HEADLINES

Jason Pinnock

Brock Purdy Extension Aim Influenced 49ers’ Free Agency Approach; Team Upped Dre Greenlaw Offer

April 2nd, 2025 at 10:00am CST by Sam Robinson

Many of the players that helped the 49ers push the Chiefs near double overtime in Super Bowl LVIII exited San Francisco this offseason. After the team traded Deebo Samuel, it let a host of talent walk.

The Broncos poached Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga, while Aaron Banks‘ Packers deal eclipsed both the Denver pacts in base value. The 49ers traded Jordan Mason after slapping a second-round RFA tender on the backup running back and stood down as the Chiefs gave Jaylon Moore a $15MM-per-year deal to jump from the backup level to, in all likelihood, a starting job. The team also cut Javon Hargrave and Leonard Floyd while letting 2023 All-Pro Charvarius Ward join the Colts on a big-ticket deal.

While cornerstone players remain, Brock Purdy‘s fourth season at the controls will involve some new personnel. And it should be expected to come with a roster-reshaping contract. The 49ers expecting to go from paying Purdy a seventh-round salary to a top-market contract influenced their free agency approach.

“I get it. Fans care. You want to win. And when you’re in a world where everybody is watching the NFL the first week of free agency or at least the first few days of free agency, it’s a frenzy,” owner Jed York said, via ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner. “… When you’re not overly active in that space, it gets easy to say, ‘Oh, you don’t want to win.’ … I don’t know that, as we looked at the board, that there was somebody that we felt made that type of an impact more so than making the decision to try to go pay Brock.”

The 49ers used Purdy’s rookie deal to splurge on Hargrave in 2023, doing so after carving out cap room for Ward’s free agency deal in 2022 — a deal agreed to when the expectation remained Trey Lance would eventually succeed Jimmy Garoppolo. With Purdy on track to command more than $50MM per year, sacrifices will need to be made. Identifying more rookie-deal starters will become paramount as the draft approaches.

As for Purdy’s next contract, Wagoner floats a deal between $53MM and the $55MM number authorized for Trevor Lawrence and Jordan Love last year as a potential sweet spot. That said, Purdy has accomplished more than both. Convincing the former Mr. Irrelevant to settle south of the Jaguars and Packers starters after the cap spiked by another $24MM — and after Dak Prescott reset the QB market at $60MM per year — may be difficult. The 49ers are confident they will sign Purdy, rather than allow him to play out his rookie contract, and negotiations have begun.

While the team is believed to be shying away from Prescott territory, a number north of $50MM per year — as should be expected — is firmly in play. The team has needed to go into training camp (or near Week 1) to extend George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Nick Bosa and Brandon Aiyuk in recent years. The 49ers appear to be aiming to avoid that timeline with Purdy, but nothing is imminent. Plans for a monster re-up are obviously in place, as the 49ers have not wavered from a stance in which the Iowa State alum remains in place for many years. That aim has already reshuffled the roster.

Kyle Shanahan confirmed (via The Athletic’s Matt Barrows) the 49ers attempted to retain Greenlaw before the legal tampering period, but the team saw him sign a three-year, $31.5MM Broncos accord. Denver has an out after Year 1, in guaranteeing only $11.5MM at signing, protecting itself after Greenlaw’s recent injury trouble.

San Francisco also kept its Greenlaw effort going after his Denver commitment, and the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel reports Lynch and Shanahan flew to Greenlaw’s home in Texas to continue recruitment. The 49ers upped their offer before seeing Greenlaw keep his pledge to join the Broncos. The 49ers power brokers flew out after Greenlaw had agree to Broncos terms, Gabriel adds, representing a more serious attempt to flip a commitment during the legal tampering period.

In addition to Greenlaw’s injury playing a central role in the 49ers’ Super Bowl LVIII loss, it may well have led him to the market. 49ers interest in retaining Greenlaw was known late last season, and the sides discussed terms in February. Had the longtime Fred Warner sidekick not suffered an Achilles tear, the team presumably would have made a stronger effort to retain him before he became free agency-eligible March 10. Sean Payton viewed (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) Greenlaw’s Achilles setback as a key reason he was available.

