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Cooper Kupp Expected To Make Decision Soon; Patriots Among WR’s Suitors

March 14th, 2025 at 12:30am CST by Sam Robinson

MARCH 14: Despite a report earlier today that connected the Jaguars to Kupp, the organization is not involved in the sweepstakes, per Schultz.

MARCH 13: It does not sound like a lengthy Cooper Kupp free agency tour is coming. Designated as a post-June 1 cut by the Rams on Tuesday, Kupp is free to sign anywhere now. Several teams are believed to be in on the former triple-crown winner.

Kupp has drawn interest from at least five teams, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. That is up from three Wednesday afternoon, though many teams were likely to look into the former Super Bowl MVP. The Patriots are believed to be one of the receiver’s suitors. The Pats are interested in Kupp and have reached out, according to Masslive.com’s Karen Guregian and the Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi.

[RELATED: Mutual Interest Between Broncos, Cooper Kupp?]

Not viewed as likely to take his time in signing elsewhere, Kupp is also being linked to two AFC South teams. The Jaguars and Texans have come up as possibilities, Ian Rapoport said during an NFL Network appearance (via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta) while also mentioning the Seahawks. Kupp is a Yakima, Wash., native, and Seattle suddenly has a need for a starter-caliber wideout — perhaps two — after moving on from its long-running Tyler Lockett-D.K. Metcalf duo.

A deal that averages around $12MM per year has come up for Kupp, per The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, who adds some teams will be pushed out of this market at that price. But a belief exists the two-time 1,000-yard receiver can command that. Davante Adams, who has been a better (and healthier) receiver, just fetched a $23MM-per-year deal that came with $20MM guaranteed. Darius Slayton also just signed for $12MM per. Not nearly as accomplished as Kupp, Slayton is nearly four years younger and does not have an extensive injury history.

The Patriots lost the Calvin Ridley sweepstakes last year and then saw their Brandon Aiyuk push — one that included the top AAV offer mentioned ($32MM) during that saga — fail to move them into even runner-up position. The Bengals took Tee Higgins off this year’s market, and they are setting a high trade price for a potential tag-and-trade transaction. Kupp was available via trade, and considering the Patriots’ cap space and issues attracting receivers in recent years, it would have made sense for the team to explore it. But no club wanted to take on Kupp’s Rams deal, which came with guaranteed salary and a $7.5MM roster bonus. Even though the Rams were willing to eat salary to facilitate a swap, they resorted to cutting him before the bonus came due.

At the moment, Kupp’s asking price is viewed as too steep for the Pats’ liking, Guregian adds. And Schultz indicates that while the receiver has a preference to stay on the West Coast, he is not closing doors just yet.

Patriots target Chris Godwin re-signed with the Buccaneers minutes into the legal tampering period, further thinning options for a team that needs weaponry to boost Drake Maye‘s development. A host of older options are available, however, as Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen join Kupp as accomplished free agent 30-somethings.

The Jaguars moved on from slot starter Christian Kirk, trading him to the Texans for a low-end return. New Jags HC Liam Coen coached Kupp as Rams receivers coach (stint No. 1) and OC (stay No. 2), and new Jacksonville GM James Gladstone also comes from the Rams. The Texans’ new OC, Nick Caley, was Rams tight ends coach for two seasons. The Jags would appear to have a greater need, as Gabriel Davis did not start his Jacksonville tenure well last season alongside fast-emerging rookie Brian Thomas Jr., but the Texans may not have Tank Dell for much (if any) of the 2025 season.

Kupp, 31, played at Division I-FCS Eastern Washington, attracting the Rams’ attention before a 2017 third-round selection. The Seahawks bringing Kupp home to help Sam Darnold makes sense, though the other batch of experienced receivers in free agency provides alternative options in the event the price point — for a player who has missed 18 games since that Super Bowl MVP award — escalates too far.

Patriots To Release C David Andrews

March 13th, 2025 at 8:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

TODAY, 8:55pm: The Patriots officially released David Andrews, with the move coming with a failed physical designation, per Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.

