2024 March - Pro Football Rumors

Dolphins To Sign OL Aaron Brewer

March 11th, 2024 at 7:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Losing Robert Hunt and having both Connor Williams and Isaiah Wynn unsigned, the Dolphins have some work to do up front. They have brought back fill-in starter Robert Jones, but they look more likely to use their latest free agency addition at center.

Aaron Brewer is signing with the team, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Miami is giving the former Tennessee center and guard starter a three-year, $21MM deal. Brewer will head to Florida after two years as a Titans starter.

Although Williams fared better than Brewer during the past two seasons, the former UDFA has held his own. The Titans gave Brewer a second-round RFA tender, keeping him as they changed just about everything else about their O-line in 2023, and Pro Football Focus rated him as the league’s No. 11 overall center.

Jones’ return may cap the changes on Miami’s front to two, as he filled in at points last season. But the Brewer move would stand to ensure Williams does not come back. The two-year Dolphins center, who was attached to a $7MM-per-year deal as well, suffered a torn ACL in Week 14 of last season. Williams skipped minicamp in protest of his contract, but the Dolphins did not adjust his deal. The knee injury will hurt Williams this offseason, though he should still be expected to command a decent market.

Brewer, 26, has displayed durability since moving into the Titans’ starting lineup in 2022. He has not missed a game in that span, and the Dolphins will be counting on him to keep going as their offense becomes more expensive — with Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle in the extension queue.

Seahawks To Re-Sign TE Noah Fant

March 11th, 2024 at 6:50pm CST by Ben Levine

Noah Fant is sticking with the Seahawks. The tight end is signing a two-year, $21MM deal to stay in Seattle, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.

Fant was among the best tight ends available in this year’s free agency class. We’ve already seen a handful of players at the position come off the board, with Fant representing one of the top remaining options.

The Russell Wilson trade piece has not quite justified his first-round pedigree, but he’s still been productive since joining the Seahawks. The organization picked up the tight end’s fifth-year option following the trade, allowing the Seahawks to squeeze two years out of their acquisition.

Fant has two 670-yard receiving seasons on his resume, both coming in Denver. The Seahawks did not utilize Fant in the same way. After back-to-back 90-target seasons as a Bronco, the Iowa alum drew only 82 in two Seahawk seasons.

Fant finished his first season in Seattle with 50 catches for 486 yards and four touchdowns. His counting stats took a significant step back this past season, with Fant hauling in only 32 catches in 17 games. While those numbers won’t have anyone confusing Fant with a top-tier TE, the player is still young, durable (two career games missed) and clocked a sub-4.5-second 40 time at the 2019 Combine.

With Fant, Dalton Schultz, and Hunter Henry off the free agent board, Gerald Everett likely stands as the best remaining TE on the market.

Patriots To Re-Sign OL Michael Onwenu

March 11th, 2024 at 6:36pm CST by Ben Levine

Michael Onwenu will be back with the Patriots after all. New England has re-signed their versatile offensive lineman, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

It’s a three-year, $57MM deal for Onwenu, including $38MM in guaranteed money. The lineman also earned a $22.5MM signing bonus from the Patriots.

The organization made it clear that they wanted to retain Onwenu, although the team’s lack of free agent spending in recent years led to some doubts about the player’s future in New England. The lineman also made some headlines when he informed NFL teams that he was operating without an agent, a hint that he was simply preparing to sign with the highest bidder.

Ultimately, the Patriots stepped up and retained their lineman. Onwenu has spent his entire career in New England. The former sixth-round pick found himself in and out of the starting lineup in 2021, but he started all 32 of his appearances over the past two years. Listed as a tackle in 2023, Pro Football Focus ranked Onwenu 29th among 81 qualifiers this past season. The lineman ranked top-10 at his position in each of his first three seasons in the league.

The player engaged in negotiations with the then-Bill Belichick-led front office last offseason. However, those talks stalled, making the lineman an impending free agent. Having played both guard and tackle throughout his career, Onwenu’s versatility was expected to make him a popular name in free agency. The lineman ranked as the tenth-best free agent in our top-50 free agent rankings.