It is not like the 49ers stood down entirely in free agency. The team gave backup tight end Luke Farrell a three-year, $15.75MM deal and added safeties Jason Pinnock and Richie Grant. Returning Ji’Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha, the 49ers added the safety depth pieces at low rates. Pinnock could be more than depth, after starting 32 Giants games from 2023-24, but he signed with the 49ers for just $2.2MM over one year. The contract is fully guaranteed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. An ex-Falcons starter, Grant signed a one-year, $1.5MM deal, Wilson adds. Only $345K is guaranteed.

49ers To Sign DB Jason Pinnock

March 11th, 2025 at 9:59pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The 49ers are signing former Giants defensive back Jason Pinnock to a one-year, fully-guaranteed deal, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz and KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.

The 25-year-old started 32 games at safety over the last two years in New York, but the Giants’ signing of Jevon Holland made it clear that the team was moving in another direction, according to The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. Pinnock will have an opportunity to earn a starting job in San Francisco after Talanoa Hufanga signed with the Broncos.

Pinnock was excellent in coverage in 2023 with a 74.8 passer rating when targeted, but that figure was above 135.0 in his other three seasons. He can play in the box and offers upside as a pass-rusher with 6.5 sacks across the last three seasons.

The 49ers also re-signed defensive tackle Kevin Givens. The 2019 undrafted free agent will head into his seventh season in the NFL, all in San Francisco. He flashed as a pass-rusher in 2024 with a career-high 3.5 sacks in just eight games before a pectoral tear ended his season. Givens will likely take on a bigger role in 2025 after the team moved on from Javon Hargrave.

San Francisco isn’t placing an RFA tender on linebacker Curtis Robinson, but they will retain him on a one-year deal, according to The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. Robinson was the 49ers’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee last season, but played in only three games before suffering a torn ACL. He has played three games for the 49ers in each of the last four years, with all but three of his snaps coming on special teams.

In 2025, Robinson will be joined by former Titans and Cowboys special teams ace Luke Gifford. The 29-year-old linebacker is signing a one-year deal with the 49ers, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Gifford played a career-high 203 snaps on defense in 2024 along with a core special teams role in Tennessee. Robinson and Gifford will continue their special teams prowess next season, but they may also have to play a bigger role on defense after the departure of Dre Greenlaw in free agency.

Giants To Target CB In Free Agency

March 8th, 2025 at 9:13pm CST by Ely Allen

Free agency is just around the corner, and after four years with Joe Schoen at the helm as general manager, the Giants are still looking for additions to their roster that can take them to the next level. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan did a deep dive yesterday on some of the players and positions New York will be focusing on in the coming weeks.

Internally, Raanan identified the Giants’ top free agents as wide receiver Darius Slayton, outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari, safety Jason Pinnock, and right guard Greg Van Roten. Of the four, Raanan notes that it looks likely that most, if not all, will hit the open market.

Slayton is looking to join a contender on his next deal. While he hasn’t caught more than five touchdowns in a season since his rookie year, Slayton has surpassed 700 receiving yards in four his six seasons. Receiver-hungry teams like the Chargers and Steelers are likely to seek services like his.

Ojulari has never quite broken out, only averaging 5.5 sacks per year and missing notable time in each of the past three seasons. That could hurt his market, especially with several notable veterans (including the likes of recent cuts Joey Bosa and Harold Landry) available in free agency. Still, while teams which are unable to make a notable addition in the coming days could look to a highly regarded draft class in the pass-rush department, the 24-year-old Ojuari could be an attractive option on a short-term deal.

Pinnock and/or Van Roten departing would create vacancies in the secondary and offensive line, areas which are already in need of help for the Giants. Raanan notes a starting-caliber addition will be sought out at the guard spot, even if Evan Neal (who has not developed as hoped at right tackle) is moved inside. A modest investment at safety can also be expected, whether that consists of retaining Pinnock or signing one of the middle class free agent options.

With respect to priorities for outside addition, cornerback will be a position to monitor. Raanan reports the Giants are looking to make a free agent move at the top of the market. Adding a cover man like D.J. Reed, Paulson Adebo, Charvarius Ward or Byron Murphy – names listed by Raanan as targets New York has looked into (or likely will) – will be expensive. Bringing in any of those veterans to lead a depth chart featuring Deonte Banks and Dru Phillips would, though, go a long way in helping a defense which ranked 31st in the NFL in interceptions last year.

