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AFC Contract Details: Garrett, Stingley, Broncos, Bills, Jaguars, Titans, Chargers

March 19th, 2025 at 1:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Beginning with two record-setting deals, here are the latest contract details from the AFC:

  • Myles Garrett, DE (Browns). Four years, $160MM. Garrett’s $88.8MM full guarantee consists of a $21.54MM signing bonus, fully guaranteed base salaries in 2025 and ’26 and a fully guaranteed 2026 option bonus. Almost all of Garrett’s 2027 compensation is guaranteed as well, with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio noting a $39.34MM option bonus shifts to a full guarantee no later than Day 3 of the 2026 league year. Garrett’s $21.41MM 2028 option bonus is guaranteed for injury and will shift to a full guarantee on Day 3 of the 2027 league year. Only $800K of Garrett’s $38MM 2029 base salary will be guaranteed a year out, however; Garrett’s $38MM 2030 base is nonguaranteed. The option bonuses and four void years will help keep Garrett’s cap numbers under $30MM until 2028.
  • Derek Stingley Jr., CB (Texans). Three years, $90MM. Of Stingley’s eye-popping $89MM guarantee, only $48MM is locked in at signing, Florio adds. Early protections, as in the Garrett contract, are included here as well. After fully guaranteed base salaries in 2025 and ’26, Stingley will see his $20MM 2027 base salary shift from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee in March 2026. That same structure is in place for 2027, with a $21MM salary moving from guaranteed for injury to fully guaranteed by March 2027. Stingley’s 2029 base is nonguaranteed.
  • D.J. Jones, DT (Broncos). Three years, $39MM. Jones fetched an impressive second Broncos contract. Before the team reunited him with 49ers teammates Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga, Jones scored a $26MM full guarantee, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Two void years are in this Denver deal.
  • Dre Greenlaw, LB (Broncos): Three years, $31.5MM. This base value checks in a touch south of the initial reports as well. Of that sum, $11.5MM is fully guaranteed, per Spotrac. Another $2MM locks in on Day 5 of the 2026 league year, via OverTheCap, but Greenlaw’s injury trouble looks to have affected him on the market after all. A $3MM incentive package is present, and Denver can move on from the deal for less than $5MM in 2026 dead money.
  • Josh Palmer, WR (Bills). Three years, $29MM. This is south of the $36MM number initially reported. TD and yardage incentives cover $6MM, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan tweets. The ex-Charger will see $15MM fully guaranteed. Palmer’s 2025 salary is locked in, and $4.84MM of his $9.66MM 2026 base salary is as well. Another $3MM will convert from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the ’26 league year, per OverTheCap.
  • Cody Barton, LB (Titans). Three years, $21MM. The nomadic defender will see $13.3MM fully guaranteed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Both Barton’s 2025 and ’26 salaries are guaranteed, with Wilson adding $1.5MM of his 2027 base is as well.
  • Robert Hainsey, C (Jaguars). Three years, $21MM. Hainsey will receive $10MM fully guaranteed, Wilson tweets. Of Hainsey’s $6.25MM 2026 base salary, $3MM is guaranteed at signing. The rest locks in if Hainsey is still a Jaguar by Day 5 of the 2026 league year.
  • Eric Murray, S (Jaguars). Three years, $19.5MM. This massive Murray raise from his Texans deals brings $10MM fully guaranteed, per OverTheCap. Murray will see $3.5MM of his 2026 base salary locked in, while Wilson adds the rest becomes guaranteed on Day 5 of the ’26 league year.
  • Marquise Brown, WR (Chiefs). One year, $6.85MM. This is down from the “up to” $11MM report, with Wilson indicating $6.5MM is guaranteed. After a season-marring injury, Brown takes a slight pay cut (after a $7MM 2024 deal).
  • Benjamin St-Juste, CB (Chargers). One year, $2.5MM. The Chargers are guaranteeing St-Juste $1MM, Wilson adds. This profiles as a flier on a four-year Washington regular, whose $1.5MM base salary is nonguaranteed.

Broncos To Re-Sign DT D.J. Jones

March 9th, 2025 at 11:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

11:25pm: The Broncos have their nose tackle locked up on a second contract, with DNVR Sports’ Zac Stevens reporting the deal is done. Fowler’s update turned out to be on-point, as 9News’ Mike Klis confirms it is a three-year, $39MM pact. Considering his run-oriented skillset, this represents a big win for Jones, though guarantees will tell the full tale. If nothing else, this continues a spree of Broncos extensions and re-signings, as Sean Payton is signing off on paying players acquired by GM George Paton.

11:14pm: Nary a word about D.J. Jones appeared on the PFR pages during his Broncos contract. That is generally a good sign for a lineman. Jones stayed mostly healthy on his three-year Denver deal and was a key role player on some solid defenses, including last season’s. The Broncos may not let him hit free agency.

