Newsstand News & Rumors

Texans, CB Derek Stingley Jr. Agree To Record-Breaking Extension

March 17th, 2025 at 11:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

For the second time this offseason, the cornerback market has been reset. Derek Stingley Jr. has agreed to a record-breaking extension, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This will be a three-year, $90MM pact, Schefter adds. The top of the CB market sat at $25MM annually when Jaycee Horn signed his Panthers extension last week, but Stingley has sailed past that AAV mark. The latter’s deal includes a whopping $89MM guaranteed in total, per multiple reports. Clarifying the matter of locked in compensation, Dianna Russini of The Athletic notes this pact contains $63.5MM in new guarantees.

As one would expect, this agreement includes Stingley’s fifth-year option being picked up. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirms the extension will begin after the 2026 option year, which is worth a fully-guaranteed $17.6MM. As a result, he will be on the books through 2029.

Several receivers have worked out monster extensions in recent years, and Ja’Marr Chase‘s new Bengals contract gives him the title of the NFL’s top earner for non-quarterbacks. Corners, by contrast, have seen their market comparatively lag behind that of the WR position. Things have now changed to an extent, however, with Patrick Surtain‘s 2024 Broncos extension setting a new bar last offseason at $24MM per year. Jalen Ramsey surpassed that total shortly thereafter, and Horn moved to the top of the pecking order just before the start of free agency this spring. Now, though, Stingley has surged well ahead of his peers.

Selected third overall in 2022, Stingley entered the league with high expectations but also injury concerns. The LSU product was limited to nine games as a rookie and 11 the following season. In his abbreviated 2023 campaign, though, Stingley showcased his potential with five interceptions and 13 pass breakups. He remained healthy for this past season, matching his pervious year’s interception total while adding another two picks and a forced fumbled in the playoffs. That production helped earn Stingley first-team All-Pro honors along with a Pro Bowl nod.

In coverage, 2024 was also a sign of what can be expected moving forward. Stingley allowed a completion percentage of just 47.1% and a passer rating of 51.2 as the nearest defender last season. If he can continue that level of play while remaining near the top of the league in ball production, this pact will prove to be a worthwhile investment on the team’s part while setting Stingley up for another payday in his 20s.

2025 represented the first offseason in which the 23-year-old was eligible for an extension, and he made it clear that was his target. In the wake of a healthy campaign, general manager Nick Caserio and the Texans matched Stingley’s desire to work out a massive raise early, making this situation one of the their top offseason priorities. In cases such as this one, teams often pick up a player’s fifth-year option before ultimately working out a multi-year agreement in the summer. Well before the option deadline (in May), though, Houston has already authorized a massive commitment in the secondary.

The Texans ranked sixth against the pass in 2024, with Stingley and second-round rookie Kamari Lassiter forming a highly effective tandem. Both will remain in the fold for the foreseeable future with Lassiter having another three years on his rookie contract. Houston also has Will Anderson on the books for years to come, while fellow edge rusher Danielle Hunter would welcome an extension after signing a two-year deal in free agency last offseason. Working out an agreement on that front would keep the Texans’ nucleus intact as the team looks to move past the divisional round.

Just as the Horn deal no doubt helped Stingley’s leverage in contract talks, this mega-extension will raise the bar for other corners seeking a raise from their rookie deals. The likes of Sauce Gardner (Jets) and Trent McDuffie (Chiefs) are both 2022 draft alums, meaning they too can ink a new pact at any time. Their asking price will take into account the major spike at the top of the market which has now taken place.

Eagles Extend T Lane Johnson Through 2027

March 17th, 2025 at 10:15pm CST by Ben Levine

Lane Johnson is now on the Eagles’ books through the 2027 season. The team announced that they’ve signed their long-time lineman to a one-year extension.

The one-year extension is worth $25MM, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Johnson still had two years remaining on his previous pact. Schefter notes that the Eagles will be paying the lineman an extra $8MM over that span, increasing his 2025 and 2026 totals to $48MM ($40MM guaranteed). When today’s reworked deal was completed, Johnson ultimately saw an additional $30MM in guaranteed money. Today’s move should also provide the Eagles with some extra breathing room under the 2025 cap.

This isn’t the first time that Johnson’s added a year (and some guaranteed money) to his contract. After inking his then-record-breaking extension in 2019, he added a year to the deal in 2023. On the other side, the Eagles have traditionally been aggressive in extending stars early. Just over a week ago, the team added two years (and more guaranteed money) to Saquon Barkley‘s existing contract.

