5MM, according to Sheena Quick of 1340 Fox Sports.

The former fourth-round pick spent his entire career in Minnesota. His role fluctuated through his four years with the organization, with the edge rusher alternating between part-time player and full-time player. The 2023 campaign represented the latter, as Wonnum started 14 of his 15 appearances while appearing in more than 80 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.

In each of his two seasons as a starter (including 2023), Wonnum compiled eight sacks. That performance didn’t earn him the best spot on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings in 2023. The 26-year-old ended up ranking only 74th among 112 qualifying edge defenders, although the pass-rusher did earn a surprisingly strong grade for his run defense.

The Panthers have been hunting for some depth to replace Pro Bowl defender Brian Burns, was was traded to the Giants earlier this week. The team hosted Chase Young earlier today, and they’re set to meet with Jadeveon Clowney. Wonnum will be part of the equation when it comes to Burns’ replacement, but he surely won’t be the only answer.

With Hunter and Wonnum out of the picture, the Vikings have completely revamped their pass-rushing corps. Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard, and Blake Cashman are among the recent acquisitions who should get looks on the edge in 2023.

Jaguars, DT Arik Armstead Agree To Deal

March 14th, 2024 at 3:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

Arik Armstead has not needed to wait long to find a new team, but his next opportunity will not come from one previously on the radar for an agreement. The ex-49ers defensive tackle has a deal in place with the Jaguars, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. This will be a three-year, $51MM pact, per Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report.

Armstead was released by the 49ers at the onset of free agency, but to no surprise he generated considerable interest in short order. The Bills and Texans were among the suitors known to be showing interest in the former first-round pick, but no Jacksonville connections were in place entering Thursday. However, Jaguars GM Trent Baalke was at the helm of the 49ers when Armstead was drafted in 2015.

Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports the Titans were also interested in Armstead in addition to Buffalo and Houston. The latter franchise went as far as setting up a player-for-player trade, she adds. The 49ers and Texans had a swap of Armstead and Maliek Collins on the table before Houston agreed to terms with edge rusher Danielle Hunter. That pact led to the trade falling through, per Russini and colleague Matt Barrows. In spite of that, Armstead will still be headed to Duval County not long after Collins wound up being dealt to San Francisco anyway.

The former racked up five sacks in 2023, the third-highest total of his career. Especially with that figure coming in 12 regular season games, Armstead could provide an interior pass-rushing presence if he can remain healthy with Jacksonville. He managed to play in all three games in San Francisco’s postseason (which resulted in a Super Bowl berth), and his experience in multiple deep postseason runs will be welcomed on the Jaguars.

Jacksonville made the expected move of using the franchise tag on sack leader Josh Allen. Talks on a long-term deal will continue with the two-time Pro Bowler, but he and Travon Walker will remain in place along the edge for at least one more season. Armstead will play in between that pair as part of an upgraded Jags D-line. Last offseason, Baalke handed DaVon Hamilton a three-year, $34.5MM extension and he will partner with Armstead for years to come.

The Jaguars entered Thursday near the bottom of the league in cap space, though in all cases that is a situation which is especially fluid this time of year. Further big-money deals would be challenging for the team to work out, but this Armstead acquisition could prove to be an effective one if he remains productive in the second chapter of his career.

Lions To Sign DT D.J. Reader

March 14th, 2024 at 2:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

D.J. Reader has found his next opportunity. The veteran defensive tackle has agreed to a two-year deal with the Lions, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. The pact is worth up to $27.25MM and includes more than $9MM in guaranteed money, per Rapoport.

Reader met with the Lions on Tuesday, with Detroit looking to evaluate the progress of his recovery from a quad injury. That ailment ended his 2023 campaign, and it marked his second career torn quad, something which threated to limit his earning power on the open market. Another Bengals deal was on Cincinnati’s radar, but the 29-year-old will head to the Motor City instead.

After playing out his rookie contract with the Texans, Reader landed a four-year, $53MM deal to join the Bengals in 2020. He was an impactful starter over that time, being rated in the top 11 for defensive tackles by PFF in each of the past three seasons. The former fifth-rounder racked up 123 tackles and three sacks in 44 Bengals contests, proving to be a valued member of the 2021 team which reached the Super Bowl.

His absence will be acutely felt up front for Cincinnati (though Sheldon Rankins has been added as a replacement), but the Lions’ D-line will benefit greatly with Reader in the fold. Detroit already had Alim McNeill in place as a starter, but the team was in the market for another interior lineman to pair with him. Reader will fit the bill as part of a Lions front which also includes Aidan Hutchinson and, now, fellow edge rusher Marcus Davenport.

Improving up font was a goal for Detroit, a team which has also made a few notable moves in the secondary. After reaching the NFC title game, expectations will be high in Detroit given the core players which will be carried over in 2024. Reader is a high-profile addition to that group, and if healthy he will be a key contributor for the Lions over the course of his third NFL contract.

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