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WR JuJu Smith-Schuster Re-Signs With Chiefs

March 15th, 2025 at 3:24pm CST by Ely Allen

With some potential question marks in the receiving corps for 2025, the Chiefs seem to have opted to keep some familiar faces in the room for Patrick Mahomes to throw to. To that end, Kansas City will re-sign veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster for the 2025 season, per Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports.

Since having a resurgent, Super Bowl-winning season in 2022 with the Chiefs, Smith-Schuster has struggled to make an impact in the past two seasons. Smith-Schuster’s rebound season came after he only played five games in his final year with Pittsburgh and saw him record his second-highest career receiving yards total (933), though he only registered three touchdowns.

Following his big year with Mahomes, Smith-Schuster cashed in, signing a three-year, $33MM deal with the Patriots. Unfortunately, Smith-Schuster’s rebounded success didn’t carry over in New England, as he only accumulated 260 receiving yards and one touchdown in 11 games. The team released him after only one season.

It didn’t take too long for the Chiefs to pick up their old receiver for a second stint with the team, joining free agent addition Marquise Brown and rookie first-round pick Xavier Worthy as new additions in the wake of some Rashee Rice uncertainty. Despite injuries to both Brown and Rice, Smith-Schuster was unable to take advantage of more playing time, only logging 231 yards and two touchdowns on the season.

More opportunities for targets could certainly be on the way for Smith-Schuster in 2025, though. The Chiefs have already seen DeAndre Hopkins depart for Baltimore, and Mecole Hardman‘s contract with the team expired, as well. With those two gone, Smith-Schuster presumably slots in as WR4 behind Rice, Worthy, and Brown.

The aforementioned Rice uncertainty could open up even more opportunities for Smith-Schuster. While Rice is recovering from a season-ending injury, the uncertainty actually comes from two separate legal incidents from the last offseason that could see suspensions levied on Rice. First, Rice was involved in a major accident that he was allegedly responsible for before leaving the scene, and second, Rice was under investigation for an alleged assault incident. The team was reportedly bracing for a suspension for Rice before it was made known that, if a suspension was coming, it wouldn’t occur in 2024. That could mean that a suspension is still imminent for the 2025 season, though.

The team also received a second scare when Worthy was arrested on a charge of assault against a family or household member by impeding their breathing or circulation. Luckily for Kansas City, Worthy was not charged after the case was declined following discussions with multiple witnesses and Worthy’s attorneys. The case was closed, and Worthy has seemingly avoided any punishment for the time being.

Still, amidst the legal troubles of their two top wide receivers, the Chiefs opted to re-sign Brown, giving him another chance to make an impact in Kansas City after missing all but two games recovering from shoulder surgery in 2024. Smith-Schuster, too, will return for the Chiefs in 2025 as the team pursues its third Super Bowl victory in four years and its fourth appearance in as many years in the big game.

Ravens Re-Signing G Ben Cleveland

March 15th, 2025 at 3:20pm CST by Ely Allen

The Ravens have made a move that could impact their view on needing to address the offensive line this offseason. According to Ravens editorial director Ryan Mink, the team has re-signed backup offensive guard Ben Cleveland, who could get another crack at a starting role with the departure of Patrick Mekari in free agency.

Since coming out of Georgia as a third-round pick in 2021, Cleveland has failed to live up to his Day 2 draft stock. While he appeared in every game for the Ravens in 2024, it was the first season in which he did not start a single game. He’s only started in seven contests over the four years of his rookie contract despite several opportunities to seize the job.

Cleveland saw his largest chunk of playing time as a rookie, when he started four of 12 game appearances. That rookie campaign also saw his lowest blocking grades, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which was mostly chalked up to being a rookie adjusting to the speed and physicality of the NFL game. In 2022, he opened training camp in a starting battle with Tyre Phillips for the left guard spot, which ultimately stayed with Ben Powers, the incumbent from the prior year for whom Cleveland started in the final games of the season.

