Here are today’s minor transactions from around the league:
Green Bay Packers
Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Los Angeles Rams
New Orleans Saints
Pittsburgh Steelers
Tennessee Titans
Here are the latest 2023 draftees to sign their four-year rookie deals:
Atlanta Falcons
Cleveland Browns
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Kansas City Chiefs
New Orleans Saints
The Browns added Tillman to a receiver room that includes Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones and trade acquisition Elijah Moore. Peoples-Jones is going into a contract year. Downs joins a Colts team rostering contract-year wideout Michael Pittman Jr. and second-year talent Alec Pierce. The Colts lost Parris Campbell this offseason. Dell will stay in Houston, moving to a Texans team that traded Brandin Cooks to the Cowboys. The Texans did sign Robert Woods and are expected to have 2022 second-round pick John Metchie in uniform after a leukemia diagnosis wiped out his rookie year.
Donovan Smith‘s Chiefs signing looks set to place Morris on the developmental track. Kansas City has now added two free agent tackles — Smith and Jawaan Taylor — who have a combined 12 years of NFL starting experience. The Saints will pair Haener with their higher-profile Fresno State alum, Derek Carr, atop their quarterback depth chart. The team made Haener this draft’s sixth QB selection, at No. 127, and the move began a run on Day 3 QB picks.
After David Onyemata followed former position coach Ryan Nielsen to Atlanta early in free agency, the Saints addressed their defensive tackle need with their first draft choice. They now have their top pick under contract.
The Saints agreed to terms with first-round pick Bryan Bresee on Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The Clemson product will be tied to a four-year, $12.26MM deal, one that will include a fifth-year option for the 2027 season. The Saints do not have to decide on Bresee’s option until May 2026. Bresee’s contract is fully guaranteed, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets.
New Orleans gave Derek Carr a four-year, $150MM deal, tying up its free agency funds. The team let Onyemata, Marcus Davenport and Kentavius Street walk but moved to restock its D-line this offseason. Prior to drafting Bresee at No. 29 — the pick the team obtained from the Broncos in the Sean Payton trade — the Saints signed DTs Khalen Saunders and Nathan Shepherd. These two will work with Bresee alongside Cam Jordan along New Orleans’ front.
Arriving at Clemson as 2020’s top overall recruit, Bresee did not deliver the dominant college career his high school profile suggested. A 2021 ACL tear sidetracked Bresee’s progress, but he returned to action last year and did not see his draft stock fall too far. He started as a true freshman in 2020 and rallied back from his sophomore knee injury to earn second-team All-ACC acclaim last season. Nearly two years removed from his setback, the powerful interior defender should be better positioned to develop in New Orleans.
The Saints have now drafted five first-round defensive linemen since 2011, with Bresee following Jordan (2011), Sheldon Rankins (2016), Davenport (2018) and Payton Turner (2021). The team also used its second-round pick on a defensive end, taking Isaiah Foskey 40th overall out of Notre Dame. Foskey remains unsigned.
Cam Jordan is likely nearing the end of his Saints tenure, but at least one more contract could be agreed to in the near future. The franchise mainstay is in talks on an extension, as detailed by Brett Martel of the Associated Press. 
The 33-year-old has one year remaining on the $52.5MM extension he signed in 2019. That deal has been restructured (along with many others amongst Saints veterans in recent years), leaving Jordan with a 2023 cap hit of $15.1MM. During the first of several void years after that, however, his cap hit is set to spike to $23.3MM.
Jordan represents a logical extension candidate given his continued production deep into his career. He posted a team-leading 8.5 sacks in 2022, which helped earn him a sixth consecutive (and eighth overall) Pro Bowl nod. It also gave the 2010s All-Decade team member a career sack total of 115.5, moving him past Rickey Jackson for the all-time franchise lead in that department.
Doug Hendrickson, Jordan’s agent, commented on his desire to get a deal of “at least” two years in length completed before training camp. Failing that, he added, contract talks would likely be tabled until after the season, where the prospect of free agency would loom over negotiations. The Saints are one of many teams projected to be well over the cap in 2024 as things currently stand, something which could provide incentive for the team to solidify Jordan’s financial future for the next few years.
Jordan should once again be in line for a starting role next season, with fellow defensive end Marcus Davenport having departed in free agency. New Orleans has focused on their edge rushing corps in recent years, though, using a first-round pick in 2022 on Payton Turner and a second-rounder this past draft on Isaiah Foskey. Those two will look to grow into significant contributors under the tutelage of Jordan, who acknowledged that this upcoming contract will likely be his last.
“If we get a deal done, that’ll be probably the final years of my career here,” he said, adding that he does not envision himself transitioning to a rotational role later in his career. “Whatever happens, happens. In terms of how we play, how we want to attack offenses, that’s what I’m here for.”
