HEADLINES

Transactions News & Rumors

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/7/25

March 7th, 2025 at 9:47pm CST by Ely Allen

More teams made tender/non-tender decisions on restricted and exclusive rights free agents today. Here are the latest updates:

RFAs

Tendered:

Non-tendered:

Carolina has tendered Mays with an original-round tender worth $3.26MM. A former sixth-round draft pick, the third-year center will be able field offers from the rest of the league. If an offer comes in, the Panthers would have the chance to match it or let the team sign Mays in exchange for a sixth-round pick. Mays started eight games in 11 appearances last year.

Houston flashed early, particularly when he tallied eight sacks in seven games (only two starts) for the Lions as a rookie. Since then, injuries and inconsistency have kept him from sticking in Detroit or Cleveland.

ERFAs

Tendered:

Non-tendered:

NFL Minor Transactions: 3/7/25

March 7th, 2025 at 8:59pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s minor NFL moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Cincinnati Bengals

Detroit Lions

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Chargers Releasing RB Gus Edwards

March 7th, 2025 at 8:22pm CST by Ely Allen

The reunion between running back Gus Edwards and Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman was a short-lived one as the team informed Edwards today that he would be released, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. This leaves Los Angeles without its top two rushers from 2024 as J.K. Dobbins‘s one-year deal expires next week.

A seven-year veteran who spent eight years in Baltimore after signing as an undrafted free agent, Edwards had the least-productive season of his career with the Chargers in 2024, aside from 2021, when he missed the entire year because of injury. He struggled with injury this season, as well, missing six games with an ankle issue.

Edwards spent most of his career benefitting from a read-option offense in Baltimore that rewarded his downhill running style with plenty of dive plays and goal line touches. This culminated in a huge 2023 campaign that saw him reach career highs in rushing yards (810) and rushing touchdowns (13). Edwards entered last year as the Chargers lead back over Dobbins before quickly losing that role by Week 3 of the season. Combined with a stint on injured reserve because of his ankle injury, Edwards continued in a smaller role until Dobbins found his own way to IR.

Edwards finds himself in a pretty talented group of free agent backs, led by Aaron Jones, Dobbins, and Najee Harris. After that, Edwards is likely among the group that follows, which includes Nick Chubb, Javonte Williams, and Rico Dowdle. After seeing the difference in success from Baltimore to LA, Edwards would be wise to focus on the correct fit in free agency.

As for the Chargers, with Dobbins and Edwards becoming free agents, only Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins remain under contract in the running backs room. As a sixth-round rookie, Vidal only amassed 155 yards on 43 carries last year. Haskins only totaled 89 yards in 2024 but did record three total touchdowns.

This should put running back fairly high on the list of offseason needs for Roman’s offense. The free agents listed above are one option, as is the potential re-signing of Dobbins, but the 2025 NFL Draft is also loaded with talented options at running back. With prospects like Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo, Miami’s Damien Martinez, and several more, the Chargers could add one or multiple backs in the first three or four rounds of the draft.

Edwards, though, seeing his two-year deal cut short, will be moving on in hopes of finding a room in which he fits better. A short-yardage role could be in cards as Edwards will be 30 years old by the time the 2025 season begins.

Raiders To Release C Andre James

March 7th, 2025 at 4:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Re-signed just before free agency last year, Andre James is heading back to the market. The Raiders intend to release their veteran center starter soon.

James will be cut March 12, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, pointing to a post-June 1 release designation. The Raiders have two of those to use, as Gardner Minshew is expected to occupy one of those slots. The Raiders would reduce James’ dead money total by designating him as a post-June 1 cut, and it appears after four seasons of James at center, the team will use another option in 2025.

Appearing on last year’s PFR Top 50 Free Agents list, James fetched a three-year, $24MM deal hours before the market opened. The Raiders’ Tom Telesco-led regime prioritized the Jon Gruden-era addition. James has started 60 games with the team, signing two starter-level deals. Only going into his age-28 season, James should garner interest elsewhere.