The veteran defensive tackle is close to a deal to stay in Denver, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. The sides are nearing an agreement on a contract that would be worth around $13MM per year. That would mark a raise for Jones, who played out a three-year, $30MM contract. The interior starter expressed interest in staying in Denver after the team’s 2024 season.

Missing only three games in three seasons, Jones operated as a quality run stopper in Denver. The former San Francisco fifth-round pick came up in a rumor about being traded back to the 49ers at the deadline, but no traction came out of that. Jones started all 17 Broncos games, helping the team snap a playoff drought.

ESPN’s run stop win rate metric viewed Jones as elite last season, ranking him second among interior D-linemen against the run. Not much of a statistical presence, Jones instead helped front-seven pieces Zach Allen and Nik Bonitto earn second-team All-Pro acclaim last season.

Jones did post 42 tackles last season and tallied five TFLs in 2023, helping the team recover after a dreadful defensive start. Denver’s NT compiled five sacks in three seasons with the team. The Broncos ranked third against the run and are interested in keeping Jones and Allen together inside. Allen is targeting an extension, having outplayed a $15MM-per-year deal.

Jones’ age (30) may not be working against him much, as a $13MM-per-year deal would be a nice bump. Denver has already been active in extending its current core, paying Patrick Surtain, Garett Bolles, Jonathon Cooper and Quinn Meinerz last year. The team has Bo Nix tied to a rookie contract through at least 2026, but it is still on the hook for the second leg of Russell Wilson dead money ($30MM-plus) this year.

The Broncos are carrying just more than $40MM in cap space, which would stand to go to some needs in free agency. Jones, however, could take up a notable portion of those funds hours before the market opens. Denver has until 11am CT Monday to nix Jones talks with other teams.

Bo Nix Played Through Back Fracture; DT D.J. Jones Wants To Stay With Broncos

January 14th, 2025 at 6:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Bo Nix and Troy Franklin became the first rookies to connect on a playoff touchdown pass, the Bills eventually proved far too much for a Broncos team that came into the season with low expectations. Nix played the lead role in changing the perception of Sean Payton‘s team, and he will be the centerpiece player come 2025.

As Nix made a surprise entrance into Offensive Rookie of the Year conversations, he played through an injury more serious than the team let on. While Nix had appeared on the Broncos’ injury report with a back issue, the No. 12 overall pick since revealed (via 9News’ Mike Klis) he sustained a transverse process fracture during Denver’s Week 12 win in Las Vegas.

[RELATED: Javonte Williams Interested In Re-Signing]

Nix appeared on the Broncos’ injury report ahead of their Week 13 game, before indicating the bye week helped this along. He did not appear on Denver’s injury report for the rest of the season, starting all 17 games. Nix led his rookie class in passing yards (3,775) while adding 430 on the ground. The Oregon product’s 29 touchdown passes rank behind only Justin Herbert in NFL history for TD tosses by a rookie. After needing to beat out Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson, Nix will enter the offseason as an ascending passer after powering the Broncos to their first playoff game since Super Bowl 50.

Despite Nix being tied to a rookie contract, the Broncos do not have as much flexibility as teams traditionally do in this spot. Nix is tied to his rookie deal through at least 2026, but the Broncos’ Russell Wilson release will affect their cap sheet through 2025. Denver opted to take on the higher dead money sum ($53MM) of Wilson’s record-smashing cap penalty in 2024, but $30MM-plus is still due in 2025. That will negate some of the savings the Broncos would have reaped from Nix’s rookie-scale contract, thus leading to some decisions coming soon. Not set to carry over much money from this year, the Broncos nevertheless are projected to possess more than $48MM in cap space — a mid-pack number for 2025.

In good shape in terms of starters under contract, the Broncos do have a few key players unsigned. Nose tackle D.J. Jones joins Javonte Williams and linebacker Cody Barton as free agents-to-be on this roster. While the Broncos did well to extend a few players over the past several months — Patrick Surtain, Quinn Meinerz, Garett Bolles, Jonathon Cooper — they will have some holes to fill soon. Jones, however, does want to stay in Denver, indicating (via the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel) he “would love” to re-sign. Ditto Barton, who played out a one-year, $2.5MM deal.

Jones, who will turn 30 on Sunday, started every game he played on a three-year, $30MM contract. Denver has All-Pro Zach Allen and 2024 trade pickup John Franklin-Myers tied to team-friendly deals, though Jones helped the team’s run defense considerably. ESPN’s run stop win rate placed Jones second among D-tackles this season, and the ex-49ers sixth-round pick will be in position to fetch a decent third contract soon.