Another potential target could be Isaiah Rodgers. Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports the 2024 Eagles pickup is worth watching as free agency approaches. Rodgers, 27, only logged a 36% snap share on defense for the Super Bowl winners but he played a key role on special teams and could secure a larger workload on a new deal. Philadelphia has moved on from Darius Slay and James Bradberry, creating the opportunity for Rodgers to work as a starter if he re-signs.

The Giants currently find themselves with $45.62MM in cap space, a figure which will drop slightly once the new deal for punter Jamie Gillan becomes official, but plenty of funds will be available to make a notable splash at the cornerback position. It will be interesting to see who the team targets at the onset of the negotiating window.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post. 

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/6/24

January 6th, 2024 at 8:33pm CST by Ely Allen

The last week of pregame transactions and gameday callups for several teams this season:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

  • Placed on IR: T Mike McGlinchey
  • Activated from IR: T Alex Palczewski
  • Signed to active roster: CB Art Green
  • Elevated: S Devon Key

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

  • Placed on IR: TE Hunter Henry
  • Signed to active roster: TE La’Michael Pettway
  • Elevated: TE Matt Sokol, OL Andrew Stueber

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Several teams whose season is set to come to an end tomorrow have elected to move injured players to injured reserve in order to create roster spots for practice squad options, particularly those who have had their three gameday elevations exhausted. In the case of the Broncos, McGlinchey will see his debut campaign in the Mile High City come to a premature end. Signed to a five-year, $87.5MM deal, the 28-year-old was part of a revamped O-line which did not produce the desired rebound on offense. Manning his usual right tackle spot, McGlinchey was charged with eight sacks and 49 pressures allowed by PFF, resulting in an overall grade of 67.5.

While the Giants will have an interesting decision to make with respect to Xavier McKinney‘s future, they will have Pinnock on the books for at least one more season. The latter’s rookie contract is set to expire following the 2024 campaign, one in which he will no doubt remain a vital member of New York’s secondary. Pinnock has recorded 85 tackles, two interceptions (including a 102-yard pick-six), six pass deflections and a pair of forced fumbles while logging over 1,000 defensive snaps this season. A return to health and a continuation of his 2023 level of play will be sorely needed next fall.

NFC East Notes: Eagles, Pinnock, Cowboys

August 9th, 2023 at 11:58am CST by Sam Robinson

The Eagles both signed five-year starter Terrell Edmunds and used a third-round pick on Sydney Brown. Both safeties factor into the team’s plans, but they are not outflanking Reed Blankenship thus far through training camp. Blankenship has been a first-team mainstay, per the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane, who adds Edmunds and Brown have rotated at the other safety spot. Indeed, The Athletic’s Zach Berman notes Blankenship — a 2022 UDFA out of Middle Tennessee State — has been the Eagles’ top safety in camp (subscription required).

This reminds of Marcus Epps‘ rise last year. Despite the Eagles re-signing Anthony Harris and adding Jaquiski Tartt in 2022, Epps earned a starting job — one that eventually led to a two-year, $12MM Raiders payday. The Eagles brought in C.J. Gardner-Johnson via trade just before last season. That transaction could signal none of Philly’s safeties should be too comfortable, but Blankenship — Gardner-Johnson’s injury sub last year who played 291 defensive snaps — looks like the best bet to start among the in-house group.

