Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
Cleveland Browns
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Philadelphia Eagles
Just ahead of free agency, the Bills disbanded one of the 21st century’s top safety duos by cutting Jordan Poyer. Micah Hyde remains unsigned, but after seven years of the Poyer-Hyde tandem, the Bills have shifted in a different direction.
With both players going into their age-33 season, it is understandable the Bills viewed another year with this successful duo as a bridge too far. The Dolphins have since added Poyer on a lower-cost contract. The Bills are still looking for answers to fill the veterans’ spots. Two options — on what quickly became a crowded safety market — have emerged.
The Bills scheduled meetings with Julian Blackmon and Mike Edwards, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz and the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson. Buffalo looks to have one box checked at the position, re-signing Taylor Rapp, but another starter-caliber solution will be necessary for the four-time reigning AFC East winners.
Colts GM Chris Ballard authorized third contracts for Kenny Moore and Grover Stewart this offseason, re-signing Tyquan Lewis and Taven Bryan as well. One of the few players from PFR’s top 50 free agents still available, Blackmon could still be in the team’s plans. But the former second-round pick is gauging his options on a market that became saturated with experienced safety starters.
In addition to Hyde, the Seahawks and Broncos made Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs and Justin Simmons available. The Saints cut Marcus Maye, while the Bears released Eddie Jackson. These players’ availability makes Blackmon, Edwards, Hyde and other UFAs’ quest to land notable contracts more difficult.
Blackmon is just 25, however, and should be a starter somewhere next season. Kamren Curl‘s underwhelming Rams contract did reveal a divide between what the Packers gave Xavier McKinney and the lower ceiling for the rest of the market this offseason. No other safety collected more than $7.5MM per year. It is safe to assume Blackmon, despite being a four-year Colts starter who played across the secondary in Gus Bradley‘s scheme, will land midlevel money at best — perhaps on a short-term deal as a way to improve his stock for another free agency run.
Edwards spent last season with the Chiefs, being thrust into a starting role following Bryan Cook‘s season-ending injury in early December. The former Buccaneers safety, who has now started in two Super Bowls, joined the Chiefs on a low-cost deal last year. He intercepted two passes — the second during Kansas City’s playoff run — and recovered two fumbles, returning one 97 yards during Week 18. Edwards, 27, played 97% of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps in Super Bowl LVIII.
The Colts also met with Edwards, ESPN’s Field Yates tweets. He would seem to profile as a lower-cost solution for Indianapolis, which has been busy retaining defenders this month. Blackmon departing would leave a hole at safety — on a defense already needing more help at outside corner.
Buffalo has seen a few notable departures this offseason, but Taron Johnson will remain in place for years to come. The veteran corner has agreed to a three-year Bills extension, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The move is now official, per a team announcement.
Schefter adds this agreement is worth $31MM, making Johnson the league’s highest-paid slot corner. That spot has seen a number of key developments recently, with the Colts and Packers respectively re-upping Kenny Moore and Keisean Nixon last week. Johnson will join that pair in securing a raise ahead of the 2024 campaign.
One year remained on the latter’s contract, and he was owed $7.7MM in 2024; $500K of that amount was due today. Johnson’s cap hit was slated to sit at $12.41MM this season, a figure which could be reduced with this through-2027 deal. In any case, the Bills’ secondary will retain a crucial component for the short- and long-term future.
Johnson took on an increasingly large role over his first three seasons in Buffalo. Having established himself as a starter by 2021, the 27-year-old inked a three-year, $24MM extension. He has been durable and productive over the life of that pact, setting himself up for another agreement. Johnson earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2023, and he will be counted on to maintain that level of play moving forward. In his career, the former fourth-rounder has amassed four interceptions, seven forced fumbles, 450 tackles and seven sacks.
The $10.3MM AAV of this deal will leave Johnson well short of the overall lead in terms of cornerback compensation. Still, it slightly outpaces Moore’s newest Colts agreement in terms of value and ensures he will remain a staple of Buffalo’s secondary. That unit has seen Tre’Davious White and safety Jordan Poyer released in cost-cutting moves. Corner Dane Jackson has also departed in free agency, so replacing that trio will be a priority for the remainder of free agency and the draft for Buffalo.
The Bills have lost a number of high-profile players recently due in large part to the team’s cap situation entering the new league year. However, others have been retained or signed to new deals to avoid a trip to free agency in 2025. That includes left tackle Dion Dawkins securing a big-money extension last week. Johnson will now join Dawkins as an integral part of Buffalo’s transitioning roster for years to come.