TODAY, 8:25am: After 10 years and nine seasons with the Patriots, David Andrews‘ tenure in the organization is coming to an end. New England will release the veteran center, ESPN’s Mike Reiss reports.

The move will take place today, Reiss adds. Andrews is rehabbing the shoulder injury which kept him out of the lineup for all but four contests this past season. If today’s news winds up being followed by a retirement decision, this situation will come to a close in the same fashion as Julian Edelman‘s in 2021.

Indeed, Jeff Howe of The Athletic notes it is not currently known if Andrews intends to continue his playing career. The two-time Super Bowl winner had one year remaining on his contract, with part of his scheduled base salary guaranteed. This release will yield $2.68MM in cap savings for New England while generating a dead money charge of $4MM.

Andrews has made 136 combined regular and postseason appearances in his career, starting all but five of them. The 32-year-old has remained a mainstay along the offensive line during his Pats run, consistently drawing positive PFF evaluations. Even if the final remaining holdover among offensive players from New England’s most recent Super Bowl suits up in 2025, though, the team will move in a different direction under center.

Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal recently reported Andrews was seen as a cut candidate during the Combine. Upgrading along the offensive line is known to be a major priority for the team, and that effort will now include finding a replacement center. The likes of Drew Dalman (Bears), Ryan Kelly (Colts) and Josh Myers (Jets) have found new teams in the early stages of free agency. The Patriots may need to wait until next month’s draft as a result to find a new starter in the middle.

New England’s right guard spot is accounted for with Michael Onwenu, and the team worked out a deal with veteran right tackle Morgan Moses on Monday. The left tackle and guard positions are still unaccounted for at this point in the offseason, and the same is now true at center as well.

Patriots To Sign LB K’Lavon Chaisson

March 13th, 2025 at 5:22pm CST by Ben Levine

The Patriots are once again adding to their defense. The team has agreed to a contract with edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It’s a one-year deal worth $5MM.

Chaisson struggled to live up to his first-round billing during his time with the Jaguars, collecting five total sacks through his first four NFL seasons. After having his fifth-year option declined, the pass rusher hit free agency last offseason, when he caught on with the Panthers. He didn’t make it to the regular season with his new squad, but he was quickly scooped up by the Raiders.

The 25-year-old ended up having the most productive season of his career in Las Vegas. Chaisson started four of his 15 appearances in 2024, finishing with 32 tackles, five sacks, and eight QB hits. Pro Football Focus graded him 64th among 119 qualifying edge defenders, although the site did give him the 27th-best positional grade for his pass-rushing ability.

Mike Vrabel and the Patriots have been busy using their league-leading cap space to help improve the defense. The team’s already invested in the likes of Milton Williams, Carlton Davis, Harold Landry, and Robert Spillane, who was teammates with Chaisson in Las Vegas.

The newest addition won’t be as counted on as those other signings. Still, he’ll join an increasingly impressive pass-rushing corps that also includes the likes of Christian Barmore and Keion White.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/12/25

March 12th, 2025 at 10:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the minor moves from the first day of the 2025 league year:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Yes, a few of these players have graduated from our minor-moves sector, but today’s signing blitz being what it was, they land here. Ford highlights the batch contractually, agreeing (per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter) to a two-year, $4MM deal. Ford played on more than 70% of Cleveland’s special teams snaps over the past two seasons.

Trask will reprise his role as Baker Mayfield‘s backup, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicating the former second-round pick is staying on a one-year, $2.79MM contract. Trask and Mayfield competed for the job in 2023, but as was the case with the Drew Lock–Geno Smith battle a year prior, the winner never looked back. Trask will be in place for a fifth Bucs season, having moved from third-stringer during the Tom Brady era to QB2 in the Mayfield years.

Hawkins will stay with the Patriots on a two-year deal worth up to $2.2MM, according to the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed. A 2022 full-time Falcons starter, Hawkins saw Jessie Bates replace him in 2023. The Falcons later waived Hawkins, who ended up on the Chargers in 2023. The Pats used him as a seven-game starter in 2024, when he made 48 tackles (three for loss).