The fourth-overall pick in the 2013 draft, Johnson has established himself as one of the franchise’s all-time greats. The veteran has earned five-straight All-Pro nods, and he won his second Super Bowl ring this past season. Despite the 2024 campaign representing his age-34 season, Johnson still finished fifth on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings.

When Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox retired following the 2023 season, Johnson hinted that he wanted to try playing into his 40s. At the same time, the lineman estimated that he may only “realistically” have two or three more seasons left in him. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer previously predicted today’s extension, and the reporter noted that Johnson may not finish his existing deal.

While Johnson’s future plans may be a bit murky, the Eagles can at least count on having their lineman signed for the next three seasons.

Bengals Reach Extensions With WRs Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins

March 16th, 2025 at 9:56pm CST by Ely Allen

It appears the Bengals have made good on recent rumblings as Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports reports that Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins exclusively informed him that they’ve agreed to contract extensions to stay with their team.

Schultz reports that Chase will receive a four-year, $161MM extension with $112MM guaranteed, while Higgins’ deal is for four years and $115MM. The first two years of Higgins’ contract — an undisclosed amount, at the moment — will be guaranteed, as well. The early predictions of the two’s contracts combining to eclipse $70MM per year is not quite accurate, as they appear to combine to equal $69MM per year.

Chase’s deal surpasses that of Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Higgins’ contract reportedly makes him the highest-paid WR2 in NFL history, surpassing Miami’s Jaylen Waddle. While Higgins would move up two spots from the 10th-highest paid receiver in the league to the eighth-highest, Chase’s catapult up to the top of the list moves him back down to the ninth-highest paid receiver in the NFL. Only the Dolphins (Tyreek Hill & Waddle) match them with two in the top 10, and the Commanders (Deebo Samuel & Terry McLaurin) and the Buccaneers (Chris Godwin & Mike Evans) join with two in the top 20.

We saw major progress as this week started with Chase and Cincinnati far apart on extension terms before producing “significant progress” two days ago. Chase had turned down a Bengals offer this year, but after the team was unable to extend him before the 2024 season, the market shifted quite a bit. After the Raiders eclipsed Justin Jefferson‘s previous non-QB AAV mark by paying Maxx Crosby $35.5MM per year, the Browns gave Myles Garrett a whopping $40MM per annum to back off his trade request. By getting these signings of Chase and Higgins done, the Bengals avoid the price driving up even more, as T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons, and Aidan Hutchinson could all adjust that number again this offseason.

Once the exact numbers and structure come through, we should become aware of just how much the Bengals’ cap situation has improved — and it should be a significant improvement. Cincinnati was sitting at just over $26MM in cap space before these two deals transpired. Higgins’ $26.2MM franchise tag cap hit should disappear, as should Chase’s $21.8MM fifth-year option cap hit; both will be replaced with new, much lower cap numbers that will rise in the later years of their new contracts.

By securing Chase and Higgins for another four years, Cincinnati has locked down a receiving duo that has combined for 658 catches for 9,112 yards and 74 touchdowns over the past four years. During the time the two have played together, they have combined to account for 44 percent of quarterback Joe Burrow‘s completions, 56 percent of Burrow’s yardage, and 58 percent of his touchdowns. With Burrow locked in through the 2029 season, as well, the potent Bengals offense doesn’t appear to be going anywhere.

And Cincinnati better hope that their prolific offense continues to produce. A big reason why the Bengals failed to make the postseason in 2024, despite Burrow leading the league in completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns and Chase winning the receiving Triple Crown, was a defense that ranked 26th is points per game and 25th in yards per game.

While Chase and Higgins are celebrating their new extensions, star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson continues to reside in limbo waiting for any developments on his extension or trade potential. Cincinnati reportedly wants at least a first-round pick for the 30-year-old pass rusher and perhaps more, though rival execs view that ask as “ridiculous.”

Hendrickson’s issues with his contract situation date back to a trade request a year ago, similar to Higgins. Higgins made the savvy move of dropping his representation and pairing up under Chase’s agency, making it clear that a Chase deal was not possible without a Higgins deal, as well. Hendrickson, on the other hand, seems to have been left in the cold here, as the extensions reported today will make it extremely difficult for Cincinnati to give a long-term pact to him, as well.

