Braxton Jones To Re-Sign With Bears
With Ozzy Trapilo expected to miss much of the 2025 season, the Bears are pivoting to their former starter. Braxton Jones is staying in Chicago, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes.
The parties are in agreement on a one-year deal worth up to $10MM. Despite Jones losing his LT job in a contract year, he will give it another go as a Bear.
Involved in a three-man competition with Trapilo and Theo Benedet in training camp last year, Jones held off the younger blockers to keep his job. But he did not make it through the season in the role. The former fifth-round Bears find lost his job to Benedet in early October, and trade rumors followed Jones in the ensuing weeks. An IR placement, due to a knee injury, ended any trade talk.
Chicago used an IR activation on Jones but did not have the four-year vet active for its divisional-round game, further pointing to a 2026 separation. The Bears kicked Joe Thuney to LT, following the Chiefs’ lead, and used Jordan McFadden at guard against the Rams following Trapilo’s wild-card setback. But Jones will have another chance with Ben Johnson‘s coaching staff soon.
From 2022-24, Jones worked as Chicago’s full-time left tackle. The Southern Utah product started 40 games during those three seasons, holding the job throughout Matt Eberflus‘ time at the helm. Pro Football Focus graded the Division I-FCS product as a top-25 tackle in both 2022 and ’24, assigning him a top-35 placement in 2023. As the Bears changed systems in 2025, PFF viewed Jones — who did not qualify as a regular due to limited playing time — outside the top 70.
A 2025 second-round pick, Trapilo suffered a patellar tendon tear and is expected to be out for most of the season. Benedet is still under contract. The Bears may be prepared to hold a two-man competition for the Week 1 gig, though Benedet logged more starts (eight) than Jones under Johnson last season. The Bears have been dealt multiple unexpected blows in 2026, with Drew Dalman‘s retirement at 27 following the Trapilo news. Chicago traded for Garrett Bradbury to replace Dalman.
Raiders To Re-Sign DL Malcolm Koonce
Malcolm Koonce is sticking in Las Vegas. The free agent defensive end is re-signing with the Raiders, according to Josina Anderson.
The 2021 third-round pick is signing a new one-year contract, per Anderson. The deal is worth $11MM.
Koonce is inking a one-year deal for the second-straight offseason. Last year, he re-upped with the Raiders on a $12MM contract. After missing the entire 2024 season thanks to a knee injury, he bounced back in 2025 with 30 tackles and 4.5 sacks. For his efforts, Pro Football Focus graded him 83rd among 119 qualifying edge defenders.
Koonce graded much better during his last healthy season in 2023. That breakout campaign saw the pass rusher compile eight sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and 17 QB hits, earning him a 22nd-place showing by PFF. He had a standout performance during a Week 16 win over the Chiefs, when he tallied eight pressures and three sacks on Patrick Mahomes.
The Raiders have been busy adding to their defense today, signing the likes of Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker, and Kwity Paye. Still, with the departure of pass rusher Maxx Crosby, Koonce could once again find himself playing a significant role on the Raiders defense in 2026.
Browns To Add LB Quincy Williams
Quincy Williams will not land with Robert Saleh or Jeff Ulbrich. Instead, the former Jets All-Pro linebacker is bound for Cleveland.
The veteran is joining the Browns on a two-year deal worth up to $17MM, NFL insider Jordan Schultz tweets. Williams is reuniting with one of Cleveland’s staffers, however, with new Browns DC Mike Rutenberg being the Jets’ linebackers coach from 2021-24.
Although the current Jets regime has largely dismantled that defensive core, the Saleh-Ulbrich-Rutenberg trio powered a top-five unit in back-to-back years. Williams was at his best in those seasons, earning first-team All-Pro acclaim in 2023.
