2024 March - Pro Football Rumors

Lions To Add Marcus Davenport

March 11th, 2024 at 5:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Marcus Davenport‘s hope a value-reestablishing season in Minnesota did not work out, with an injury impeding the former first-round pick. He will still land another shot with a familiar coaching presence.

The ex-Saint will rejoin Aaron Glenn in Detroit, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. Glenn was on the Saints’ staff when the team drafted Davenport, though he coached New Orleans’ defensive backs. Nevertheless, Davenport will join fellow ex-Saint defender Alex Anzalone under Glenn in 2024.

Detroit is giving Davenport half of what he made last season in base value, as Rapoport notes this deal is worth $6.5MM. The contract can max out at $10.5MM.

The Vikings gave Davenport a one-year, $13MM deal, setting him up on a high-end “prove it” deal to work alongside Danielle Hunter. This preceded a Za’Darius Smith trade, but the Vikings did not benefit from the move. Davenport posted two sacks and suffered an ankle injury that became a season-ending malady. Davenport, 27, underwent surgery to repair his high ankle sprain and ended up playing only four games in 2023.

Davenport displayed quality rush capabilities in New Orleans, but he could not deliver such form consistently. He needed to settle for a “prove it” deal due to totaling just a half-sack in 15 Saints games in 2022. The ex-Cameron Jordan sidekick did total 15 sacks and 32 QB hits between the 2019 and ’21 seasons, keeping teams interested in his potential.

Despite Aidan Hutchinson leading the NFL in pressures and mounting a sack charge late in the season, the Lions did not have much around him. Their Okwara-based efforts did not pan out in recent years. Hutchinson finished with 11.5 sacks last season; no other Lions edge defender notched more than two. It should not be expected Davenport will be all the Lions do to staff this job, but the six-year veteran is the first piece of the puzzle.

Dolphins, LB Anthony Walker Agree To Deal

March 11th, 2024 at 4:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

Not long after moving on from Jerome Baker, Miami is set to have a new linebacker in place. Anthony Walker has agreed to a one-year Dolphins deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Walker spent the past three seasons with the Browns, where he started 27 of his 28 appearances. He was limited to only three games in 2022 thanks to a torn quad, but he bounced back and got into 12 games in 2023. He finished this past season with 44 tackles, with Pro Football Focus grading him 31st among 82 qualifying linebackers.

The former fifth-round pick made a name for himself with the Colts, where he transformed into a dependable starter for the organization. After emerging as a full-time player in 2018, he topped 100 tackles in two of his final three seasons for the organization.

Cardinals, LB Mack Wilson Agree To Deal

March 11th, 2024 at 4:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

A busy day on the defensive side of the ball continues for Arizona. The Cardinals are set to add linebacker Mack Wilson on a three-year deal worth $12.75MM with a maximum value of $15MM, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The former Browns draft pick spent the past two seasons with the Patriots, getting into all 34 games. His numbers took a step forward in 2023, with Wilson setting career highs in sacks (3.5) and forced fumbles (two). He didn’t play enough snaps to earn a spot on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings, but he would have graded as a top-10 linebacker with a full workload.

Wilson was one of the lone bright spots in New England last season, and it sounded like the team made an effort to retain the linebacker. The front office was ultimately forced to pivot in a different direction, and Wilson’s departure likely contributed to the team’s agreement with free agent LB Sione Takitaki.

The Cardinals have been busy adding to their defense today. The team agreed to terms with cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting before adding defensive linemen Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols to the mix.

Bills To Re-Sign DE A.J. Epenesa

March 11th, 2024 at 4:50pm CST by Ben Levine

Buffalo has lost Leonard Floyd in the early going of the negotiating window, but the team will still have A.J. Epenesa moving forward. The latter has agreed to a two-year deal with Buffalo, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports. Epenesa will see $7MM in 2024 and could earn up to $20MM over the life of the pact, per Garafolo.

The 2020 second-round pick hit free agency after completing his rookie contract. The defensive end has spent his entire four-year career in Buffalo.

Epenesa hasn’t emerged into a starter in Buffalo, but he’s still served as an important member of the defensive line. The pass rusher has finished each of the past two seasons with 6.5 sacks while getting into about 40 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.

The 25-year-old finished this past season ranked 31st among 112th qualifying edge rushers, per Pro Football Focus. The site also gave him one of the highest positional grades for his coverage ability, although he also earned one of the lowest grades for his run defense.

With Floyd now out of the picture, the Bills can temporarily pencil Epenesa in opposite Greg Rousseau on the defensive line. Still, the team will surely look for another body to soak up some of those departed snaps, especially with Shaq Lawson also hitting free agency.