Regardless, Bengals fans can let out a long sigh of relief knowing that Chase, Higgins, and Burrow will be around to continue putting up record offensive numbers in the years to come. Whether dedicating $124MM per year to three offensive players will ultimately handicap a team desperately needing to improve on defense is to be determined. For now, though, Cincinnati can take pride in being sure it’s done what it can to make its stars happy.

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.

Seahawks, Steelers Agree To D.K. Metcalf Trade

March 13th, 2025 at 8:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

TONIGHT, 8:50pm: We’ve got more details on the picks involved in the D.K. Metcalf trade, via veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer. The sixth-round pick heading from Seattle to Pittsburgh is No. 185 overall (from the Bears). The seventh-round pick that’s going from Pittsburgh to Seattle is No. 223 overall (from the Saints). The main draft pick, the second-round selection heading to Seattle, is Pittsburgh’s own (No. 52).

SUNDAY, 6:50pm: The D.K. Metcalf situation has been sorted out prior to the start of the new league year. The Pro Bowl wideout is headed from the Seahawks to the Steelers, as first reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Providing details on the move, Pelissero notes Seattle is acquiring a second-round pick from Pittsburgh. Regarding the extension Metcalf will sign upon arrival, an historic financial commitment has been made. The Steelers are authorizing a four-year, $132MM deal which will tie him to the team through 2029, per Pelissero. Sixth- and seventh-rounders will also be flipped, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds.

One year remained on Metcalf’s pact, and a massive raise on his next deal was expected to come on a new team. The 27-year-old had been connected to an asking price of $30MM, and he has comfortably been able to reach it. This new deal carries an AAV of $33MM, making this an abnormally lucrative receiver investment on the part of the Steelers.

Not long after Metcalf’s trade request was issued, it was reported Seattle was aiming for a first-round pick and more in a swap. Finding a suitor willing to pay that and commit to an extension near the top of the market was always going to be difficult, though, and early today it was revealed the Seahawks’ asking price had come down. Wiling to accept a second-round selection, the team has now met its goal of working out a deal prior to the draft.

Prior to today, six receivers were attached to a deal averaging $30MM or more. Metcalf – who has recorded at least 900 yards in each of his six seasons to date – is the latest member of that group. He will face major expectations upon arrival in Pittsburgh, a team which was connected to a high-profile receiver pursuit all of last offseason. The Steelers were unable to land Brandon Aiyuk or other impact players at the position, and a deal ahead of the trade deadline for Christian Kirk fell through due to his season-ending injury. Now, though, general manager Omar Khan has pulled off a major acquisition.

George Pickens has flashed considerable potential during his first three years in the league, but issues related to effort and character have been raised inside and outside the organization. Pickens is a pending 2026 free agent, and his departure would lead to Metcalf being increasingly relied on as the focal point of Pittsburgh’s passing attack. While the likes of Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson are slated to operate in the slot, Metcalf and Pickens will each offer Pittsburgh’s to-be-determined quarterback with a pair of notable deep threats on the perimeter.

Of course, this move will lead to questions about Seattle’s WR setup moving forward. As expected, the team released longtime pass-catcher Tyler Lockett (not long before Metcalf’s trade request), leaving the latter along with Jaxon Smith-Njigba in place as options for at least 2025. Now that Metcalf is on the way out, though, Smith-Njigba is joined by Jake Bobo and Dareke Young as the only receivers currently on the roster.

Metcalf was linked to preferring a destination with a warm climate, with QB stability also being named as a factor. Considering the other suitors likely in play, Pittsburgh does not check either of those boxes as things stand. A Justin Fields re-signing could be in play, but he is set to test the market. The Texans were recently named as a landing spot Metcalf would have welcomed, and earlier Sunday Schefter’s colleague Jeremy Fowler reported the Chargers were also high on his list. Rather than being paired with C.J. Stroud in Texas or Justin Herbert in Los Angeles, however, the Ole Miss product will head to Pennsylvania and await Pittsburgh’s QB move(s).

This move will free up $10.88MM in cap space for the Seahawks while generating $21MM in dead money (h/t Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap). Metcalf will become one of the Steelers’ top cap commitments – on offense in particular – over the course of his deal, although the structure of the extension will dictate the changes made to his scheduled 2025 cap hit. For Seattle, this move shortly follows not only the Lockett release but also the trade which will send quarterback Geno Smith to the Raiders. While the Steelers’ offense will have a notable addition in 2025, it very much remains to be seen how the Seahawks’ attack will appear next season.

Bills, DE Joey Bosa Agree To Deal

March 11th, 2025 at 11:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

A wild-card contender will ride to victory in the Joey Bosa sweepstakes. Rather than a 49ers deal to play with his brother, Bosa is heading to Buffalo.