Playing without Alex Singleton for much of the season, the Broncos relied on Barton as a three-down presence despite the ex-Seahawk draftee needing to win a preseason competition. He has now worked as a three-down player for three teams in three years, moving from the Seahawks to the Commanders to the Broncos. Singleton, 31, remains under contract for 2025 but is coming off an ACL tear. Pro Football Focus ranked Barton 45th among off-ball ‘backers. While the six-year vet could be in line for a slight raise come March, the Broncos may be interested in retaining him due to Singleton’s age and injury status.

Latest On 49ers’ Deadline Plans

October 26th, 2024 at 10:19pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers currently sit with a disappointing 3-4 record, but they’re also only a game behind the Seahawks for the NFC West lead. Considering the conflicting outlooks, there have been some questions about how the front office would proceed at the trade deadline.

It sounds like John Lynch and co. will generally be aggressive when it comes to acquiring players. Michael Silver of The Athletic wrote earlier this week that the 49ers could be eyeing help at defensive tackle and wide receiver. While the front office has to consider future cap constraints, the organization is still eyeing both “marquee” acquisitions and affordable, “less glamorous” options.

Dianna Russini of The Athletic points to two potential trade targets in New England: wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and defensive lineman Davon Godchaux. Bourne has already been connected to his former club, especially following Brandon Aiyuk‘s season-ending injury. Bourne dismissed recent rumors that he’s pushing for a San Francisco reunion, but the veteran wideout would be a seamless fit for the WR-needy offense.

Godchaux would also be a logical fit with Javon Hargrave lost for the season. The soon-to-be 30-year-old has started 57 of his 58 appearances in New England across four seasons. According to Russini, the 49ers have also considered making a run at two former players in DeForest Buckner (Colts) and D.J. Jones (Broncos), although the reporter hasn’t gotten the impression that their current squads have reciprocated the trade interest.

Christian McCaffrey will soon be providing some firepower to the offense, and the team will eventually get some defensive reinforcement in linebacker Dre Greenlaw. While the 49ers may not have started the 2024 campaign on the best foot, there’s still good reason for optimism in San Francisco. We also know the 49ers are not strangers to trade-deadline acquisitions, with the team adding Chase Young, Charles Omenihu, Emmanuel Sanders, and Jimmy Garoppolo in recent years.

However, while the organization will try their hardest to make a playoff push, they still may consider subtracting from their current roster. Popular trade candidate Deebo Samuel is likely staying put following Aiyuk’s injury, but Russini says the team could consider dealing impending free agent cornerback Charvarius Ward.

Broncos To Sign DL D.J. Jones

March 14th, 2022 at 8:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos made last week’s biggest splash but went through a dormant Monday. They are making a move tonight, however, in signing former 49ers defensive lineman D.J. Jones.

Jones agreed to a three-year, $30MM deal with Denver, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Breaking through during his contract year, Jones will collect a nice payday. The Broncos are giving the interior D-lineman a fully guaranteed $20MM.

The sixth-year D-lineman will essentially take the place of Shelby Harris, whom the Broncos included in their Russell Wilson trade. Harris, a Bronco from 2017-21, was attached to a $9MM-per-year deal.

A former sixth-round pick, Jones displayed considerable promise during his contract year. The Ole Miss alum started 17 games for San Francisco, registered 10 tackles for loss and forced two fumbles. The 49ers used Jones as a 46-game starter over the past three seasons, during which time the inside defender recorded seven sacks and 21 TFLs. Jones added a sack, during the 49ers’ five-sack game against the Cowboys, in the playoffs earlier this year.

At 27, D.J. Jones is nearly four years younger than Harris. He will team with Dre’Mont Jones, who is going into a contract year, and nose tackle Mike Purcell on the Broncos’ D-line. D.J. Jones is the only projected starter acquired or extended during George Paton‘s GM tenure.

Jets To Spend Big On Cornerback?

March 13th, 2022 at 1:04pm CST by Rory Parks

Jets GM Joe Douglas has stressed the importance of maintaining financial flexibility despite his club’s significant amount of cap space, and Brian Costello of the New York Post hears from several agents that Gang Green is unlikely to be a major player for this year’s top FAs. However, Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (subscription required) are hearing something a bit different.

The ESPN scribes expect Douglas — who needs to demonstrate tangible progress in his fourth year at the top of the Jets’ front office — to make a few high-profile signings. Graziano confirms earlier reports that New York is interested in center Ryan Jensen, and he adds that the Jets are in on 49ers DT D.J. Jones. Tight end and safety are also priorities.

Fowler, meanwhile, reports that the Jets are prepared to “spend big” on a premier cornerback. J.C. Jackson is generally viewed as the best CB available, though Costello says New York is not expected to be involved in the bidding for Jackson. Carlton Davis, whom Spotrac believes is in line for a five-year pact worth roughly $100MM, could be an option after the Bucs opted against putting the franchise tag on him.