Onwenu will continue to be a reliable presence in New England, even with an uncertain offensive future. Mac Jones will no longer be under center, and there’s a good chance the Patriots snag a rookie quarterback with the third-overall pick in the draft. The team’s low-cost 2023 RT plan (Riley Reiff) lasted all of 45 snaps, and with Trent Brown all but certain to leave, it was important for the organization to retain some continuity on the OL.

Jaguars To Sign CB Ronald Darby

March 11th, 2024 at 6:33pm CST by Ely Allen

Veteran cornerback Ronald Darby is set to continue his road trip around the NFL. After time in Buffalo, Philadelphia, Washington, Denver, and most recently Baltimore, Darby has agreed to a new deal with the Jaguars, per Jordan Schutlz of Bleacher Report. The deal will reportedly be for two years and worth a maximum of $10MM.

Darby has been an NFL starter for most of his career since getting drafted in the second round by the Bills back in 2015. Routinely an extremely effective defender, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required) who ranked him as the 36th best cornerback out of 127 graded in the NFL this year, injuries have dogged Darby throughout his career, mostly during his time with the Eagles and Broncos. Though he hasn’t recorded an interception since the 2019 season, Darby effectively grades out at a strong cover corner and a good tackler.

He leaves Baltimore, where he started seven games as an injury replacement for All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey. He proved to be a valuable offseason addition, just edging out Humphrey for the second-most snaps in the Ravens‘ cornerbacks room. Other offseason additions like Rock Ya-Sin and Arthur Maulet are also free agents, but the team returns Humphrey and starter Brandon Stephens and should be able to come to an agreement with nickel cornerback Ar’Darius Washington, who is a restricted free agent. Expect them to pursue depth additions through free agency and the draft, though.

In Duval, Darby arrives to a similar role. Tyson Campbell returns as a top starter and, after the team released Darious Williams last week, Darby will have a chance to compete with Montaric Brown and Tre Herndon for a starting role opposite Campbell. Any have the potential to earn the job, though Brown has struggled through his first two seasons, but the Jaguars may still opt to pursue established starters or a highly ranked draft prospect in the weeks to come in order to supplement the existing group.

Texans To Sign LB Azeez Al-Shaair

March 11th, 2024 at 6:32pm CST by Ben Levine

After being a rumored target of the Texans last offseason, Azeez Al-Shaair has finally landed in Houston. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Texans have agreed to a three-year deal with the linebacker. The contract is worth $34MM.

This move reunites Al-Shaair with DeMeco Ryans, who was the defensive coordinator when the duo was in San Francisco. Considering that connection, the linebacker seemed like a logical target for the Texans when Ryans was hired last offseason. Instead, Al-Shaair joined the Titans on a one-year deal.

Al-Shaair had a career-year in Tennessee, starting all 17 games of a season for the first time. He also matched career-highs in sacks (2.0) and tackles for loss (9) while setting new highs in quarterback hits (6) and total tackles (163). Al-Shaair had, by far, the most snaps on the Titans defense last year and now leaves the defense in the hands of Jack Gibbens, who is an exclusive rights free agent and the only other inside linebacker on the team with more than 100 snaps last year. Expect Tennessee to pursue some linebacker help in free agency and the draft.

In Houston, Al-Shaair fills one of the holes left by the departure of Blake Cashman to Minnesota and the likely departure of Denzel Perryman in free agency. With those two likely gone, Al-Shaair should slot in as a starter next to Christian Harris. Henry To’oTo’o should have an opportunity to start with them in his sophomore season, but Houston may continue to browse for a strong third starter.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.

Titans To Sign C Lloyd Cushenberry

March 11th, 2024 at 6:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

6:23PM: Details have come in on Cushenberry’s new deal, thanks to Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus. Cushenberry heads to Tennessee where he will earn $50MM over four years. The contract includes $26MM fully guaranteed at signing and an additional $4MM for $30MM of total guarantees. His four-year average of $12.5MM per year ranks third among NFL centers, and the $30MM of cash flow over the first two seasons of the deal is the most ever for the position.