The Raiders did sign ex-Tom Brady teammate Alex Cappa earlier this week. This could point to an arrangement in which Cappa and Dylan Parham start at guard and Jackson Powers-Johnson returns to his college position. The Raiders slid the Oregon center, the 2023 Rimington Award winner, to guard as a rookie. Powers-Johnson already saw extensive time at center last season, as James missed four games, playing 421 snaps there and 506 at left guard. At center, Powers-Johnson posted the sixth-best pressure rate in pass protection, The Athletic’s Tashan Reed tweets.

Gruden installed James as his starting center in 2021, doing so despite the blocker being a UDFA with little experience going into his third season. The Raiders moved on from Rodney Hudson that year, and James began a run of four seasons as the team’s starter. He started for four HCs in that time. Pro Football Focus rated James poorly in 2024, slotting him 33rd among center regulars, and the UCLA alum missed four games. Pass block win rate viewed James’ season differently, however, ranking him eighth among all interior O-linemen. PFF graded him as a top-10 center in 2023.

The Raiders will save $3.15MM by making James a post-June 1 cut; they will take on just more than $5MM in dead money. This move will bump the Raiders past $83MM in cap space, but they cannot use any funds created by post-June 1 designations until after that date. James will join Drew Dalman, Ryan Kelly and Josh Myers among veteran centers available in free agency. Though, James will need to wait two days before he can agree on terms with a team; the other three snappers can have deals in place beginning at 11am CT Monday.

Eagles To Extend Saquon Barkley

March 7th, 2025 at 3:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

MARCH 7: On his second Eagles contract, Barkley will see a whopping $36MM fully guaranteed, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio adds. The full guarantees cover Barkley’s 2025 and ’26 base salaries and two loftier option bonuses. Barkley’s 2025 option bonus checks in at $15.08MM, his ’26 bonus at $15.45MM. Of Barkley’s 2027 option bonus ($14.41MM), $2.5MM is fully guaranteed. A $1MM roster bonus will be due on Day 3 of the 2028 league year. Barkley will not have a cap number above $10MM until 2027, but the Eagles would not see any cap savings from a release until 2028 because of this contract structure, which also includes four void years.

As the Eagles’ recent contract structure is present here, so are additional incentives. Surpassing 1,500 scrimmage yards will land Barkley $250K, with that number increasing to $500K if he reaches 2,000, Florio notes. The same structure is in place for first- and second-team All-Pro honors, with a first-team appearance bumping him to $500K. A 1,000-yard rushing season and an Eagles NFC championship earns Barkley $250K, with a 1,000-yard rushing year plus another Super Bowl title increasing that number to $500K.

MARCH 4: Saquon Barkley enjoyed one of the most productive running back seasons in NFL history during his debut campaign with the Eagles. That has resulted in a new contract and accompanying raise.

Barkley has agreed to a two-year extension worth $41.2MM, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Two years remained on the Offensive Player of the Year’s original pact prior to this news, but it will substantially increase his earnings. Barkley is now not only the league’s highest-paid running back in terms of annual compensation, but he is the first to sign a deal with an AAV above $20MM.

As part of the financial resurgence of the running back market last offseason, Barkley inked a three-year, $37.75MM deal. The $12.58MM average of that pact moved the former Giant into third in the position’s pecking order and its $26MM in guarantees represented a major investment on the part of the Eagles. Barkley proved to be a worthwhile signing, though, and an even larger commitment has been made. Schefter notes this latest deal includes $36MM locked in at signing, along with an additional $15MM in incentives and escalators.

It will be interesting to see the structure of this new contract. Barkley was set to carry a cap hit of just $7.36MM in 2025, a figure which could raise depending on how his new compensation is paid out. If much of his guaranteed money comes in the form of a signing bonus, though, the added cap charges could be spread out over time (especially if void years are used, which was the case when he signed last spring). Just like the 49ers did last summer with Christian McCaffrey, the Eagles will move forward with a renewed and lucrative investment in a veteran back after seeing him operate as the focal point of the their offense.

Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards in 2024 despite being rested for the Eagles’ regular season finale. That figure was sufficient to break the franchise’s single-season rushing record, and his 2,283 scrimmage yards for the regular season ranked 13th in NFL history. When taking into account the 28-year-old’s output in the playoffs, his 2,504 total yards on the ground represent an all-time record for combined regular and postseason production.