The Jets believe that their young collection of corners, which includes recent Day 3 draftees like Bryce Hall, Brandin Echols, and Michael Carter II, have plenty of promise, but they clearly need a true CB1 to anchor the group. Jackson and Davis certainly fit the bill, though signing either player will put a damper on the flexibility that Douglas covets. Plus, as Costello observes, the Jets’ two top-10 draft choices will receive significant upfront signing bonuses, which will further limit the cash that Douglas has to throw around.

The Jets appear to be at least a year away from true contention, but again, Douglas may need to show some improvement to keep his job. That does not mean that he will spend wildly, but it’s probably fair to expect a little more activity than his recent comments on the matter would suggest.

49ers DT D.J. Jones On Future

December 12th, 2021 at 11:23am CST by Rory Parks

49ers defensive tackle D.J. Jones, a 2017 sixth-rounder who agreed to remain with San Francisco on a one-year, $3.5MM pact back in March, is enjoying a breakout campaign. He has positioned himself well for a lucrative, multi-year contract this offseason, and he knows it.

As Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle writes, Jones did not give a canned, cliched answer when recently asked if he was thinking about his upcoming payday. “The way I’m playing, yes sir,” Jones said. “I’d be lying to you if I didn’t say that. … I want to retire my father and mother from the barbecue business. I want to make sure my sisters don’t have to do another thing, as long they invest the money that I provide correctly. I completely understand the situation I’m in. I’m not going to say that’s why I’m balling. I’m doing my job for my team. Those are rewards.”

Jones offers a rare combination of strength and speed, and through 12 games in 2021, he has already matched or set career highs in tackles (42) and tackles for loss (seven). He has just one sack, and Pro Football Focus’ metrics paint him as a so-so pass rusher, but his high scores as a run stopper help to counterbalance any deficiencies in that regard. His overall score of 75.7 positions him as the 15th-best interior defender in the league out of 127 qualifiers.

Despite his modest draft status, Jones has developed a reputation as one of the game’s most difficult-to-move D-linemen, a reputation that he credits to his weight room efforts.

“Not bragging, not boasting, but I’ve always been the strongest guy wherever I’ve been,” Jones said. “I feel like that strength comes from endless hours in the weight room. And dedicating myself.”

Branch expects that the 49ers will prioritize a Jones re-up this offseason, and Jones is certainly amenable to continuing his career in the Bay Area. “I would love to stay here,” he said. “I would love to be a 49er for the rest of my career. It’s as simple as that. But we’ll cross that bridge when it comes time.”

WFT’s Jonathan Allen, Jones’ draftmate, has generated higher sack totals and did not take as long as Jones to come into his own. However, the four-year $72MM extension ($35.6MM guaranteed) that Allen signed in July could provide a reasonable benchmark for Jones, even if he doesn’t quite hit those numbers.

49ers To Re-Sign DT D.J. Jones

March 17th, 2021 at 4:38pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The 49ers have been locking up a lot of their own guys so far in free agency, and they can check another one of the list. San Francisco is re-signing defensive tackle D.J. Jones, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets.

Financial terms weren’t immediately available, although Rapoport reports it’s a one-year deal for the big man in the middle. A sixth-round pick back in 2017, Jones just wrapped up his rookie contract. The Ole Miss product played rotationally his first two seasons before becoming a full-time starter in the last two.

He started all 25 games that he appeared in over the past two years, racking up five sacks in those games while mostly being counted on to clog up running lanes. San Francisco’s vaunted defensive front was decimated by injuries last year, and the team is hoping Jones will be a big part of the unit’s bounce back in 2021.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/2/20

December 2nd, 2020 at 4:11pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Buffalo Bills

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

49ers’ D.J. Jones Switches Agencies

April 1st, 2020 at 10:37am CST by Rory Parks

49ers defensive tackle D.J. Jones has switched agencies and is now represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA), per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. The move is significant because Jones is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is eligible for an extension for the first time.

In 2019, Jones was a fairly unheralded member of San Francisco’s excellent defensive front, but he was clearly starting to come into his own. He started all 11 of the team’s games before succumbing to a season-ending ankle injury, and he established himself as a useful run-stuffer.

In 2020, he could have the opportunity to be more. The Niners traded DeForest Buckner to the Colts, and the team is not expected to make Arik Armstead a full-time defensive tackle. Additionally, Sheldon Day departed via free agency, and Jullian Taylor suffered a torn ACL late in the 2019 campaign. So while San Francisco could certainly add an interior defender or two in the coming months, Jones looks to be in line for a larger role. Maiocco suggests that Jones may end up taking some of Buckner’s pass-rushing snaps, which could obviously help him earn a larger payday.

The 2017 sixth-rounder out of Ole Miss did post two sacks last season — the first two of his career — despite being a predominantly two-down player. He is scheduled to earn $825K in 2020, unless he and the 49ers work out an extension ahead of time.

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