The first of this year’s spring leagues to debut, the XFL’s third effort, finished its season Saturday. XFL players are now free to sign NFL contracts, and several agreed to terms Monday. Here are those agreements, along with the other transactions from around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
Cleveland Browns
Denver Broncos
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Jacksonville Jaguars
Kansas City Chiefs
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Rams
Miami Dolphins
New Orleans Saints
New York Jets
Pittsburgh Steelers
Seattle Seahawks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tennessee Titans
Washington Commanders
After seeing the pandemic nix its second effort in 2020, the XFL concluded its season Saturday. The Broncos signed the league’s second-leading rusher, in Patrick, while the Browns and Cowboys offered Barqoo contracts, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. Barqoo, who played for the Jaguars in 2020 and XFL’s San Antonio Brahmas this year, opted for the Steelers’ offer. Patrick, whom the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson notes passed a Broncos physical Monday, finished with 443 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He joins XFL passing leader Ben DiNucci as a Broncos May addition.
Seeing time for the St. Louis BattleHawks, Jones-Smith played in three games apiece with Raiders and Ravens, respectively, from 2020-21. Thompson will join the Dolphins after a spring tour of duty with the Seattle Sea Dragons, while fellow XFL alum Brewer played in two games for the Bills last year. Heflin played five games for the Packers in 2021; the new Saint spent the XFL season with the Houston Roughnecks.
The Raiders gave Johnson a reserve/futures deal in January. The young wideout collected a ring with the 2020 Buccaneers and totaled 360 receiving yards for Tampa Bay’s 2021 iteration. While the Texans claimed him on waivers ahead of last season, he played in just two games with the team.
Jackson suited up for national championship-winning Georgia last season. The new Titans wideout finished with 514 receiving yards in 2020 and totaled 320 for last season’s Bulldogs edition. A Division II Quincy alum, Wilson received an East-West Shrine Bowl invite but tore an Achilles tendon late last season.
Not long after conducting a free agent visit, James Washington has found his next NFL home. The veteran receiver is signing with the Saints, reports ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (Twitter link). 
Fowler had previously noted Washington’s planned Monday visit to New Orleans (on Twitter), so it comes as little surprise that he is now agreeing to join the team’s new-look passing attack. The Saints represent the fourth career team for the former Steelers second-rounder, and the third that he will see playing time with.
Washington, 27, seemed poised to become the latest homegrown Pittsburgh wideout to turn into a high-end contributor early in his career. His second season, in 2019, saw him post a 44-735-3 statline, and he followed that up with five touchdowns the following year. The Oklahoma State product had an underwhelming campaign in 2021, however, and departed the Steelers in free agency.
He signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys last offseason, giving him an opportunity to reaffirm his status as a capable deep threat on an offense which lost Amari Cooper and Cedrick Wilson that offseason. However, a foot injury limited Washington to just two games with Dallas, and he was waived near the end of the season. The Giants signed him shortly thereafter, but he did not make any appearances with them. Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football tweets that the 5-11, 213-pounder is now healthy, though.
Washington will now look to start over in New Orleans, a team which had a highly productive rookie campaign from 2022 first-rounder Chris Olave. He is in line to operate as the top wideout for the Saints as they begin the Derek Carr era, with former All-Pro Michael Thomas available as potential difference-maker, if he can remain healthy this season. Washington will look to carve out a role amongst the likes of the recently re-signed Tre’Quan Smith, former Raider Bryan Edwards and rookie A.T. Perry with the Saints.
Michael Thomas is assured to be in New Orleans for at least one more season, but he has work to do to return to full health in time for the 2023 season. Training camp has been named as the target for the oft-injured wideout to reach that point. 
During an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, head coach Dennis Allen confirmed that Thomas will not be a full participant in the Saints’ offseason program (video link). He reiterated, however, the team’s confidence in the 30-year-old’s ability to return to his All-Pro form upon return.
“Right now, he’s still going through some of the rehab process,” Allen said. “He had some hardware removed out of that foot that he had surgery on this past season. He’s doing really well… Our anticipation is that he’ll be limited throughout this offseason. But our anticipation is that when we get to training camp, he’ll be good to go.”
Thomas was limited to three games in 2022 due to the toe injury which, as Allen noted, required surgery. The two-time All-Pro last put together a healthy season in 2019, a year in which he broke the record for receptions in a season (149) and led the league in yards (1,725). New Orleans has remained optimistic in his ability to remain highly productive when healthy, but his future appeared to be headed elsewhere after a January restructure of his contract.
However, the sides agreed to a new one-year deal with a maximum value of $15MM in March. That will give Thomas another opportunity to rebuild his value on an offense now led by quarterback Derek Carr and first-round wideout Chris Olave, who had a successful rookie campaign in 2022. Questions will naturally be raised regarding Thomas’ ability to remain healthy this season, and, if so, to once again be one of the most impactful receivers in the game.