The Eagles will be counting on Barkley being able to replicate that level of success when attempting to defend their Super Bowl title. The team already has a offense featuring a quarterback (Jalen Hurts), two receivers (A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith) and a tight end (Dallas Goedert) each near the top of their respective markets on their current deals. Philadelphia also, course, has a number of notable commitments along the offensive line. The team’s financial planning will now take into account a major Barkley raise over the coming years.

The running back market has long lagged well behind that of other positions. 2024 saw a rebound to an extent, and McCaffrey’s pact (averaging $19MM per year) has now been surpassed in value. Whether or not this Barkley deal represents a turning point from a financial perspective will be an interesting league storyline to follow.

Jaguars Release TE Evan Engram, WR Devin Duvernay

March 7th, 2025 at 2:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

MARCH 7: The Jags have announced the Engram and Reynolds releases. This will mean Engram cannot be designated a post-June 1 cut. While the eight-year veteran is free to sign with any team now, the Jags will take on more dead money as a result of making him a standard release.

MARCH 6: A Jacksonville skill-position purge will continue with two more veterans. Following the team’s intra-division Christian Kirk trade, Evan Engram and Devin Duvernay are also out.

The Jags are releasing the veteran tight end and All-Pro return man, ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero respectively report. One season remained on Engram’s extension, which was signed after the Jags franchise-tagged him in 2023.

Count Josh Reynolds among the skill-player cap casualties as well, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. The Jags had claimed Reynolds off waivers from the Broncos late last season. This release will save the Jags $4.26MM, as they had taken Reynolds’ two-year, $9MM contract from the Broncos.

If the Jaguars are moving on from Engram via a standard release, they would take on $13.5MM in dead money. If they wait to officially cut the former first-rounder on March 12 and give him a post-June 1 release designation, the team would be tagged with just $4MM in 2025 dead cap and would save $15.5MM in cap room. Engram, 30, was due to count $19.49MM on Jacksonville’s 2025 cap — the second-highest total on the team’s payroll.

The Duvernay release will save the Jags $2.7MM this year. Jacksonville added Duvernay last March, doing so as it signed Gabe Davis as well. Davis did not live up to his $13MM-per-year contract in his first season, but he is the only veteran skill player left standing after this week’s moves. While the team is prepared to build around Brian Thomas Jr., it will need to fill out some spots alongside the blossoming first-rounder.

Given the tag over Jawaan Taylor in 2023, Engram signed a three-year, $41.25MM extension. That deal called for a $14.75MM 2025 base salary. Three void years tacked onto the end of it will bring the dead money, which would stretch to 2026 if the Jags make Engram a post-June cut. This could certainly make Engram the top tight end on the market, one that includes the likes of Mike Gesicki, Juwan Johnson and Tyler Conklin.

A 2017 Giants first-round pick, Engram has a Pro Bowl (2020) on his resume but became more consistent with the Jags. He twice set the franchise record for receiving yards by a tight end, accumulating 766 in 2022 and then 963 in ’23. Engram was not a strong red zone option for Trevor Lawrence, but the now-well-paid QB peppered him with targets. Engram caught 114 passes in 2023; only Jimmy Smith‘s 1999 featured more receptions (116) by a Jaguar.

Even as Engram scored only nine touchdowns in three seasons and is heading into his age-31 season, he should be in line for a starting job elsewhere soon. The Jags have given him a few days to beat the market. This release does come after Engram closed last season on IR with a labrum tear; he totaled 365 receiving yards in nine games.

Duvernay, 27, arrived during an offseason that saw the departures of Calvin Ridley and Zay Jones. The Jags had attempted to re-sign Ridley, being outbid by the Titans, before releasing Jones. In 2023, the team had deployed four veteran skill-player contracts around Lawrence’s rookie deal. They are now down to one (Davis’), and the ex-Bills WR2 totaled just 239 receiving yards last season.

Known more for his return-game skills than at receiver, Duvernay caught 11 passes for 79 yards in 2024. The two-time Ravens Pro Bowler served as the Jags’ kickoff and punt returner, leaving more jobs open amid this transition. Reynolds, 29, caught just one pass in four games as a Jaguar. He does have two 600-plus-yard seasons on his resume — including the 2023 season in Detroit — but has now been cut twice since December.