12:37PM: Another notable offensive addition is set to be made by Tennessee. The Titans plan to add center Lloyd Cushenberry, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports.

As the Broncos navigate cap trouble following the Russell Wilson debacle, they were not expected to retain Cushenberry, who had been their starting center for four seasons. The former third-round pick became a contract-year breakout, performing well as a pass protector in 2023.

Moving on from longtime starters Taylor Lewan, Ben Jones and Nate Davis, the Titans attempted to fill out their O-line with midlevel contracts in 2023. Jones had started at center for seven seasons in Tennessee; the Titans shifted Aaron Brewer into the pivot role to replace him. Although Pro Football Focus graded Brewer as the No. 11 overall center last season, the team will spend to make a hopeful upgrade.

ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric slotted Cushenberry 11th among interior O-linemen last season. The Broncos had not seen the LSU alum fortify their center spot in previous years, though he did display durability. Cushenberry, 26, did not come off the field during the 2020 and ’21 seasons. After a groin injury sidelined him for half the 2022 slate, he returned to start 17 games for the Broncos last season.

Tennessee came into free agency with no notable payments along its offensive line, potentially pointing to another move coming for a team in the top five in cap space. The Titans view guard as Peter Skoronski‘s best position, and Daniel Brunskill is signed for the 2024 season. This points to Tennessee’s other O-line moves coming at tackle, where injuries ransacked the team last year. The Titans are moving on from attempted LT solution Andre Dillard, whom they benched last season.

Dolphins To Sign LB Jordyn Brooks

March 11th, 2024 at 6:17pm CST by Ben Levine

Jordyn Brooks is heading to Miami. The former Seahawks linebacker is signing with the Dolphins, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Brooks is signing a three-year deal worth $30MM.

After an ACL tear late in the 2022 season, Brooks returned by Week 1 and managed to start 16 games for Seattle last season. Back alongside Bobby Wagner last year, he added 4.5 sacks — more than his 2020-22 season totals combined.

That performance set Brooks up for a nice pay day. Among the four linebackers to see his fifth-year option declined in 2023, Brooks was the most productive of the bunch, with 184- and 161-tackle seasons under his belt. The Texas Tech proved that he was nearly back to his previous playing level following the 2022 injury, and the Dolphins will surely be counting on big things from the LB in 2024.

David Long Jr. is expected to anchor the linebackers corps in 2024, but the Dolphins suddenly had major holes elsewhere on the depth chart. With Andrew Van Ginkel heading to the Vikings and Jerome Baker having been released, the Dolphins were actively in the market for some reinforcement at the position.

The team added Anthony Walker earlier today, providing one dependable player at the position. Brooks will provide the Dolphins with even more options at linebacker, with the organization having completely revamped their depth in only a few hours.

The Seahawks will now have a significant hole to fill at inside linebacker with Brooks gone. Bobby Wagner is also a free agent, meaning the team could be eyeing a completely new grouping in 2024.

Commanders To Sign RB Austin Ekeler

March 11th, 2024 at 5:57pm CST by Ben Levine

Letting Antonio Gibson walk (to the Patriots) earlier Monday, the Commanders are bringing in a bigger name. Today’s running back carousel will now see Austin Ekeler change time zones.

Ekeler is headed to Washington on a two-year deal worth up to $11.43MM, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Ekeler led the NFL in touchdowns in 2021 and ’22, being a vital piece during the early Justin Herbert years. But the Chargers did not budge on an extension. This will lead the dynamic back to join Kliff Kingsbury in Washington.

In terms of base value, the Commanders are set to pay Ekeler $8.43MM, SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets. Ekeler’s $4.21MM in 2024 is fully guaranteed, and he will be tied to a $3MM number in 2025. Additionally, $510K in per-game roster bonuses are in place each season. Incentives — worth $1.5MM each season — comprise the remaining $3MM.