Completing a Marquise Brown signing after franchise-tagging L’Jarius Sneed, the Chiefs were able to find room due to once again taking advantage of Patrick Mahomes‘ unique contract. Kansas City created $21.6MM in cap space by restructuring the three-time Super Bowl MVP’s contract, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. The Chiefs have gone to this well twice before, making the move in 2021 and 2023 to create cap room. The team reworked Mahomes’ deal in September 2023, following the QB market moving well beyond the Missouri-based superstar’s $45MM AAV, by moving guaranteed money around. But the extension still runs through 2031, giving the team room to maneuver here. Even with the Sneed tag on the books — ahead of a potential trade — the Chiefs hold more than $15MM in cap space as of Friday afternoon.
Here is the latest on the restructure front:
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.
With the 49ers officially designating Arik Armstead as a post-June 1 release, interest in the nine-year veteran defensive lineman is forming.
The Titans became the first known Armstead suitor, but KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes the Texans join them. Like recent Texans pickup Azeez Al-Shaair, Armstead played under DeMeco Ryans in San Francisco. The 30-year-old defender does not have a clear connection to the Bills, but The Athletic’s Matt Barrows mentioned Buffalo as a team to monitor here. Wilson adds the Bills are indeed interested.
Ryans coached Armstead for two seasons as 49ers defensive coordinator but was in San Francisco during six of the D-lineman’s nine years in the Bay Area. The Texans have added Danielle Hunter, Denico Autry and Folorunso Fatukasi up front but have endured multiple subtractions on their defensive interior. Sheldon Rankins signed with the Bengals hours after the Texans traded Maliek Collins to the 49ers.
Houston looks to have driven up Cincinnati’s price on Rankins, with Wilson adding the AFC South club made a $12MM-per-year offer to the former first-round pick. Rankins joined the Bengals on a two-year, $26MM deal; he will be set to team with B.J. Hill up front in Cincinnati. Rankins posted his best pass-rushing season since 2018, totaling six sacks and ranking seventh in ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric.
As for Collins, Wilson indicates the team made the decision to move on from the three-year contributor over the weekend. That still proved to be an interesting trade, seeing as Collins totaled five sacks after signing a through-2025 extension last year. The Texans attempted to trade Collins for Armstead, per Wilson. Considering the 49ers cut Armstead, it is unclear what led to the talks breaking down. The 49ers offered Armstead a pay cut, but he balked with an intent on testing free agency.
The Bills are keeping DaQuan Jones, but the veteran run stuffer and Armstead have differing skillsets. The former first-round pick has worked as a plus interior pass rusher, teaming with Nick Bosa as the 49ers’ D-line pillars under Ryans and Robert Saleh. Ed Oliver signed an extension last year, but the Bills have some work to do on their defensive interior. Jordan Phillips, Tim Settle, Poona Ford and Linval Joseph are free agents.
Armstead is coming off knee surgery, after a season in which knee and foot trouble kept him out of five late-season games. The 6-foot-7 defensive tackle returned in the playoffs at less than 100% and sacked Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LVIII. Armstead has eight career postseason sacks, notching at least two during the 2019, 2021 and 2022 playoffs. Despite injuries shortening his 2022 and ’23 seasons, Armstead fared well last year. Pass rush win rate slotted the Oregon alum 10th, while Pro Football Focus ranked him 15th among interior D-linemen while assigning a career-best run-stoppage grade. Armstead totaled five sacks and 13 QB hits in 2023.
Additionally, the Texans are meeting with Settle, according to Wilson. Profiling as a cheaper option compared to Armstead, Settle spent the past two seasons in Buffalo on a two-year, $14MM deal. Once part of the first-rounder-laden Washington D-line, Settle has not disproved his five-sack 2018 season was a fluke. He has never registered more than two in any other slate. The Virginia Tech alum started only four games with the Bills, though he is still just 26.
The Bills are keeping one of James Cook‘s backups in the fold. Ty Johnson is expected to stay in Buffalo on a deal that will put him on track play a second season with the perennial AFC East champions, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets.
A former Lions and Jets running back, the five-year veteran will have another opportunity with the Bills. Initially signing with Buffalo in 2023, Johnson worked in a reserve role in 10 games last season. He is re-signing on a one-year deal, per the Buffalo News’ Jay Skurski.
Damien Harris‘ midseason injury prompted the Bills to promote Johnson, who landed on the practice squad after not making Buffalo’s roster out of training camp. The Maryland alum then joined Latavius Murray as a Cook backup last season. Johnson logged 37 touches for 194 yards last season, catching a touchdown pass during his run of spot duty. He fared well in this role during the Bills’ narrow divisional-round loss to the Chiefs, totaling 40 yards on seven carries.
Harris and Murray, the latter managing to play an age-33 season in 2023, are not under contract. While the Bills should be expected to add an RB2 candidate in the draft or later in free agency, they have Johnson in place as a capable reserve. Darrynton Evans also resides on Buffalo’s offseason roster, rounding out the team’s backfield at present.
