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49ers To Re-Sign FB Kyle Juszczyk

March 15th, 2025 at 7:52am CST by Ben Levine

Kyle Juszczyk is sticking in San Francisco after all. The fullback is re-signing with the 49ers, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Juszczyk is inking a new two-year deal worth $8MM.

[RELATED: 49ers To Release FB Kyle Juszczyk]

The 49ers cut the veteran earlier this week, with the team deciding not to commit to the fullback’s $4.1MM base salary. This latest pact barely moves the needle when it comes to literal savings, but the organization surely structured the new contract to provide more breathing room in 2025. The team’s original decision to release Juszczyk opened $2.93MM in cap space.

As Schefter notes, the 49ers nearly cut Juszczyk last offseason before the player agreed to a pay cut. This time, the organization risked losing the offensive mainstay, and the 33-year-old briefly flirted with the Steelers. Instead, he’ll return to a familiar spot in San Francisco.

Juszczyk was one of the first additions that Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch signed when they took over operations in 2017. The fullback has spent the past eight seasons with the 49ers, earning Pro Bowl recognition in each of those campaigns. While Juszczyk has still served as a traditional blocking FB, he’s also had more offensive responsibility than many of his peers. He’s hauled in 184 catches during his time with the squad, finding the end zone 13 times.

It’s already been an offseason of change for the 49ers. Just on offense, the team has seen the departures of wideout Deebo Samuel and linemen Aaron Banks and Jaylon Moore. While Juszczyk isn’t an offensive star, he’ll provide the team with some continuity as they look to return to contention.

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.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/14/25

March 14th, 2025 at 10:25pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s minor NFL moves after a busy week of transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Jaguars Release CB Ronald Darby

March 14th, 2025 at 8:54pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Jaguars released veteran cornerback Ronald Darby, per a team annoucement.

Darby signed a two-year, $8.5MM deal with the Jaguars last offseason after an excellent 2023 season in Baltimore. He held opposing quarterbacks to a completion percentage of 44.2% and a 63.3 passer rating when targeted, but could not replicate those results in Jacksonville. In fact, he surrendered the highest completion percentage and passer rating when targeted of his career, leading the Jaguars to move on from the 31-year-old cornerback this week.

The move saves $2.4MM against the Jaguars’ 2025 salary cap with $2.75MM in dead money. Darby will look for a new team, though his struggles in 2024 may force him to accept a contract close to the veteran minimum.

Before this season, Darby was a solid corner when he could stay healthy. He’s averaged just 11 games per season across his 10-year career, which including starting stints with the Bills, Eagles, Commanders, and Broncos before he arrived in Baltimore. He played slightly more on special teams in the last two years, which could further his chances of earning another opportunity in 2025.

The Jaguars already signed Jourdan Lewis to replace Darby as a starting cornerback alongside Tyson Campbell and Montaric Brown, but the team’s lack of high-end talent in the secondary could leave to heavy investment in the draft.

49ers Release DT Maliek Collins

March 14th, 2025 at 8:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

March 14: Collins’ release did come with a post-June 1 designation, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The 49ers will save $3.4MM against the 2025 cap with the move. $1.4MM of dead money will hit the 2025 cap with another $4.1MM pushed to 2026, per OverTheCap.

March 9: Maliek Collins was acquired via trade by the 49ers last offseason. After only one season in San Francisco, though, the veteran defensive tackle will be on the move this spring.

Collins will be released, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. One year remained on his pact, and he was owed $10MM in 2025. The 29-year-old’s scheduled salary for next season was not guaranteed, but in spite of that fact this move (presuming it does not carry a post-June 1 designation) will not free up funds. Cutting Collins will cost the 49ers $670K while incurring a dead money charge of $5.43MM.

Using a post-June 1 designation would help from a financial standpoint, but the modest savings generated would not be available until after that date. Teams are allowed to use that designation twice per year, and it is already known the 49ers will do so in the case of Javon Hargrave. Moving on from him, along with Collins, will lead to notable changes along the defensive interior in San Francisco.

The 49ers have struggled to field an effective group of complementary options to Nick Bosa in recent years, and as a result many have pointed to the 2025 offseason as a period for several changes to be made. 2024 free agent edge rush additions Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos are potential cut candidates as the team looks to free up the required money for retaining other in-house players and/or working out extensions (such as the looming one for Brock Purdy).

Collins began his career with the Cowboys, and after a one-season run with the Raiders he spent three years in Houston. The former third-rounder recorded five sacks in 2023, and – operating as a full-time starter with the 49ers – matched that feat this past season. To little surprise, then, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports Collins is expected to generate a notable market as an early free agent.