This will reunite Ekeler with ex-Chargers HC Anthony Lynn, who was in charge when the team extended the former UDFA. That was a four-year $24.5MM contract extension he signed with the organization back in 2020. Last offseason, Ekeler sought out a raise on a new Chargers deal, and when an extension didn’t materialize, he asked for and was granted permission to seek a trade. No suitors emerged, and he ultimately remained in Los Angeles on a re-worked contract.

The 2023 campaign was an important one for Ekeler given his status as a pending free agent. The 28-year-old was limited to 14 games, however, and he was less efficient when on the field (3.5 yards per carry) than any other season in his career. After scoring 38 total touchdowns from 2021-22, Ekeler managed only six as part of a Chargers offense which struggled across the board but especially in the ground game.

Considering his connection to the coaching staff, the Commanders surely know what they have in their new RB. The Commanders watched Gibson, their primary pass-catching back, leave for the Patriots today, opening a major hole on offense. The team is still rostering Brian Robinson, who topped 1,100 yards from scrimmage and scored nine touchdowns during his second season in the NFL. The team will surely lean on both of their top RBs, especially with Robinson showing some development in his receiving game in 2023.

The Chargers already started preparing for a new RBs corps today, as they agreed to a deal with former Ravens back Gus Edwards. 2024 backup Joshua Kelley is also a free agent, so the Chargers will surely be in the market for additional depth at the position.

Giants To Sign OL Jermaine Eluemunor

March 11th, 2024 at 5:31pm CST by Ben Levine

The Giants’ investment in Evan Neal has yet to pay off. While the team is not bailing on the former top-10 pick just yet, the third-year blocker may be set for an offseason position battle.

Jermaine Eluemunor is set to sign with the Giants, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Working as a starting tackle and guard in Las Vegas at points over the past three years, Eluemunor will receive a considerable raise on his most recent Raiders contract. Eluemunor could give the Giants an option at guard, but the veteran spent last season at right tackle.

The former fifth-round pick spent time in Baltimore and New England prior to his stint with the Raiders. He’s started 45 of his 87 career appearances, with 31 of those starts coming over the past two seasons.

Eluemunor finished this past season ranked 36th among 81 qualifying offensive tackles, per Pro Football Focus, with the site slightly favoring his run-blocking prowess to his pass-blocking ability. Pro Football Focus liked him even more in 2022, with the lineman barely missing a top-20 ranking at his position.

The Giants have been busy adding to their offensive line after allowing 85 sacks last season, the second-highest total in league history. The team agreed to a deal with former Packers starter Jon Runyan Jr. earlier today, and they could be in the market for even more depth with both Ben Bredeson and Justin Pugh hitting free agency.

Bucs To Trade CB Carlton Davis To Lions

March 11th, 2024 at 5:11pm CST by Ben Levine

Mentioned as being interested in cornerback help, the Lions might not be the team that trades for L’Jarius Sneed. Detroit will, however, stay focused on the trade market to help out here.

The Lions are set to acquire Carlton Davis from the Buccaneers, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. The Buccaneers will receive a 2024 third-round pick. In addition to Davis, they’ll send Detroit a 2024 and 2025 sixth-round selection, per ESPN’s Jenna Laine.

One season remains on Davis’ second Bucs contract, which he agreed to during the 2022 legal tampering period. Coming up recently as a trade chip, Davis will help out a Lions team that experienced injury- and performance-related issues in coverage last year.

Davis will bring plenty of starting experience to Detroit, with the former second-round pick having started 75 of his 76 regular-season games for Tampa. The defensive back hasn’t been able to make it through a full regular-season unscathed, although he has been on the field for nine postseason games over the past four seasons.

The 27-year-old got into 12 games this past year, finishing with 52 tackles and a pair of interceptions. He also compiled another 11 stops in two postseason games. Pro Football Focus ended up ranking Davis only 68th among 127 qualifying cornerbacks, although the site has never been particularly fond of his performance (Davis peaked as the 21st cornerback in 2021).

Davis inked a three-year, $45MM deal with the Buccaneers in 2022. He’ll count for about $14.3MM against the cap in 2024 before hitting free agency next winter.