On that point, general manager Mickey Loomis echoed Allen’s confidence that Thomas can post triple-digit catches for what would be a fourth time (Twitter link via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell). He also confirmed that the latter remains on schedule with his recovery, something which will be a key storyline to follow leading up to the season.
Foster Moreau‘s return to football took an unexpected and encouraging step when he inked a deal with the Saints. That move suggests the veteran tight end will be able to suit up by the fall, but he could be on the field much sooner than that point. 
Moreau – who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma earlier this offseason – could take part in OTAs in New Orleans, per ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. That would represent another surprising development, considering the 26-year-old is still receiving treatment at this time. Head coach Dennis Allen confirmed that Moreau’s prognosis has remained “extremely positive,” opening the door to his quick return to the field.
The latter signed a three-year, $12MM pact to continue playing with quarterback Derek Carr after the pair spent time together with the Raiders. Moreau received $8MM guaranteed, illustrating the Saints’ confidence that he can recover in full and play a large part in the team’s passing attack. Moreau will compete with Juwan Johnson for snaps and targets in what is now a Carr-led offense.
The Saints created a vacancy in the TE room by trading Adam Trautman to the Broncos. After that deal was complete, New Orleans – one of the teams which hosted Moreau on a free agent visit – circled back to the latter to work out a deal knowing his absence from football was expected to be temporary.
“I think we knew that he was going to be cleared to participate and we felt like we were a destination that he was certainly interested in,” Allen said, via Terrell. “And so soon as the draft was over we had some communication. I will say that we knew where we were looking and it was just a matter of trying to get something done.”
New Orleans will begin OTAs on May 23, which will be the first point at which Moreau could practice with his new team. To no surprise, Allen insisted that the team will remain cautious in their approach with the LSU product, but his latest remarks point further to a quick recovery on Moreau’s part not long after what could have been a career-ending diagnosis.
Rookie minicamps started today and more rookies put the names on the dotted line of their four-year contracts. Here are the mid- to late-round picks who signed today:
Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons
Cleveland Browns
Denver Broncos
Houston Texans
Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Chargers
Minnesota Vikings
New England Patriots
New Orleans Saints
Pittsburgh Steelers
Washington Commanders
Foster Moreau‘s Saints visit revealed a concerning health matter for the tight end, but barely a month after his cancer diagnosis, the veteran tight end looks set to resume his career. He is signing with the Saints, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
The Saints are giving Moreau a three-year, $12MM deal, per Fowler, who adds the contract also includes $3MM in incentives. This represents a remarkable comeback for the former Raiders tight end, whose career encountered a brief hiatus after the Hodgkin’s lymphoma discovery earlier this year. The deal includes $8MM fully guaranteed, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter adds (on Twitter).
Moreau’s trip to New Orleans for a free agency meeting in March led to the Hodgkin’s lymphoma finding — revealed during a routine physical — and the four-year veteran stepped away from football as a result. Last month, Moreau said the cancer had spread from its initial location but still indicated positive momentum. Given the timeframe between Moreau’s cancer discovery and this agreement, this marks a stunning turnaround for the former fourth-round pick.
Moreau, who turned 26 last week, has indeed received clearance and expects to play in 2023, Schefter tweets. He is still receiving treatment, according to NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill, who adds the free agency addition will be brought along slowly. But Moreau received a positive diagnosis and is not expected to have limitations upon return (Twitter link).
This will present a homecoming for Moreau, a New Orleans native who caught teams’ attention while playing at LSU, and a reunion with Derek Carr. In between Moreau’s cancer being found and this signing, the Saints traded former third-round pick Adam Trautman to the Broncos. The fourth-year veteran had requested the move. Moreau will join the recently extended Juwan Johnson in the Saints’ tight end room.
Darren Waller served as the Raiders’ starting tight end throughout Moreau’s time with the team, but the younger pass catcher became needed as Waller injuries piled up over the past two seasons. Moreau combined to catch 63 passes for 793 yards and five touchdowns over the past two seasons, stepping in as Waller missed extensive time in that span. Moreau made 34 starts during his Raiders tenure. Pro Football Focus also graded Moreau as a top-15 pass blocker — among tight ends — last season.
Also meeting with the Bengals before his cancer became known, Moreau will join a Saints team that is largely running it back at the pass-catching positions. The team re-signed Michael Thomas and extended Johnson. New Orleans still rosters Tre’Quan Smith and returns Rashid Shaheed as a Chris Olave complement. The team drafted wideout A.T. Perry with the pick obtained in the Trautman deal and signed ex-Raiders receiver Bryan Edwards. This Moreau signing, however, represents the team’s biggest outside addition at a pass-catching spot this offseason.