When Powers departed for Denver, the battle once again opened, this time with four participants. Duking it out with Mekari, John Simpson, and Daniel Faalele, Cleveland once again became a nonfactor, falling out of a race that ended up being between Simpson and then-rookie Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, a battle Simpson would win and, like Powers, earn a big payday from.

In 2024, for the third year in a row, Cleveland was granted an opportunity to fight for two open guard spots after the departures of Simpson and Kevin Zeitler. He seemed to be in competition with Aumavae-Laulu and Andrew Vorhees as Faalele competed with second-round rookie Roger Rosengarten at right tackle and Mekari was seemingly reserved for any spot that may need a starter, if necessary. Vorhees ended up winning one of the jobs, and Faalele, unable to win a tackle spot, slid inside to start at the other with Mekari starting at right tackle. Early struggles from Vorhees could’ve offered a spot for Cleveland. Instead, the Ravens moved Mekari back inside and brought the rookie, Rosengarten, into the starting lineup at tackle.

At this point, it seemingly became clear that Cleveland didn’t have a future in Baltimore. Given starting opportunities time and again, Cleveland seemingly lacked the drive or talent to take over the role despite a menacing physical build. When Cleveland became the latest former Georgia Bulldog to be involved in some traffic situation, getting arrested as a result of a DUI incident, it seemed increasingly likely that his time in Baltimore had come to an end.

Instead, the team has brought Cleveland back to perhaps continue his role as a depth piece. He was third in line for the guard spot he lost last year, and with Mekari gone, Vorhees is next in line for the job opposite Faalele. Perhaps, with Josh Jones, the team’s oft-used sixth offensive lineman in jumbo packages, departing in free agency, and having seen Cleveland work reps at tackle in the preseason, Cleveland is being retained as an emergency option who could play at both positions. Regardless, one would expect that, between his inability to claim a starting role and his recent legal troubles, the Ravens got a good deal on the signing.

Titans Release CB Chidobe Awuzie

March 15th, 2025 at 3:15pm CST by Ely Allen

The Titans have announced that they will be releasing veteran cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, per Titans senior writer/editor Jim Wyatt. Unless it’s announced that the team is designating the move as one of its two post-June 1 releases, the team will eat $12.51MM in dead money and save $1.73MM in cap space.

Veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky confirms this will not be a post-June 1 release, but the move obviously represents an underwhelming end to Awuzie’s time in Tennessee. The former Cowboy and Bengal inked a three-year, $36MM deal in free agency last offseason, but it did not pan out as expected. Awuzie was limited to eight games in 2024 by a groin injury, something which will no doubt hurt his market this spring.

The Titans are already on the hook for $7.51MM in 2025 compensation, but Over the Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald writes the timing of this release means another $3.98MM in salary for this year will not need to be paid out. Tennessee entered Saturday near the top of the NFL in terms of remaining cap space with roughly $55MM available anyway, but those additional funds could be used to add a starting replacement in the secondary. The team still has 2024 trade acquisition L’Jarius Sneed and 2022 second-rounder Roger McCreary on the books at the cornerback spot.

Despite Awuzie’s absence and the fact Sneed only played five games in his debut Titans campaign, the team finished second in the NFL in passing yards allowed. The latter will be counted on to play a notable role in repeating that success in 2025, but Awuzie will be on the move once again. His four-year run in Dallas was followed by three Cincinnati seasons, a span which included his starting role being lost at the end of the 2023 campaign. The Titans deal allowed for the 29-year-old to continue working with ex-Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, but that has proven to be a short-lived arrangement.

When healthy, Awuzie handled a 77% snap share and recorded one interception and four pass breakups during his lone Titans campaign. The Colorado product’s coverage statistics (57.7% completion percentage, 89.7 passer rating allowed) were not the best of his career, but they could convince an interested team he is still capable of operating as a starter at this point in his career. Further removed from his 2022 ACL tear, it will be interesting to see how quickly Awuzie can land a new deal.