Kirk and Engram both had signed with the Jags in 2022, with each helping Lawrence after a woeful rookie season. Kirk is Houston-bound, while Engram — who has five seasons of at least 575 yards on his resume — should find a new home soon. The Jags have moved past $40MM in cap space with these moves and will be on the lookout for new Thomas supporting-casters soon.

Titans To Release OLB Harold Landry

March 7th, 2025 at 12:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Titans’ top edge rusher for nearly his entire career, Harold Landry is now available in free agency. After giving Landry permission to seek a trade during Combine week, the Titans are cutting him, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.

Landry joins Joey Bosa and Jonathan Allen as standout pass rushers cut this week. A year younger than both, Landry stands to generate considerable interest ahead of his age-29 season. Landry made it back from the ACL tear that wiped out his 2022 season, having played in all 34 Titans games since coming back.

As the Titans repeatedly tried to find outside help to complement Landry — from Vic Beasley to Cameron Wake to Jadeveon Clowney to Bud Dupree — the team could not find a solid complementary rusher. Arden Key remains in Tennessee, and he has been the best of this bunch, totaling 12.5 sacks over the past two seasons. But the Titans now have work to do at OLB, with Landry anchoring this group since becoming a 2018 second-round pick. This release comes as the Titans are set to meet with Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, who is in play to go No. 1 overall.

The Landry cut, assuming no post-June 1 designation is on tap, will save the Titans $10.95MM while leaving $13.1MM in dead money. No guaranteed salary remained on Landry’s five-year, $87.5MM deal, but two years of signing bonus proration will leave the dead cap. This move will bump the Titans beyond $60MM in cap space.

Cutting Landry with two years left on his deal signals big-picture changes for a team coming off a 3-14 season. The Titans are now two GMs removed from the one (Jon Robinson) who authorized Landry’s extension, with the team hiring Mike Borgonzi to work with Chad Brinker (after Ran Carthon‘s ouster) this offseason.

Chosen 41st overall out of Boston College, Landry teamed with 2019 first-rounder Jeffery Simmons to form a quality inside-outside tandem. The Titans paid both, but Simmons is all that remains from the pass rush that sacked Joe Burrow nine times during a narrow Tennessee divisional-round loss three seasons ago. Landry posted a career-high 12 sacks that year, leading the Titans to pay him just before he hit free agency. While the ACL tear sapped his momentum, Landry had inked his extension months before going down.

Landry posted 10.5 sacks in 2023, also posting his second-most QB hits (21) that season. He tallied nine sacks, including a safety, in 2024. That production did not exactly matter much for the Titans, who obtained the No. 1 pick after their downward spiral continued. Although Landry has only forced three career fumbles, the productive OLB has 50.5 career sacks despite missing all of 2022. Landry will join Bosa, Josh Sweat and Khalil Mack as productive veteran OLBs seeking third contracts in free agency.

Players given permission to shop at the Combine are starting to be released or traded. The 49ers found a taker for Deebo Samuel, while the Rams reunited Jonah Jackson with his former OC (new Bears HC Ben Johnson). Others in this position have been released (Allen, Landry, Rayshawn Jenkins) so far. More such resolutions are coming, with the 2025 league year starting Wednesday.

Texans To Cut G Shaq Mason

March 7th, 2025 at 11:17am CST by Adam La Rose

Movement is coming at the guard position for the Texans. Part of the team’s plans at the position will involve cutting Shaq Mason. 

The veteran has been informed he will be released, as first reported by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Two years remained on Mason’s contract, with just over $1MM in guaranteed salary in place for 2025. If it does not include a post-June 1 designation, this move will create $2.12MM in cap space but generate $12.48MM in dead money.

Mason was dealt from the Patriots to the Buccaneers in 2022, and he occupied a starting role with Tampa Bay that year. He once again found himself on the move the following offseason, though, with a swap sending him to the Texans. The 31-year-old started each of Houston appearances, missing only two contests along the way.

Since his rookie campaign, Mason has exclusively worked at right guard. The interior of Houston’s offensive line was a major sore spot during the year, and to no surprise Wilson notes renovating at that spot is a clear goal for the team. As free agency approaches, making at least one notable addition at guard is something to watch for in the Texans’ case. The team entered Friday with roughly $5MM in cap space.