The Bills and Bosa have a one-year, $12.6MM deal in place, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. This reminds of the 2022 Von Miller sweepstakes, when a supposed Cowboys-Rams duel ended with the future Hall of Famer choosing the Bills. Soon after Buffalo released Miller, Bosa will be on track to play opposite Gregory Rousseau.

Also rostering A.J. Epenesa in the second season of a two-year contact, the Bills will be expected to keep the former second-round pick on the bench. Bosa received natural interest from the 49ers, who were the rumored favorites due to Nick Bosa‘s presence on the team. Similar to the 2021 J.J. Watt free agency, a dynamic brother tandem will not form. Joey Bosa also will spurn his hometown team, as the Dolphins showed interest as well. He will join a five-time reigning AFC East champion that continues to be denied Super Bowl berths.

Buffalo will land the older Bosa brother ahead of his age-30 season. Unlike Miller at the time, Bosa has a steady history of nagging injuries that ended up leading to a Chargers release. (That said, Miller did miss all of 2020 and had an ACL tear on his resume previously.) The Bolts re-signed Khalil Mack, despite the potential Hall of Famer being four years older than Bosa. The latter will attempt to prove he can stay healthy with the Bills, whose pass rush could receive a jolt if Bosa is healthy.

The former No. 3 overall pick made it through 14 Chargers games last season but was limited to five in 2022 and nine in 2023. The Chargers gave Bosa pay cut in 2024. He made the Pro Bowl last season but only registered five sacks; his 19 pressures ranked 68th last season. While injuries have taken Joey Bosa off the top tier on which his brother resides, he remains a formidable blocking assignment. His presence figures to boost Rousseau, though the latter will not exactly be viewed as a sidekick the way Mack, Uchenna Nwosu and Melvin Ingram were opposite Bosa with the Chargers. Continuing to invest in their early-2020s draftees, the Bills just gave Rousseau a four-year, $80MM extension.

Five Pro Bowls appear on Bosa’s resume. His career does not closely rival Miller’s at the time of a Bills signing, as it will not take anything close to Miller’s terms (6/120 with guarantees into Year 3) to land the 10th-year veteran. But Bosa has four double-digit sack seasons on his resume. The most recent came in 2021, a season that included seven of Bosa’s career 17 forced fumbles.

Although the Bills have separated from Miller, NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe reported earlier tonight the team has continued to talk with the veteran’s camp about a potential deal at a lower rate. While this Bosa signing could nix that, Wolfe indicated the Bills wanted Miller back and to add another quality edge rusher. Bosa (again, if healthy) would qualify for the latter role, so it will be interesting to see if the team is still interested in working something out to bring Miller back as a rotational rusher. Miller posted six sacks last season, bouncing back from a 2023 slate marred by his injury recovery.

Buffalo has already added ex-Rams pass rusher Michael Hoecht as well. Given an $8MM-per-year deal, Hoecht has worked as a versatile piece during his career. He will come to Buffalo with 13 career sacks. Hoecht and Epenesa may well be Buffalo’s second-string defensive ends, which would seemingly leave little room for Miller. Though, the soon-to-be 36-year-old may not be out of the equation entirely just yet.

The Bills did not see Miller’s prime extend beyond his 2022 ACL tear, and they will bet on Bosa still having some of his left. Rousseau’s arrow is pointing upward, but the former first-rounder has topped out at eight sacks in a season thus far. The Bills were unable to consistently disrupt Patrick Mahomes in the AFC championship game, allowing a Chiefs team they defeated by two scores in the regular season to post its only 30-plus-point game of the season. As the Bills attempt to finally push their Josh Allen-driven nucleus to a Super Bowl, Bosa will be asked to play a central role.

Eagles To Trade C.J. Gardner-Johnson To Texans For Kenyon Green

March 11th, 2025 at 11:08pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Texans’ efforts to renovate their offensive line continue. The team has a trade agreement in place to send guard Kenyon Green to the Eagles, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report. Houston is receiving defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson in return. In total, the swap consists of Green and a 2026 fifth-round pick in exchange for Gardner-Johnson and a sixth-rounder next year.

Houston swung a trade with the Commanders yesterday which will see left tackle Laremy Tunsil head to Washington. That move – coupled with the previous release of guard Shaq Mason – leaves the team with several question marks up front. Improving their pass protection was seen as a major priority for the Texans, and general manager Nick Caserio is making a slew of changes to the unit in the hopes of taking a step forward in 2025.