Tennessee, meanwhile, will look to address the cornerback spot in the remaining waves of free agency and/or the draft. The team’s secondary has already seen Quandre Diggs replaced by Xavier Woods at the safety spot, and further changes could be coming.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Jets To Sign WR Tyler Johnson, CB Kris Boyd

March 15th, 2025 at 12:00pm CST by Ben Levine

The Jets have added some depth on both sides of the ball. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston reported early this morning that the Jets were signing wide receiver Tyler Johnson. Wilson also reported that the team was adding cornerback Kris Boyd.

Johnson made a name for himself as Tom Brady‘s WR4 or WR5 in Tampa Bay. The former fifth-round pick spent two seasons with the Buccaneers, including a 2021 campaign where he hauled in 36 catches for 360 yards. Since getting cut at the end of the 2022 preseason, the wideout has bounced around a bit, spending time with the Texans, Buccaneers (second stint), Raiders, and Rams.

As the Rams dealt with injuries in 2024, Johnson had occasional opportunities to step up. He had a standout Week 1, hauling in five catches for 79 yards. He maintained a role in the offense through the first half of the season, but he saw a massive drop in snaps once Cooper Kupp got settled back into the offense. Johnson finished last season with 26 catches for 291 yards and a score.

There should be some snaps to soak up behind Garrett Wilson in New York, especially if the Jets are able to move on from Allen Lazard. Johnson is joining a depth chart that also includes the likes of Xavier Gipson, Irvin Charles, and Malachi Corley.

Boyd got an extended look on defense in Minnesota, including a 2020 campaign where he started five of 10 appearances while getting into about half of his team’s defensive snaps. Since then, the veteran has settled into more of a special teams role. He emerged as a key special teamer for the Texans in 2024, appearing in 365 ST snaps while finishing the year with eight total tackles.

Commanders To Re-Sign DL Clelin Ferrell

March 15th, 2025 at 9:47am CST by Ben Levine

The Commanders continue to retain many of their own free agents. The latest addition to the list is defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell, who is re-signing with the organization, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It’s a new one-year contract for the veteran, per ESPN’s John Keim.

Ferrell joined Washington last offseason, inking a one-year deal with the organization. The veteran ended up appearing in 14 games (10 starts) for his new squad, collecting 26 tackles and 3.5 sacks while getting into more than 40 of the Commanders’ defensive snaps.

The 27-year-old only ranked 110th among 199 qualifying edge defenders on Pro Football Focus’ leader boards, but he was closer to league average in previous stops. The fourth-overall pick in 2019, Ferrell struggled to live up to his draft billing while playing with the Raiders, but he still finished his four-year tenure with 10 sacks. He spent the 2023 campaign with the 49ers, where he started all 17 games.

Following the Commanders’ surprising run to the NFC Championship Game, the team has put in an effort to re-sign many of their free agents. On defense, the team has retained cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, linebacker/special-teamer Nick Bellore, and D-line cog Sheldon Day.

Chargers Agree To Sign OL Mekhi Becton

March 15th, 2025 at 8:45am CST by Ely Allen

TODAY, 8:45am: Mekhi Becton‘s two-year deal is worth $20MM, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. This is a significant jump in AAV for the lineman, who settled for a one-year, $2.75MM deal with the Eagles last year.

FRIDAY, 10:05pm: After playing out a one-year, prove-it contract in Philadelphia, offensive lineman Mekhi Becton rehabilitated his image as a former first-round pick in the eyes of the NFL with a highly successful, Super Bowl-winning season. The success he found with his new team will result in a new contract with another team as the now free agent has agreed to a two-year deal with the Chargers, per Tim McManus of ESPN.