PFF gave Mason a string of highly impressive evaluations for much of his Patriots tenures. The Georgia Tech product has seen his overall grades decline recently, however, and it checked in at 62.3 in 2024 after allowing eight sacks and 34 pressures. Pass protection was a clear issue for Houston this past season, and finding an upgrade from Mason will go a long way in improving in that regard.

Trey Smith was set to be the best option available at the guard position (or any others along the O-line) in free agency, but the Chiefs kept him off the market by applying the franchise tag. As a result, the free agent group does not include a long list of attractive blockers, particularly along the interior. That could help Mason’s bid to land a new deal in the near future, but his Texans performances could steer suitors elsewhere.

Commanders To Release Jonathan Allen

March 7th, 2025 at 10:48am CST by Adam La Rose

Efforts to trade Jonathan Allen came up short. As a result, the veteran defensive tackle is now set to become a free agent.

The Commanders have informed Allen he will be released, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. This move will give him a small window of opportunity to test his market before the start of the new league year next week. After eight years in Washington, a change of scenery will now take place.

Allen recently emerged as a cut candidate given the fact one year remained on his contract. None of his base salary ($15.5MM) was guaranteed, and the two-time Pro Bowler was set to carry a cap hit of $22.47MM. This release will free up $16.47MM for the Commanders while generating a dead money charge of $6MM. Washington will have roughly $80MM in available funds once the move is processed.

The Commanders granted Allen permission to seek a trade during last week’s Combine, a clear indication that a parting of ways would be coming in the near future. The 30-year-old was discussed in the negotiations between Washington and San Francisco on the Deebo Samuel trade, but he was ultimately not included. Now, Allen will get a head start on free agency while Washington moves forward with a DT group which still features Daron Payne on one of the position’s most lucrative contracts.

Washington supplemented the Payne-Allen tandem by drafting Johnny Newton in the second round last year. The Illinois product wound up making 11 starts during his rookie season (thanks to the pectoral tear which sidelined Allen for a notable stretch), registering 44 tackles and a pair of sacks. Newton will be counted on to handle a first-team role moving forward now that Allen is out of the picture.

Selected in the first round in 2017, Allen has started all but one of his 113 career games. The Alabama product has reached 5.5 sacks or more on five occasions, with his personal best in that regard coming in 2021 with nine. Expectations on his next team will not include a repeat of that feat, but he can still be counted on to provide starting-caliber play during the next phase of his career. It will be interesting to see how strong of a market Allen can generate before free agency officially opens.

Lions To Re-Sign LB Derrick Barnes

March 7th, 2025 at 8:27am CST by Adam La Rose

Derrick Barnes was on track for free agency but that will no longer be the case. The fourth-year linebacker has agreed to remain in Detroit for the foreseeable future.

Barnes and the Lions have a three-year deal in place, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The pact is worth $25.5MM and includes $16MM fully guaranteed at signing. Barnes will eschew a trip to the open market in exchange for considerable security on his second career contract.

During his first two seasons in Detroit, the Purdue product served in a rotational role on defense while also chipping in on special teams. Barnes took on an increased workload in 2023, making 13 starts and setting a new career high in tackles (81). Expectations were high for a strong follow-up campaign this past year, but things did not go according to plan.

A knee injury limited Barnes to just three games in 2024. A return deep into the postseason was considered a possibility at times, but as the Lions navigated a multitude of injuries on defense in particular it eventually became clear that would not be possible. That missed time threatened to hinder the 25-year-old’s market had he reached free agency, but he has nevertheless managed to secure a notable commitment from the Lions.

Detroit has Jack Campbell attached to his rookie contract, while veteran Alex Anzalone is on the books for 2025 (albeit without any guaranteed salary remaining on his deal). The team’s linebacker depth chart was recently thinned out to an extent by the decision to release Jalen Reeves-Maybin. Today’s news ensures Barnes will remain a key figure at the second level for 2025 and beyond, though.

The pending free agent class includes a few notable linebacker options, although one of the most attractive ones (Zack Baun) has already re-signed with the Eagles. Barnes coming off the market represents an unwelcomed development for his potential suitors, a group which may well have included the Jets. It will be interesting to see if any other deals at the position are worked out prior to the start of the new league year next week. In any case, Barnes is set to continue his career in the Motor City.

Load More Posts