Gardner-Johnson, meanwhile, is entering his seventh year in the league and the Texans will mark his fourth team. The former Saints draftee was traded to the Eagles in 2022, and he played a key role in Philadelphia’s run to the Super Bowl with a league-leading six interceptions. Instead of parlaying his production into a lucrative second contract, tough, Gardner-Johnson took only a one-year deal with the Lions.

A one-and-done stint in Detroit was followed by a return to the Eagles, this time on a three-year, $27MM pact. Gardner-Johnson is owed $8.5MM in 2025 and another $10.5MM the following year, although his scheduled cap hit for the coming campaign ($4.91MM) was certainly manageable for the defending champions. This move will generate a dead money charge of $4.7MM for Philadelphia while resulting in just $211K in savings. The Texans will pay $1.5MM of Green’s $2.88MM 2025 base salary, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. That helped make a trade more palatable for the Eagles.

Gardner-Johnson again served as a full-time starter during his second Eagles stint, racking up six interceptions and 12 pass deflections. His eight touchdowns allowed in coverage could be a cause for concern for the Texans, but the 27-year-old will be counted on to serve as a playmaker in a Texans secondary which proved to be effective last year with the cornerback tandem of Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter. Houston ranked sixth against the pass in 2024, and continued success in that department can be expected.

This move marks further changes in the Eagles’ secondary, meanwhile. Philadelphia has decided to release Darius Slay and James Bradberry, and on Monday fellow corner Isaiah Rodgers agreed to a deal with the Vikings. With Gardner-Johnson set to be on the move (the trade cannot be finalized until the new league year begins tomorrow, of course), Philadelphia will need to make a number of moves during the secondary waves of free agency and the draft to restock the defensive backfield.

Green entered the NFL with high expectations as a first-round pick. The Texas A&M product served as a full-time starter during his rookie campaign, but he was sidelined for the entire 2023 season due to a shoulder injury. Green returned to action this past year, logging nine starts and 12 appearances at left guard. Much like his rookie slate, though, his PFF evaluation left plenty to be desired. Green’s overall grade of 38.6 ranked second-last amongst qualifying guards.

Presuming the Eagles decline his fifth-year option, one year will remain on Green’s rookie contract. The soon-to-be 24-year-old will provide the team with a cost-effective option along the interior. Mekhi Becton upped his free agent value considerably as a guard starter in 2024, and his departure could allow for Green to compete for a first-team gig. At a minimum, he will be able to fill in as a spot-starter as needed on an otherwise expensive O-line.

Seahawks, Sam Darnold Finalizing Deal

March 10th, 2025 at 11:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

The rumblings coming out of the Geno Smith trade look to indeed have produced a deal. Sam Darnold is expected to head to Seattle as the team’s first outside QB1 addition since Russell Wilson 13 years ago.

Darnold and the Seahawks are finalizing a deal worth nearly $100MM, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Darnold had been linked to a Baker Mayfield-level contract, and it appears the 2024 Vikings Pro Bowler will settle on that tier after a breakthrough season. A price discrepancy has emerged, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the deal is for $110.5MM in total and comes with $55MM guaranteed. If the latter numbers are correct, Darnold bettered Mayfield’s Buccaneers terms.

A weekend report pegged the Vikings as being out on Darnold, and Minnesota now must shift to another veteran option. The Vikings passed on a $40.2MM franchise tag for the resurgent passer but expressed interest in a re-signing at a lower rate. That always ran the risk of a separation, as the open market opened the door for more suitors to speak with the seven-year veteran. Darnold will replace Smith as Seattle’s starter.

The Seahawks proposed a similar deal to Smith, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Seeking a contract north of $40MM per year, Smith rejected the proposal. That led to the sides separating, and it will be the Raiders who will enter extension talks with the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year.

Mayfield signed a three-year, $100MM deal to stay with the Bucs last March; $50MM came guaranteed. That contract came in well north of Smith’s 2023 Seahawks terms (3/75), and the Wilson successor angled for a better deal in 2024. The Seahawks passed at that point, as two seasons remained on their then-starter’s contract. While they were readier to extend Smith this year, a sizable gap in terms led to the impasse that produced the trade. Darnold, 27, does not have as much quality work on his resume compared to Mayfield or Smith, but he hit free agency after a $24MM cap spike.