Johnson, 26, averaged 5.3 yards per carry as a Jet in 2022. The Jets had re-signed Johnson in March 2023 only to circle back and release him a month later. Over his career, the former sixth-round pick has totaled just 238 carries while contributing on special teams.
The Bills lost Gabe Davis early during the legal tampering period, and they should be considered a mortal lock to add a high-profile replacement either in free agency or the draft. But the AFC East champions will add an auxiliary piece in the meantime.
After a season in Atlanta, Mack Hollins is committing to Buffalo, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. Hollins put together a career-best season alongside Davante Adams in Las Vegas two years ago, but he did not fare as well with the Falcons. The Bills will give Hollins a one-year deal worth up to $3MM, Fowler tweets.
Despite Hunter Renfrow’s presence, Josh McDaniels turned to Hollins as the Raiders’ WR2 in 2022. He totaled 690 receiving yards that year, a number well outside the ex-Eagles fourth-rounder’s usual range. Hollins pieced together back-to-back seasons with four touchdowns — 2021 (with Miami) and 2022 — but did not score as a Falcon. Hollins caught just 18 passes for 251 yards with Atlanta, which has since agreed to bring in Darnell Mooney at a much higher price.
Buffalo is at a crossroads, having released a few veteran starters and seeing Davis join the Jaguars. The team has Stefon Diggs still in place as its ace wideout, but the Pro Bowler struggled to close out the 2023 season. Khalil Shakir stepped up for Josh Allen late, but Davis’ exit leaves a long-range void. As the team considers its options, Hollins does provide experience as a tertiary target and brings extensive run as a special-teamer as well.
Nicholas Morrow‘s Eagles stock bounced up and down last year, but the veteran linebacker ended up playing a bigger-than-expected role. The Bills took interest and will bring in the longtime starter. 
Buffalo will sign the former Raiders, Bears and Eagles ILB, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo, who notes the sides agreed on a one-year pact Tuesday. Morrow started 12 games for the Eagles last season. He did so while operating as Philadelphia’s defensive signal-caller, so his absence will be missed in 2024.
Taking on a major role with the Eagles’ defense, Morrow made 95 tackles; that represents the second-highest total of his career. The former UDFA had topped 100 stops in 2022 with the Bears, but that production only landed him a one-year accord last offseason. After having a hand in a defense which struggled mightily down the stretch in the Eagles’ NFC title defense, Morrow will again find himself on the move via a short-term agreement.
Buffalo lost Tremaine Edmunds in free agency last year, creating a major vacancy at the linebacker spot. 2022 third-rounder Terrel Bernard took on a starting role as a result, racking up 143 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Tyrel Dodson also logged a notable defensive workload, although he was also used heavily on special teams (as has been the case in previous years for him). The latter is a pending free agent, and his departure could be foreshadowed by Morrow’s addition.
In any case, the 28-year-old will offer considerable experience alongside Bernard and veteran Matt Milano. Morrow has 94 games (58 starts) to his name, and he recorded three sacks, five pass deflections and a forced fumble with the Eagles last season. He will look to replicate (or better) those figures in Buffalo while aiming to avoid the late-season letdown experienced in Philadelphia.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
The Saints-Broncos pipeline remains active, as Sean Payton prepares for his second season in Denver. The longtime New Orleans HC will bring in one of his former defensive linemen.
Malcolm Roach is heading to Denver on a two-year deal worth up to $8MM, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. The Broncos have two eight-figure-per-year contracts on their defensive line, but the team has some depth questions behind the Zach Allen–D.J. Jones duo. Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette notes Roach drew interest from the Rams, Cardinals, Bills and Bengals. Instead, he will continue playing under Payton.
Roach’s Saints role did not change much during his four-season Louisiana run. Starting five games in that time, Roach worked primarily as a rotational defensive lineman. Payton was in place when the Saints signed Roach as a UDFA; the Texas alum has only played for the Saints. Roach will join ex-college teammates Caden Sterns, P.J. Locke and Brandon Jones on Denver’s defense, with Payton also obviously being a familiar face.
Pro Football Focus viewed Roach as a lower-end D-tackle from 2020-22 but viewed him as an improved product last year, slotting the four-year veteran just outside the top 25 among interior D-linemen. Roach, 25, totaled a career-high 38 tackles (three for loss) last season while batting down three passes. Roach stands to help the Broncos in run defense, having logged those numbers last season despite missing five games. While skewed by a brutal start, the Broncos’ defense ranked 30th against the run last year.
Roach will join a Broncos team that saw 2022 starter Jonathan Harris hit free agency. Denver has Matt Henningsen still under contract, though 2022 fourth-rounder Eyioma Uwazurike‘s NFL future is in doubt after the gambling suspension he received last summer.