The Jets had re-signed Williams on a three-year, $18MM, but the Aaron Glenn-Darren Mougey regime then inked less accomplished holdover Jamien Sherwood to a three-year, $45MM pact. Williams played out his deal last season, being mentioned in trade rumors. A Cowboys trade along with brother Quinnen nearly went down, but the Jets instead retained the older Williams brother to finish out a dreadful 2025 slate.
Williams saw his playing time decrease under Glenn, and it was not believed to be a cozy partnership. But the speedy linebacker excelled under Rutenberg. Grading Williams 77th overall among off-ball LBs in 2025, Pro Football Focus slotted him ninth during the ’23 season — when the Jets ranked third in total defense. New York ranked fourth in scoring and yardage in 2022, with Williams and C.J. Mosley manning the LB spots under Rutenberg.
Formerly a waiver claim after the then-Urban Meyer-led Jaguars cut bait, Williams has four 100-tackle seasons and has been effective as a blitzer (12.5 career sacks). He is heading into an age-30 season. Quite productive in 2025 under Jim Schwartz, Bush joined the Bears on a three-year, $30MM deal earlier today. Williams will play alongside Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger, with Rutenberg giving him a chance to bounce back after a down 2025.
Texans To Sign S Reed Blankenship
The Eagles are losing yet another defensive free agent. This time it’s safety Reed Blankenship, who is signing with the Texans, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Blakenship is signing a three-year deal with Houston, per Schefter. The contract is worth $24.75MM.
The safety was a key find by the Eagles front office, as Blankenship joined the Eagles as a UDFA out of Middle Tennessee in 2022. He emerged as a starter during his sophomore campaign and proceeded to spend the next three years in Philly’s lineup. He had a standout campaign in 2023, finishing with 113 tackles and three interceptions, and he added another four picks during the team’s Super Bowl-winning campaign in 2024. That year, he was part of a defense that allowed the fewest passing yards in the NFL (174.2).
He started all 16 of his appearances this past season, finishing with 83 stops and one interception. After grading out as at least a top-30 safety through his first three NFL seasons, Pro Football Focus ranked him 89th among 91 qualifiers this past year. That grade was entirely brought down by his coverage score, although he graded much better as a run stopper.
While Calen Bullock was a mainstay in the lineup in 2025, the Texans shuffled through their other safeties, with all of M.J. Stewart, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Jaylen Reed, and K’Von Wallace getting into at least one game where they appeared in 90-plus percent of Houston’s defensive snaps. Blankenship will provide some stability to that unit, where he’ll likely slide next to Bullock in the starting lineup. This move also allows Jalen Pitre, who got in 51 snaps at the position last season, to play as the full-time slot CB.
Meanwhile, the Eagles continue to endure some key subtractions from their defense. Fellow starters Jaelan Phillips (Panthers) and Nakobe Dean (Raiders) have also departed Philly via free agency today.
Cardinals To Sign DT Roy Lopez
Following a one-season stop in Detroit, Roy Lopez is heading back to Arizona. The Cardinals have agreed to a contract with the free agent defensive tackle, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
It will be a two-year deal for Lopez, according to Rapoport. The contract is worth $11.5MM, including $7MM guaranteed.
Lopez inked a one-year, $4.65MM deal with the Lions last offseason. While he didn’t start any of his 17 games, he still got into about 40 percent of Detroit’s defensive snaps. The 28-year-old ended up finishing the season with 30 tackles and two sacks, with Pro Football Focus grading him 33rd among 127 qualifying interior defenders.
After spending two seasons in Houston to begin his career, Lopez spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons in Arizona. After starting five of his 14 appearances during his first year with the organization, he started all 16 of his games in 2024. He ended up finishing his first Cardinals stint with 70 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.
Now, Lopez is back in Arizona, where he should play a significant role on the Cardinals defensive line. The team already moved on from Dalvin Tomlinson, who accounted for 555 snaps in Arizona last season. Lopez will likely soak up those snaps while joining Dante Stills and Darius Robinson as the team’s DT trio.