Browns To Re-Sign DE Za’Darius Smith, DT Maurice Hurst

March 11th, 2024 at 4:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

Za’Darius Smith joined the Browns on a one-year agreement last offseason. He will remain in Cleveland moving forward rather than testing the market.

The veteran edge rusher has agreed to a new deal with the Browns, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. The two-year pact has a base value of $23.5MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds. Smith can earn up to $25MM on his next contract.

Meanwhile, the Browns have also re-upped defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Hurst will receive up to $3.2MM on his one-year deal.

After compiling at least 10 sacks in his three most-recent healthy seasons, Smith caught on with the Browns for the 2023 campaign. He didn’t put up the same numbers in Cleveland but was still productive, finishing with 5.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, and 20 QB hits.

While the counting stats dropped, Pro Football Focus still considered Smith one of the best edge rushers in the league. The 31-year-old finished the season ranked 16th among 112 qualifying edge defenders, with the site only knocking him for the run defense. The Browns were also clearly happy with Smith’s production, as the team can now pencil him into the depth chart for the next two years.

The former fourth-round pick spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Ravens before a three-year stint in Green Bay that saw him earn a pair of Pro Bowl nods. He spent the 2022 campaign in Minnesota.

Hurst also emerged as a dependable defender during his first season in Cleveland. The defensive tackle got into 13 games for the Browns, finishing with 22 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He didn’t start a game last season but still managed to appear in close to 40 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.

Commanders To Sign LB Frankie Luvu

March 11th, 2024 at 4:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Commanders’ defensive re-tooling efforts will include a deal with Frankie Luvu. The hybrid linebacker has agreed to a three-year deal with Washington worth up to $36MM, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Luvu has been one of the NFL’s most versatile defenders over the past two years, offering a Demario Davis-like blend of tackles and pass-rushing talent. Despite not working as a regular off-ball linebacker in college, he has displayed this two-pronged skillset as a pro. After playing out a two-year, $9MM agreement in Carolina, Washington will reward him.

It will be interesting to see where Washington uses Luvu most. The team agreed to terms with Dorance Armstrong earlier Monday. Needing help at linebacker as well, Dan Quinn‘s team has some options here. Luvu could keep functioning as a hybrid player, and he certainly has the numbers to back that up.

Luvu combined for 236 tackles (29 for loss) over the past two seasons, pairing that productivity with 12.5 sacks. Only nine players have amassed more TFLs over the past two years. All nine are D-linemen or 3-4 OLBs, separating the ascending performer from the pack ahead of his age-28 season. Considering that production, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the Panthers attempted to re-sign the linebacker with a “late push,” per JP Finlay of NBC 4 Sports.

The Commanders have nabbed one of this year’s most intriguing free agents, and it will be interesting to see what this contract’s base value is. Regardless, Luvu has secured a big raise thanks to his work on two sub-.500 Panthers teams.

The Commanders gave Cody Barton a one-year deal, adding the ex-Seahawk after letting Cole Holcomb join the Steelers. Jamin Davis has not panned out to the level the team hoped, and with a new coaching staff coming in, changes are to be expected. Luvu will join Armstrong as a key performer on Joe Whitt‘s first Washington defense.

Cardinals To Sign DT Justin Jones

March 11th, 2024 at 4:36pm CST by Ben Levine

Continuing to add to the defensive line, the Cardinals are set to bring in Justin Jones. The veteran defensive tackle has agreed to a three-year, $30.1MM deal including $19.75MM guaranteed, per NFL Network’s Peter Schrager.

Jones is coming off a productive two-year stint in Chicago. The defensive tackle started all 34 games for the Bears over the past two years, collecting 7.5 sacks. While his 2023 counting stats (17 QB hits, 10 tackles for loss) were encouraging, Pro Football Focus only ranked the veteran 107th among 130 qualifying interior defenders.

Jones started his career with the Chargers. The former third-round pick started 35 of his 51 appearances in Los Angeles, collecting 4.5 total sacks. He ended up parlaying that performance into a two-year deal with Chicago, and he’ll be earning even more this time around from Arizona.

The Cardinals have been busy adding to their defensive line corps today, as they also agreed to a deal with defensive tackle Bilal Nichols. The two additions will join a defensive line rotation that also features Dante Stills and L.J. Collier.

Chargers, TE Will Dissly Agree To Deal

March 11th, 2024 at 4:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

Having already added Gus Edwards on offense, the Chargers will make another multi-year investment in the opening period of free agency. Tight end Will Dissly has agreed to a three-year, $14MM deal including $10MM fully guaranteed, per Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report.