Commanders To Sign CB Jonathan Jones

March 12th, 2025 at 4:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jonathan Jones will be on the move for the first time in his career this offseason. The longtime Patriots corner has a one-year deal in place with the Commanders, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

This leaves David Andrews as the last player left from the Patriots’ Super Bowl years, as Jones had become a quick fixture on the Pats’ most recent three such seasons. As Mike Vrabel aggressively turns over the roster, Jones is moving on. This deal has a maximum value of $6.5MM, per Fowler.

Operating in the slot and on the outside for the Pats, Jones had been a staple for the team under Bill Belichick and then Jerod Mayo. Jones has made an atypical late-career transition, sliding from perennial slot stopper to a boundary corner. After playing almost all of his 2022 snaps outside, Jones earned a two-year, $19MM deal to stay in what turned out to be Belichick’s finale. The Pats paid up for Carlton Davis, however, and the pricey free agency addition will complement Christian Gonzalez in 2025.

Jones, 31, continued on the outside over the past two years but will probably be better remembered for his slot defense, seeing as those years overlapped with the close of a dynasty. The Patriots added Jones as a 2016 UDFA and immediately put him to work. Jones predated Stephon Gilmore in Foxborough, complementing Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan in 2016. Belichick led Butler, Ryan, Gilmore and J.C. Jackson leave but prioritized Jones, giving him two veteran contracts to stay.

Jones played 132 regular-season games with the Pats and was on the field for eight more playoff contests. Jones joined Butler in not playing in Super Bowl LII, though the former’s absence was not controversial as it came due to injury. While Butler’s absence will be talked about for a while, Jones’ goes overlooked during Nick Foles‘ masterpiece. Jones was open to staying in New England, but MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian had reported he would hit the market.

“I would love to (stay),” Jones said. “It’s rare for a guy to be in one place his entire career. Especially after being undrafted, being here my entire career, I feel indebted to be here.”

Jones will join a Commanders team that let Benjamin St-Juste leave for a Chargers deal. Washington has Mike Sainristil as a potential long-term slot option, and Marshon Lattimore‘s recently acquired contract runs through 2026. With Michael Davis and Noah Igbinoghene unsigned, Jones will have a clear route to a starting role. Considering Lattimore’s run of recent injury trouble, Jones figures to be an important addition.

Packers, Patriots Did Not Make Offers For D.K. Metcalf

March 12th, 2025 at 1:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite reports of interest from the Packers and the Patriots, neither team submitted offers to the Seahawks for D.K. Metcalf, per The Athletic’s Matt Schniedman and NBCS Boston’s Phil Perry

Seahawks general manager John Schneider spent 2002 to 2009 in Green Bay when Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst was a scout with the team. That led to rumblings that the Packers would trade for Metcalf to add a proven WR1 to their receiver room. However, such a deal was “never a realistic possibility,” per Schniedman.

The Patriots were linked with several available wide receivers who could bolster Drake Maye‘s group of pass-catchers, but they did not make an effort to acquire Metcalf, according to Perry. New England was expected to pursue Chris Godwin, but he opted to re-sign with the Buccaneers instead.

Reports also indicated that Metcalf preferred to play in a warm climate, but he did not express that desire to his agent, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Instead, he ended up in Pittsburgh where his 6-foot-4, 235-pound frame will fit with the physical playing style of the AFC North.

Metcalf’s new team better aligns with his priority of winning, per Pelissero. Mike Tomlin has led the Steelers to the playoffs in four of the last five seasons. Metcalf has just two postseason appearances in that span and three in his entire career.

Contract Details: Horn, Pats, Pack, Vikings

March 12th, 2025 at 11:26am CST by Sam Robinson

It’s that time of year. It is time to begin sorting through the contracts agreed to early in free agency. We will start with some of the biggest deals to emerge this week.