Cardinals To Sign G Isaac Seumalo
It’s uncertain who will be under center for the Cardinals to begin the 2026 campaign, but the team is adding some certainty on the offensive line. The team has agreed to a deal with free agent guard Isaac Seumalo, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
It’s a three-year, $31.5MM deal for the recent Steelers starter, per Rapoport.
A 2016 third-round pick, Seumalo had a long stint in Philly to begin his career. The lineman spent seven seasons with the Eagles, although much of his tenure was highlighted by injury. He was limited to only 12 combined appearances between 2020 and 2021, but he did rebound with a 17-game showing in 2022.
He ended up parlaying that performance into a three-year, $24MM deal with the Steelers in 2023, and he remained relatively healthy during his tenure with the team. Seumalo missed only seven regular season games across his three campaigns in Pittsburgh, and he earned a Pro Bow nod during his second year with the organization. He continued his production in 2025, with Pro Football Focus grading him 16th among 79 qualifying guards.
Now, he’ll be taking his talents to Arizona. Evan Brown seems to have a firm hold on the LG gig in Arizona, meaning Seumalo will likely bump Isaiah Adams out of the RG job. However, the Cardinals offensive line remains in flux. Tackles Jonah Williams and Kelvin Beachum are free agents, as is oft-injured guard Will Hernandez.
Cardinals To Re-Sign DL L.J. Collier
L.J. Collier is once again re-signing with the Cardinals. The defensive lineman is signing a new one-year deal with Arizona, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
This is the fourth-straight offseason that Collier is inking a one-year deal with the Cardinals. This newest pact will pay the veteran $2.5MM, per Fowler.
A former first-round pick by the Seahawks, Collier only lasted four seasons in Seattle. He spent only one of those campaigns as a full-time starter, and he finished that 2020 campaign with 22 stops and three sacks. Otherwise, Collier didn’t start any of his other 29 appearances with the organization.
He joined the Cardinals ahead of the 2023 campaign but was limited to a single game after suffering a season-ending biceps injury in Week 1. He returned in 2024 and had his most productive NFL season, finishing with 29 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 17 games (15 starts). After re-signing with the Cardinals last offseason, Collier suffered a knee injury in Week 2. He returned towards the end of the regular season and ultimately finished the campaign with only four appearances.
The Cardinals will surely be hoping for improved health from the defensive lineman in 2026. Fellow defensive lineman Calais Campbell is also a free agent, so perhaps Collier could be in line for more work depending on the outcome of free agency.
Seahawks To Re-Sign WR Rashid Shaheed
Rashid Shaheed is sticking in Seattle. The midseason acquisition is re-signing with the Seahawks, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The speedy receiver is signing a three-year, $51MM deal, per Schefter. The contract includes $34.7MM in guaranteed money.
The Seahawks acquired Shaheed from the Saints ahead of the trade deadline, sending New Orleans fourth- and fifth-round picks. The veteran’s offensive production dropped a bit following the trade; Shaheed’s 20.9-yards-per-game would have represented a career-low. He ultimately hauled in 15 catches for 188 yards in his nine games with the Seahawks, adding to the 44 catches, 499 yards, and two touchdowns he compiled with the Saints.
Of course, Shaheed continued to be a dynamic special teamer for his new squad. The 27-year-old had a punt return touchdown and kick return touchdown during his short regular-season stint in Seattle. His 16.2 yards per punt return and 29.9 yards per kick return were both career-high marks.
Shaheed carried his returning prowess into the postseason. He returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in Seattle’s Divisional Round win over the 49ers, and he paced the NFL with 41.8 yards per kick return during the playoffs. He continued to have a relatively limited role on offense, however, as he finished the team’s three-game run to a championship with three catches for 78 yards.
A 2022 UDFA out of Weber State, Shaheed emerged as one of the NFL’s most dynamic returners during his time in New Orleans. He returned three punts for touchdowns during his stint with the Saints, plus another kickoff touchdown. He also had some flashes on offense, including a 2023 campaign when he finished with 46 catches for 719 yards and five touchdowns.