Cast aside by the Jets and Panthers, Darnold has received training in the Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay (via Kevin O’Connell) offenses. New Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak coming from the Shanahan tree should make this a fairly smooth transition, though Darnold’s skill-position corps may not rival what the Vikings just presented. After throwing to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, Darnold is joining a team that just traded D.K. Metcalf and cut Tyler Lockett.

Although the Seahawks still have work to do at receiver, they do carry promising running backs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. Noah Fant remains on the Seattle roster as well. Darnold will carry significant risk, as the Vikings presented a strong situation for a bounce-back season. The Jets traded him after three mediocre seasons, and injuries kept Darnold off the field for much of his Carolina tenure — one that featured Matt Rhule preferring Mayfield to him. Darnold did not threaten Brock Purdy for the 49ers’ job in 2023, though he did beat out Trey Lance for the QB2 position fairly easily.

Darnold threw 35 touchdown passes last season, eclipsing his previous career best by 16, and finished with 4,319 yards — roughly 1,200 more than his previous-best mark. This season included a Vikings road win over the Seahawks, as the team soared to 14-3 despite separating from Kirk Cousins.

Darnold, however, faceplanted in the Vikings’ two biggest games. Blowout losses commenced against the Lions in Week 18 — a do-or-die game for home-field advantage in the NFC — and against the Rams in Round 1. This undoubtedly proved costly for the passer, but it does not appear his market suffered immensely from the late-season undoing.

The Seahawks still figure to do work on the 2026 and ’27 QB draft classes, but this commitment covers them for a bit. Darnold will have a chance to prove last season’s breakout was legitimate, while the Seahawks can rest easier as today’s QB carousel heats up. Despite hopping on late, Seattle became a destination for PFR’s No. 1 overall free agent.

Texans To Trade LT Laremy Tunsil To Commanders

March 10th, 2025 at 11:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jayden Daniels is about to have a new blindside protector. After six seasons with the Texans, Laremy Tunsil is on the move. The Commanders are acquiring the Pro Bowl left tackle, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Washington will send second-, third- and fourth-round picks to Houston in the swap, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Courtesy of The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, here are the full trade terms:

Commanders receive:

Tunsil
2025 fourth-round pick

Texans receive:

2025 third-round pick
2025 seventh-rounder
2026 second
2026 fourth

Tunsil, 30, has seen five Pro Bowl invites come his way. Never an All-Pro, Tunsil is certainly paid like one. The former Dolphins first-round pick secured two top-market contracts from the Texans, the current deal checking in at three years, $75MM. Two seasons remain on Tunsil’s contract.

Monday’s agreement marks Tunsil’s second time being traded. The Dolphins, as they gutted their roster during a then-controversial 2019 rebuild effort, obtained two first-round picks for sending Tunsil to Houston. The Texans had Tunsil in place protecting Deshaun Watson‘s blindside for two years, but the Pro Bowl quarterback’s off-field trouble (and a trade request) ended that partnership early. Tunsil, however, has served as a key part of C.J. Stroud‘s development.

The Texans did draft Blake Fisher in the 2024 second round, and the team has Tytus Howard — who has shuffled between tackle and guard during his career — as a right tackle option. A tackle duo including Howard and Fisher would make sense for the Texans, but they suddenly would have multiple guard needs if they went in that direction. Houston released Shaq Mason this weekend.

In Tunsil, the Commanders are acquiring a high-end LT who has started 125 career games. The shrewd negotiator has also stayed healthier in recent seasons. After missing 12 games in 2021, Tunsil has combined to miss only three since. He started 17 games last season, helping a Texans line that again dealt with injury trouble elsewhere. Pro Football Focus ranked Tunsil as a top-20 tackle in each of the past three seasons. Tunsil ranked 10th in pass rush win rate last season.

The Commanders used both Cornelius Lucas and third-round rookie Brandon Coleman at left tackle last season. PFF rated the more experienced blocker as a much better option (28th) than Coleman (63rd). Washington used one of its many Day 2 picks on Coleman last year, but he may not be in line for a starting role next season. The Commanders still have Andrew Wylie rostered at right tackle.

Adam Peters indicated defensive additions would be a priority, and the team has brought in Javon Kinlaw. But the second-year GM has made Daniels protection a priority in this Tunsil swap. It will be interesting to see if Tunsil maneuvers into another lucrative extension, as no guaranteed money remains on his current deal. Tunsil used the Miami-to-Houston relocation as a springboard to future contract leverage. With Daniels on his rookie deal, Tunsil could strike again soon.

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.

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