  • Jaycee Horn, CB (Panthers). Four years, $100MM. Horn’s Carolina extension covers $72MM in total guarantees (second among CBs) and $46.7MM at signing (first). Horn’s 2025 and ’26 base salaries are fully guaranteed; his $15.74MM 2027 base salary will shift from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Day 3 of the 2026 league year, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Additionally, $7.1MM of Horn’s $21.7MM 2028 base is already guaranteed for injury, per Wilson. That amount will shift to a full guarantee on Day 3 of the 2028 league year.
  • Milton Williams, DT (Patriots): Four years, $104MM. Williams will see $63MM in total guarantees and $51MM at signing, per OverTheCap. Williams’ 2027 base salary ($27MM) is guaranteed for injury; it will shift to a full guarantee if he remains on New England’s roster on Day 3 of the 2027 league year, Wilson tweets.
  • Aaron Banks, G (Packers). Four years, $77MM. Only a $27MM signing bonus is guaranteed, via OverTheCap, as the Packers do not usually include guaranteed salary beyond Year 1. Banks is due a $9.5MM roster bonus on Day 3 of the 2026 league year, Wilson notes. The same structure is in place for 2027, with another $9.5MM bonus due. These represent future guarantee dates on this year-$20MM-AAV accord, though the Pack — as they do with Josh Jacobs — will have a natural out after Year 2 of the deal.
  • Byron Murphy, CB (Vikings): Three years, $54MM. This is significantly lower than initially reported (via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo), as Murphy can only reach the $22MM-AAV number through incentives. Murphy’s first two base salaries are fully guaranteed, per Wilson. Rather than being the NFL’s fourth-highest-paid CB, Murphy is tied for 13th after the true AAV emerged.
  • Charvarius Ward, CB (Colts): Three years, $54MM. This one had the correct value from the start, as Murphy’s subsequent Vikings deal matched these terms. Ward will see $27MM at signing. To reach the $34.98MM total guarantee, he must remain on Indianapolis’ roster past Day 5 of the 2026 league year. As $5MM of Ward’s $12.98MM 2026 base salary is guaranteed at signing, the rest locks in on that March 2026 date, Wilson tweets.
  • Jonathan Allen, DL (Vikings): Three years, $51MM. This also checks in lower (via Garafolo) than initially reported, which is not uncommon. Half of Allen’s $16MM 2026 base salary is guaranteed at signing, with the other half (via Wilson) locking in if the D-lineman is on Minnesota’s roster come Day 3 of the 2026 league year.
  • Jamien Sherwood, LB (Jets). Three years, $45MM. The Jets are guaranteeing $30MM, as ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini notes this is the second-biggest LB guarantee the team has authorized (after C.J. Mosley‘s then-record FA deal in 2019). The Jets included a $7.5MM option bonus due at any point before Week 1 of the 2026 season, Wilson notes. This, along with three void years, will reduce Sherwood’s cap hits; he will not carry a figure north of $11.5MM until 2027.
  • Drew Dalman, C (Bears): Three years, $42MM. $26.5MM of Dalman’s $28MM guarantee comes at signing, giving the ex-Falcons center the second-biggest center guarantee (passing Lloyd Cushenberry‘s 2024 Titans FA deal). $9.5MM of Dalman’s $11MM 2026 base salary is fully guaranteed at signing, per Wilson. The other $1.5MM vests if/once he is on Chicago’s roster on Day 3 of the ’26 league year. Dalman’s 2027 salary is nonguaranteed.

Vikings, G Will Fries Agree To Deal

March 11th, 2025 at 8:37am CST by Sam Robinson

The Vikings added one former Colt along the offensive line in the form of center Ryan Kelly yesterday, and another is also headed to Minnesota. Guard Will Fries has a deal in place, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

This will be a whopping five-year, $88MM pact, Fowler adds. KTSP’s Darren Wolfson’s reported yesterday that the sides were discussing a deal, so it comes as little surprise one has now been worked out. Fries will face massive expectations upon arrival given the nature of this commitment.

Fries does not have a connection to Ryan Grigson like Kelly does, as Fries is a first-time free agent who had joined the Colts in the 2021 draft. Despite not joining a team on Day 1 of the legal tampering period, Fries will cash in. While this is on the longer end of the term-length spectrum — especially as the cap has climbed like his has this decade — Fries is receiving a big number to join the Vikings. Guarantees will provide more illumination, but it is clear Minnesota eyed Fries from the start.