A former fourth-round pick, Dissly previously spent his entire career in Seattle. The tight end earned a name for himself thanks to his blocking ability. The veteran has always graded as an above-average blocker, including this past season when Pro Football Focus ranked him as the best pass blocker and third-best run blocker at his position.

Of course, that doesn’t mean Dissly has been a complete zero on offense. The tight end has averaged 24 catches per season over the past four years, including a 2022 campaign where he hauled in a career-high 34 receptions for 349 yards and three scores. He finished this past season with 17 catches for 172 yards and one touchdown.

Gerald Everett is a free agent, leaving a hole atop the Chargers depth chart. There’s a chance that Dissly is only part of Jim Harbaugh‘s solution at the position, and the Chargers could look to continue adding to the position via free agency or the draft. The team is also rostering Donald Parham Jr. and Stone Smartt.

Titans To Sign CB Chidobe Awuzie

March 11th, 2024 at 4:28pm CST by Ben Levine

Chidobe Awuzie will follow Brian Callahan from Cincinnati to Tennessee. The veteran corner has agreed to a three-year deal with the Titans, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

After Awuzie served as a vital presence in Cincinnati during its Super Bowl LVI run, the Bengals saw this contract deliver diminishing returns over the following two years. A Halloween 2022 ACL tear threw Awuzie off track, and after he returned in time for Week 1 in 2023, Lou Anarumo benched the former second-rounder around midseason.

The 6-foot defender received a second chance down the stretch and fared better. Awuzie played at least 97% of the Bengals’ defensive snaps in five of six games from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. Still, with the Bengals having drafted two outside CBs early in the past two drafts (Cam Taylor-Britt, DJ Turner), it was clear his future wasn’t in Cincy.

As Callahan looks to fill out his first Titans squad, the former Bengals OC was surely looking for some reinforcement at cornerback. Kristian Fulton isn’t expected to be back in Tennesee next season while Sean Murphy-Bunting left to join the Cardinals.

The Titans can hang their hat on Pro Football Focus grading Awuzie 14th in 2021 and 33rd prior to his ACL tear. He’ll also be nearly two years removed from the injury next season, reducing any health concerns.

Giants, Panthers Discussing Brian Burns Trade

March 11th, 2024 at 4:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

Much of Monday’s action has related to the opening of free agency, which will officially take place later this week. Trades – in certain cases – are still very much on the table as a roster-building strategy this time of year.

Should the Panthers elect to trade franchise-tagged edge rusher Brian Burns, the Giants could be a landing spot. SNY’s Connor Hughes reports a mutual interest exists between Burns and New York on a trade which would be accompanied by a lucrative new deal. The sides have been discussing Burns for a while, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports. No deal is final, but it appears this process has legs that could produce finality to a long-running saga. As of Monday afternoon, this process is trending toward a deal, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones tweets. Nothing is final just yet, however.

A recent development pointed to a trade being in play. Carolina paused Burns extension talks — once again, as the sides have been at it for a while off and on — just before franchise-tagging him. A tag had long been in play for the 2019 first-round pick, but trade offers have come in as well.

Teams pursued Burns at each of the past two trade deadlines, but Carolina stood pat. One of the bigger “what if?” trades in recent NFL history transpired in 2022, when the Rams offered two-first-rounders and a third for the talented edge rusher. The Panthers declined the offer, and they did not receive any proposals in that ballpark in 2023. Burns playing out his rookie contract will make matters more difficult for the Panthers to obtain comparable value to that Rams blockbuster offer in a trade.

Burns, 25, would obviously bring a major upgrade to the Giants. Big Blue has sought an edge rusher to pair with Kayvon Thibodeaux, and the first two years of a Burns contract would align with Thibodeaux’s rookie deal. The Giants can keep the 2022 first-rounder on his rookie pact through 2025, with a fifth-year option decision for ’26. Burns has sought a $30MM-per-year deal, however, and the Panthers have been reluctant to authorize it. As Carolina shifts to a new GM and coaching staff, it does seem like a trade is in play now.

While edge rushers are obviously valuable, Burns needing a top-market contract will cut into his trade value. He has not brought the kind of production Khalil Mack did when the Raiders received two first-rounders for the former Defensive Player of the Year. CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson offers that teams are hesitant to part with a first-rounder and change for Burns, who has one double-digit sack season on his resume. That said, Burns has 46 career sacks and has never totaled fewer than 7.5 in a season.