Here is the latest from the NFC East:

  • Staying on the subject of safeties in this division, the Giants may be moving toward giving Jason Pinnock the starting job alongside Xavier McKinney. A Jets fifth-round pick in 2021, Pinnock started five games for the Giants last year, operating as McKinney’s injury fill-in. He has received consistent first-team work in camp, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan notes. Pinnock has distanced himself from Dane Belton and veteran Bobby McCain, having been Big Blue’s first-teamer since the fourth training camp practice. The Giants, who lost Julian Love in free agency, claimed Pinnock shortly after the Jets waived the converted cornerback on cutdown day last year. Two seasons remain on Pinnock’s rookie contract.
  • Malik Hooker‘s 2023 Cowboys cap hit climbed from $4.32MM to $4.57MM as a result of his recent extension, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. The incentives in the three-year, $21MM contract include $500K bumps involving playing time and INT production. Five picks and the Cowboys making the playoffs would result in a $500K increase, Archer adds, noting the other incentive requires Hooker to play 85% of Dallas’ defensive snaps and the team to make the postseason (Twitter link).
  • The Cowboys, who turned Micah Parsons from an off-ball linebacker to a fearsome edge rusher, are giving Leighton Vander Esch some reps on the edge, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News notes. While the sixth-year linebacker received sparse edge work in games last season, Gehlken adds this is the first time he has received extensive instruction in a defensive end role. Rostering Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler and Sam Williams, the Cowboys are much deeper on the edge than at linebacker. It would stand to reason LVE’s role will likely remain mostly as an off-ball defender.
  • The Giants recently added longtime safety Mike Adams to their coaching staff, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan tweets. A 16-year veteran, Adams will replace Anthony Blevins as the Giants’ assistant defensive backs coach, the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard adds (on Twitter). Adams, 42, hung up his cleats after the 2019 season. Blevins left the Giants during the summer to accept an XFL HC position.
  • While Devon Allen did not see any game action for the Eagles last season, Berman writes the two-time Olympian hurdler is in play to make the team as a backup this year. Allen, 28, has not played in a game since working as an Oregon slot receiver in 2016. Shifting to track full-time proved beneficial for Allen, who is one of the best 110-meter hurdlers in U.S. history. But he opted to give football another try last year. He suffered an injury at the U.S. Championships last month, exiting the 110 hurdles competition before the finals in order to preserve his body for his second Eagles camp. The Eagles activated Allen from the PUP list Tuesday.
  • Given a reserve/futures deal along with Allen in February, Matt Leo landed on the Eagles’ reserve/retired list last month. The team hired the former practice squad defensive end a defensive and football operations assistant.

Giants Starting S Job “Wide Open”

June 28th, 2023 at 8:24pm CST by Ely Allen

The Giants ran through most of last year with a strong safety duo of Julian Love and Xavier McKinney. With Love departing in free agency to Seattle, the starting job next to McKinney is reportedly “wide open,” according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. There are plenty of names in contention for the job, leaving New York with several options.

The favorite for the job is Jason Pinnock, whom the Giants claimed off of waivers from the Jets just prior to the regular season last year. Despite playing his rookie year as a cornerback for the Jets, Pinnock filled in for McKinney when he sustained a few broken fingers last year, starting five games in the free safety’s place. He put together a strong sample to put his name in the race early, but he was sidelined in the spring, keeping him from fielding any snaps with the first team until he can return in training camp.

Dane Belton is another name to look at for the position. The fourth-round rookie started five games, as well, last year. He showed a nose for the football in limited time with two interceptions, three passes defensed, and two fumble recoveries. Like Pinnock, Belton missed the spring but should return for training camp in time to compete for the starting job next to McKinney.

With Pinnock and Belton out, veteran free agent signing Bobby McCain and converted cornerback Nick McCloud split reps for the starting spot this spring. McCain is used to the starting role, performing as a full-time starter for Miami and Washington since 2018. His presence provides New York with a reliable starter if none of the other contenders emerge as runaway favorites. He graded out with the worst run defense of any safety in the league last season, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), so he may not be the perfect player to pair with McKinney, but he can stand in if needed.

McCloud is an interesting name in the competition. Another young name on the roster, McCloud started eight games at cornerback for the Giants in his sophomore season last year. He displayed a strong all-around game. While not lacking in run defense, McCloud was decent in coverage, as well, recording seven passes defensed. The Giants lined Love up all over the field last year, and they worked McCloud in a similar manner this spring. If he shows that he’s a good fit in that versatile role, he may have a strong case for a starting gig.

That about sums it up. Pinnock is an early favorite after a strong fill-in performance last season. Belton should also have an opportunity to expand his role from last year but should factor into the defensive back rotation, regardless. McCloud could fit best into a versatile role. While McCain remains a strong option if no one succeeds in separating themselves from the pack.