With Shaheed under contract, the Seahawks are set to return much of their same receivers corps in 2026. Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba will continue leading the position, leaving Shaheed to compete with the likes of Cooper Kupp and Tory Horton for leftover targets.
Panthers To Sign QB Kenny Pickett
Kenny Pickett is once again on the move. The quarterback is joining the Panthers via a one-year contract, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The pact is worth up to $7.5MM, per Schefter. The deal also includes $4MM in guaranteed money.
Pickett was the 20th overall pick in the 2022 draft, but he is already joining his fifth team four years later. The former Pitt Panther began his career as the Steelers’ primary starter from 2022-23. Across 24 starts, Pickett mustered an underwhelming 13 touchdowns against 13 interceptions.
After Pickett failed to establish himself as the Steelers’ solution under center, they brought in Russell Wilson as a replacement in the spring of 2024. The Steelers then traded Pickett and the 120th pick in that year’s draft to the Eagles for the 98th selection and a seventh-round choice in 2025. With Jalen Hurts entrenched as the Eagles’ starter, Pickett unsurprisingly saw little action during a Super Bowl-winning season for the club.
Pickett wound up on the move twice more before the start of the 2025 campaign. The Eagles traded Pickett to the Browns for fellow signal-caller Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-rounder last March. Expectations were that Pickett would compete for the Browns’ starting gig, but a training camp hamstring injury took a sledgehammer to his chances. Joe Flacco won the job, while rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders rounded out the depth chart behind him.
When Cleveland settled on its Flacco-Gabriel-Sanders depth chart last August, it dealt Pickett to Las Vegas for a fifth-rounder. Although Geno Smith struggled during a dreadful season for the Raiders, he still started 15 games. Pickett filled in for an injured Smith twice and finished the year 28 of 45 for 188 yards, a touchdown and two picks.
Coming off an NFC South-winning season in 2025, the Panthers are sticking with Bryce Young as their starting QB. But it appears Pickett will have a chance to steal the No. 2 role away from 38-year-old Andy Dalton. General manager Dan Morgan said last month that the Panthers “want to get a little younger and a little more athletic at that backup quarterback spot.” Pickett, 27, may be their answer.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.
Giants To Re-Sign WR Isaiah Hodgins
After losing Wan’Dale Robinson via free agency earlier today, the Giants are retaining another one of their free agent wideouts. According to Jordan Schultz, the Giants are re-signing wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins.
Hodgins will be sticking in New York via a one-year deal, according to Schultz. The wideout will now continue his second stint with the organization for at least another year.
Hodgins started the 2025 campaign on the Steelers practice squad, but he was signed to the Giants active roster in November. He ended up getting into seven games (five starts) for New York, hauling in 10 of his 19 targets for 115 yards and one touchdown. In those seven games, Hodgins got into more than 75 percent of his team’s offensive snaps.
A former sixth-round pick by the Bills, Hodgins made a name for himself once he joined the Giants via waivers in 2022. He caught touchdowns in four of the team’s final five games that season, with the receiver ultimately finishing with 351 yards in eight games. He also showed up in the playoffs, when he hauled in 105 receiving yards and a touchdown on eight catches in a Giants win over the Vikings.
Hodgins got a full season in New York in 2023, when he finished with 21 catches for 230 yards and a pair of scores. He was waived after the 2024 preseason and spent most of that season on New York’s practice squad. He later inked a futures deal with the 49ers, and he eventually joined the Steelers practice squad prior to his second stint with the Giants.
The 27-year-old will likely continuing serving in a back-of-the-depth-chart role for the Giants in 2026. Malik Nabers will lead the grouping when he’s healthy enough to play, and Darius Slayton will continue to command targets. The team will surely continue adding to the position throughout the offseason, but Hodgins is currently set to compete with the likes of Gunner Olszewski, Xavier Gipson, Jalin Hyatt, and Ryan Miller for reps.