After getting drafted 11th overall out of Louisville in 2020, Becton was verging on bust status with the Jets. An impressive rookie season saw him battle back from an early injury to start 13 of 14 game appearances, ranking as the 31st-best offensive tackle out of 79 players graded at the position, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). After being carted off the field in Week 1 of his sophomore campaign, Becton missed the next 33 regular season games, including the entire 2022 NFL season after he suffered an avulsion fracture of his right kneecap in training camp.

With a disappointing start to his NFL career, the Jets opted to decline his fifth-year option. Before the injury prior to 2022, New York had moved Becton to right tackle, a move he didn’t agree with. At one point, it seemed like Becton might be fighting for a roster spot, but he eventually was awarded the starting right tackle job for 2023. When starting left tackle Duane Brown was placed on injured reserve early in the year, New York’s hand was forced, and they moved Becton back to the left side.

A rough season, in which Becton ranked 66th out of 81 offensive tackles, per PFF, failed to establish the young lineman as a long-term option for the team. As a result, the Jets did not seek to re-sign him. Instead, he signed with the Eagles. Just like with the Jets, Becton desired to earn a long-term deal with the Eagles and, as a result, was even willing to play some guard, eventually winning the starting right guard job.

A resurgent season saw Becton play the best football of his career. En route to a Super Bowl title, Becton ranked as the 20th-best guard in the league, per PFF. Near the opening of free agency, Becton reiterated his desire to remain in Philadelphia, but he began to draw a lot of interest in free agency. Now, Becton will have two years in Los Angeles to earn that long-term deal he so desires.

In Los Angeles, the Chargers are set at center (Bradley Bozeman), left guard (Zion Johnson), and both tackle spots (Joe Alt & Rashawn Slater). The team watched both Trey Pipkins and Jamaree Salyer struggle at the right guard spot throughout 2024, so it stands to reason that Becton will fit in as a perfect upgrade at that position. He’ll also provide the added benefit of having the ability to flex out to either tackle spot, in case of emergency.

As for the Eagles, they don’t immediately have an option to fill Becton’s spot at right guard. Third-year lineman Tyler Steen is who Becton beat out for the starting right guard job in camp, but after starting two games and appearing in all 17 last year, Steen ranked 75th of 77 guards in the NFL, per PFF. The other option would be recent trade acquisition Kenyon Green. Green started nine of 12 game appearances for the Texans in 2024 and 14 of 15 in 2022. The only issue there is that Green, another former first-rounder, was one of the two only players to grade out lower than Steen last season at 76th, per PFF.

49ers To Re-Sign FB Kyle Juszczyk

March 15th, 2025 at 7:52am CST by Ben Levine

Kyle Juszczyk is sticking in San Francisco after all. The fullback is re-signing with the 49ers, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Juszczyk is inking a new two-year deal worth $8MM.

The 49ers cut the veteran earlier this week, with the team deciding not to commit to the fullback’s $4.1MM base salary. This latest pact barely moves the needle when it comes to literal savings, but the organization surely structured the new contract to provide more breathing room in 2025. The team’s original decision to release Juszczyk opened $2.93MM in cap space.

As Schefter notes, the 49ers nearly cut Juszczyk last offseason before the player agreed to a pay cut. This time, the organization risked losing the offensive mainstay, and the 33-year-old briefly flirted with the Steelers. Instead, he’ll return to a familiar spot in San Francisco.

Juszczyk was one of the first additions that Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch signed when they took over operations in 2017. The fullback has spent the past eight seasons with the 49ers, earning Pro Bowl recognition in each of those campaigns. While Juszczyk has still served as a traditional blocking FB, he’s also had more offensive responsibility than many of his peers. He’s hauled in 184 catches during his time with the squad, finding the end zone 13 times.

It’s already been an offseason of change for the 49ers. Just on offense, the team has seen the departures of wideout Deebo Samuel and linemen Aaron Banks and Jaylon Moore. While Juszczyk isn’t an offensive star, he’ll provide the team with some continuity as they look to return to contention.