Giants Notes: Flott, McCloud, Cowden

June 4th, 2023 at 12:41pm CST by Rory Parks

Although they still have a need at wide receiver, we learned yesterday that the Giants are not presently expected to acquire free agent DeAndre Hopkins. With Hopkins eyeing a $15MM/year contract, and with New York boasting less than $4MM in cap room, much would have to change for the club’s interest in Hopkins to go beyond the exploratory stage.

Here are a few more Giants-related items:

  • As Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post (subscription required) writes, the Giants believe that second-year pro Cor’Dale Flott — who was drafted as a slot corner — is better-suited to man the boundaries. That could mean that Darnay Holmes will reprise his role as the club’s primary slot defender, but the team could also gain much-needed cap space (about $2.5MM) by cutting Holmes. If Flott shows improvement as an inside option, or if UDFA Leonard Johnson should impress, Holmes may become a release/pay cut candidate.
  • The Giants lost safety Julian Love to the Seahawks in free agency this offseason, and as Dunleavy writes in a separate piece, Big Blue is shifting 2022 waiver claim Nick McCloud to safety on a full-time basis. Per Dunleavy, McCloud will compete with free agent signee Bobby McCain and incumbents Jason Pinnock and Dane Belton for the starting safety job alongside Xavier McKinney. McCloud, like Love, offers positional versatility and started eight games at corner in 2022, so even if he works primarily at safety, DC Wink Martindale may still use him elsewhere in the defensive backfield.
  • According to Dunleavy, first-round rookie Deonte Banks is now lining up as a starting boundary corner opposite Adoree’ Jackson after working with the second-team defense during the first week of OTAs.
  • The Giants recently added Ryan Cowden to their front office, and per the team’s official website, Cowden’s title will be executive advisor to the general manager. Cowden, who actually interviewed for New York’s GM job last year — a job that ultimately went to Joe Schoen — ended the 2022 campaign as the Titans’ interim GM, but Tennessee elected to hire Ran Carthon for the permanent gig. Cowden and Schoen worked together in the Panthers’ front office from 2000-07, so Schoen is adding a familiar and experienced sounding board to his personnel department.
  • Last week, we heard that the Giants and franchise-tagged running back Saquon Barkley are no closer to coming to terms on a long-term contract than they have ever been. It appears that guaranteed money is the biggest sticking point, though it is unclear what the Giants have offered in that regard, nor the degree to which those offers fall short of what Barkley might be seeking.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC East

August 31st, 2022 at 2:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Commanders, Cowboys, Eagles and Giants moves are noted below.

Here are Wednesday’s NFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.

Dallas Cowboys

Signed to practice squad:

New York Giants

Signed:

Released:

Claimed:

Placed on IR:

Signed to practice squad:

Philadelphia Eagles

Claimed: 

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Washington Commanders

Released:

Claimed:

Waived:

Placed on IR:

Signed to practice squad:

Jets Cut Roster Down To 53

August 30th, 2022 at 9:49pm CST by Ely Allen

The Jets got a head start on reducing the roster yesterday, finishing the job with a number of moves today. Here are those moves that brought them down to 53 players:

Released:

Waived:

Placed on reserve/injured:

New York has done a good job with their rookie class with every drafted rookie making the final 53. The Jets even were able to find spots on the roster for two of the six undrafted free agents they signed. Running back Zonovan Knight and safety Tony Adams will start the season on the roster after going undrafted out of NC State and Illinois, respectively.

The Jets will enter the season with three quarterbacks on the roster as second-year quarterback Zach Wilson will be backed up by veterans Joe Flacco and Mike White.

Lawrence Cager returned this offseason to the team that signed him after going undrafted out of Georgia in 2020. After spending two seasons attempting to make rosters as a wide receiver, the 6-foot-5 Cager bulked up in an attempt to transition to tight end. It appears that the position change is working so far as Cager will start the season on an active roster for the first time in his career.

New York will have a chance to make moves necessary to form their 16-man practice squad tomorrow. Any players cut today who have not vested will have to clear waivers before returning to the Jets.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/11/21

November 11th, 2021 at 6:30pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor NFL transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Load More Posts