The Vikings have been busy Tuesday, agreeing to deals with two high-profile street free agents (Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave) to beef up their defensive line alongside Harrison Phillips while adding Fries as their other new piece with Kelly. The two Colts defections come as Indianapolis added long-rumored Minnesota Sam Darnold fallback option Daniel Jones. As Jones prepares to take a run at another starting job, two Colts blockers will prepare to help J.J. McCarthy transition after missing his rookie season.

A Colts starter for roughly two seasons, Fries is coming off a season-ending injury. He sustained a broken leg early last year; that halted considerable momentum. The fifth-year veteran is not yet 100%, per ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder, but all indications point to him having no issues being ready for next season on time. This contract certainly displays Vikings confidence on this front. The Vikings needed to go big for Fries, whom the Colts tried to re-sign. Pushes from the Patriots, Giants, Seahawks and Cardinals drove the market to this place, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes, as Fries did very well for himself despite the early-season injury.

Fries, who emerged out of the 2021 seventh round, graded as the league’s second-best guard (per Pro Football Focus) and had won his run- and pass-blocking matchups at a career-best rate (per ESPN) before the Week 5 setback. This came after a 17-start 2023, as Fries had taken over for less effective starter Danny Pinter during the 2022 season.

Not on the younger end among this year’s free agent class, Fries (27 in April) will be asked to start at one of the Vikings’ guard spots. Former second-round pick Ed Ingram‘s Vikings future is in doubt, after a 2024 benching, and Dalton Risner — who has not seen free agent markets come close to Fries’ new level — is again out of contract.

Adam La Rose contributed to this report.

Patriots, Milton Williams Agree To Deal

March 10th, 2025 at 11:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers looked to be the frontrunners to secure Milton Williams, but that will no longer be the case . The Patriots are adding Williams instead, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report.

Williams will head to Foxborough on a monster deal that averages $26MM per season over four years. After the Cowboys kept Osa Odighizuwa off the market, Williams — PFR’s No. 3 overall free agent — will benefit from being allowed to speak with multiple suitors.

Carolina was deep in talks with Williams, who will parlay a big contract year into a seismic second contract. The Panthers were close to a deal, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Patriots then upped their price — on a deal that includes $63MM guaranteed — to end the derby. After Chris Jones and Christian Wilkins reset the D-tackle market last year, Williams will benefit. Assuming the $63MM represents Williams’ guarantee total (as opposed to the amount fully locked in at signing), that still ranks sixth among DTs.

The Eagles had re-signed Zack Baun, but the Super Bowl champions had left Williams, Josh Sweat and Mekhi Becton unattached as the legal tampering period began today. Williams represents the first defection, and Sweat has since committed to the Cardinals, rejoining Jonathan Gannon.

Williams’ contract year produced career-high numbers in sacks (five) and QB hits (10). Used as a part-time starter, the Louisiana Tech product totaled 18 pressures as well, ranking sixth in DT pass rush win rate. Pro Football Focus ranked the former third-round pick as the No. 1 interior pass rusher last season, and the Patriots will buy in while the Eagles will predictably build their DT future around Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis.

The Patriots extended Christian Barmore last year but saw him miss most of the season due to blood clots. Barmore returned late in the year and will now pair with Williams to round out a pricey D-tackle duo. Williams joins Harold Landry, Carlton Davis and Robert Spillane as additions aimed at restoring the Patriots to an upper-crust defense. After two-plus decades carrying such chops, New England plummeted to 22nd in yards and points allowed despite Christian Gonzalez‘s All-Pro ascent.

Coming into free agency with the most cap space in the NFL, the Patriots are delivering on Mike Vrabel’s push to both spend in free agency and bolster their lines. Williams will be the biggest bet any team makes on the D-line during this free agency period, and the Pats will expect him to build on a breakout season.

Williams showed flashes before, having supplied a career-high nine tackles for loss during the Eagles’ 2022 NFC championship season. Although his Super Bowl LIX sack-strip-recovery sequence introduced the former third-round pick to the casual fans — ones that were still watching by that point — Williams will be out to prove he is not a one-year wonder.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/10/25

March 10th, 2025 at 10:41pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s minor NFL moves that may have been missed during an otherwise extremely busy first day of the tampering period:

Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

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