Seahawks To Sign WR Cooper Kupp

March 14th, 2025 at 11:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Cooper Kupp‘s homecoming is a go. The Washington native is set to sign with the Seahawks, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports.

Joining the Broncos, Cowboys, Patriots and Saints in pursuit of Kupp, the Seahawks are adding him on a contract expected to be worth at least $15MM, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. An Eastern Washington alum, Kupp had been in contact with Seahawks brass Friday. He will pass on the non-NFC West interest and will be set to, health permitting, face his former team twice this season.

The Seahawks needed to go big here, as The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports they are giving Kupp a three-year, $45MM deal. While some teams were reported as hesitant at $12MM per year, the market grew. The Seahawks were in front the start, per Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager. Guarantees will tell the full tale, but the Seahawks are bringing back the local product. This will be Kupp’s ninth NFL season, and he will join a team that has seen its receiver situation change dramatically in recent days.

Multiple obstacles stood to impede Kupp on the market. He will turn 32 this summer and has missed 16 games due to injury since his dominant 2021 season. But a host of teams joined this push. The Packers were also among them, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz tweets. A Seahawks team that presented a homecoming opportunity — and one that suddenly brings a receiver need due to jettisoning Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf in the same week — won out and will pair Kupp with emerging top receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

While making a significant size downgrade (though, more offseason time obviously remains for the team to add more help) in going from Metcalf to Kupp, the Seahawks do have the player who authored this decade’s most impactful wide receiver season under contract.

Kupp’s 1,947-yard 2021 slate marked the best threat to Calvin Johnson‘s single-season record, and he completed a triple-crown effort with 145 catches and 16 touchdowns. Kupp then passed Hakeem Nicks for the second-most receiving yards in one playoff run, totaling 478 and six TDs that postseason. Only Larry Fitzgerald‘s 2008 performance has that yardage number beat, though Kupp tacked on a Super Bowl MVP award after scoring a game-winning TD.

Forming an immediate connection with Matthew Stafford, Kupp elevated from his years with Jared Goff and powered the Rams — along with obvious contributions from Stafford and Aaron Donald — to a Super Bowl title. The Rams then gave that game’s MVP a three-year, $80MM deal — despite two years remaining on Kupp’s previous pact — during an offseason in which they paid Stafford and Donald. Kupp, however, ran into steady injury trouble on his third contract. And the Rams ripped that deal up Wednesday, taking on some dead money to do so. The Rams will see their former third-round find again soon.

A high ankle sprain ended Kupp’s 2022 season, costing him eight games during a disastrous Rams title defense. He also began the 2023 season late, starting it on IR because of hamstring trouble. Kupp sustained another right high ankle sprain in September 2024, going down soon after Puka Nacua did. That led the Rams into a 1-4 hole, and they looked into a Kupp trade at that point. Ultimately deciding to stand down, the Rams saw both Nacua and Kupp come back to drive a playoff push. Though, Nacua moved into the lead role while Kupp was a capable sidekick.

Missing 10 games over the past two years (though, two were not due to injury), Kupp still combined for 1,447 yards and 11 touchdowns in that span. Kupp’s work when healthy drove a competitive market, but the Seahawks held a location advantage. Kupp was open to leaving the West Coast, but he preferred not to. The Seahawks disbanded a six-year Lockett-Metcalf partnership and will hope Kupp can stay on the field alongside Smith-Njigba to justify this investment.

Kupp, who also suffered an ACL tear midway through the Rams’ Super Bowl LIII-bound 2018 season, has two 1,000-yard years on his resume. That checks in as one fewer than Metcalf, who is now on a $33MM-per-year Steelers extension. This is certainly a risk for the Seahawks, in John Schneider‘s second season at the wheel post-Pete Carroll, but Kupp did contribute three 100-yard games for the Rams last year. His hometown team will bet on Kupp joining Smith-Njigba and Noah Fant in providing key support for free agency addition Sam Darnold.