Jonathan Allen recently saw his Commanders tenure come to an end through a cost-shedding move, and he and Collins are in similar positions based on age and track record. Both are free to join their next team at any time, but it would come as little surprise if suitors gauged the availability of other options over the coming days before committing to a deal.

Dolphins To Sign TE Pharaoh Brown

March 14th, 2025 at 8:04pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Dolphins are signing veteran tight end Pharaoh Brown, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

The seven-year veteran will add some depth to a thin tight end room behind 2024 breakout Jonnu Smith. The Dolphins moved on from Durham Smythe last month, leaving Julian Hill as the only other tight end on the roster with any NFL experience.

After playing for five different teams in his career, Brown will bring plenty of experience to Miami. He has appeared in 87 games with 54 starts, though he has primarily served as a blocker with a career average of 8.6 receiving yards per game.

Brown began his career as an undrafted free agent out of Oregon and signed with the Raiders after the 2017 draft. He didn’t make the 53-man roster, but still appeared in two games as a rookie. He didn’t play at all in 2018, partially due to a shoulder injury, then carved out a rotational role as a blocker in 2019 with the Browns.

Brown then joined the Texans in 2020 and started 21 games over the next two years. He was then released three games into the 2022 seasons and returned to Cleveland for the rest of the year.

The 30-year-old signed with the Patriots in 2023, where he caught 13 of 15 targets for a career-high 208 receiving yards and his first touchdown since 2020. He also carved out a role on special teams, which helped him earn a one-year, $3.2MM contract with the Seahawks in 2024. Brown picked up a similar role as a blocking tight end and special teams contributor in Seattle, something he will likely continue in Miami.

Giants To Sign LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles

March 14th, 2025 at 7:35pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Giants have signed veteran linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Flannigan-Fowles has spent five years in the NFL, all with the 49ers as a depth linebacker and core special teams contributor. He has appeared in 73 games in his career with seven starts on defense and 1,284 snaps on special teams.

The 28-year-old is the second special teams ace signed by the Giants this offseason. The team also added ex-Raven Chris Board on a two-year, $6MM deal.

Both veterans will likely be competing for rotational snaps behind 2024 starters Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden. Flannigan-Fowles and Board have played solid defense when called upon in their careers, but neither has ever been able to lock down a starting job. They will certainly see plenty of time on special teams in New York.

The Giants also got some good news from one of their biggest free agent additions.

Paulson Adebo, who signed a three-year, $54MM deal on Monday, said that he hopes to be ready for OTAs after a broken leg ended his 2024 season after just seven games (via Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post). He was excellent before his injury, recording three interceptions, 10 passes defended, and a 71.9 passer rating allowed when targeted.

Jets Re-Signing RB/KR Kene Nwangwu

March 14th, 2025 at 7:20pm CST by Ely Allen

It wasn’t long ago that running back Kene Nwangwu was named a second-team All-Pro. Although the 27-year-old only saw two games of action last year with the Jets, New York has made the decision to re-sign the dynamic return man for a second season with the team, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Nwangwu has been a return specialist since getting drafted by the Vikings in the fourth round out of Iowa State in 2021. In his three years with the team, Nwangwu only registered 27 carries for 88 rushing yards and six receptions for 30 receiving yards without registering an offensive touchdown.

Now, that doesn’t mean he’s been held out of the end zone. In those three years in Minnesota, Nwangwu was an immediate threat in the return game. Despite not appearing in the first six games of his rookie season, he racked up 579 yards on only 18 kick returns, including two in which he returned the kick for a touchdown. His 32.2 yards per return would’ve have ranked as the highest in the league that season if he had registered enough returns to qualify for the stat.

The following year, saw a bit of a dip in production for Nwangwu, as his average return yardage dropped to 26.3, but he registered a league-high 35 returns and logged another return touchdown. In 2023, he began the year on injured reserve and averaged a career-low 25.3 yards per return while being held out of the end zone for the first time in his career. Nwangwu was waived in final roster cuts before this past season and was claimed by the Saints the following day. Unfortunately, the day after that, he was waived again with a failed physical designation.

He would sign to the Jets’ practice squad about two weeks later, though not debuting for the team until December. In his first game as a practice squad callup, Nwangwu returned his first kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. He was promoted to the active roster the next day but only played in the next game without recording a stat. He was placed on IR shortly after with a broken hand.

In New York, the Jets return both their leading returners from last year, wide receiver Xavier Gipson and running back Isaiah Davis. Gipson is the team’s exclusive punt returner, with no other player longing a punt return last season, and he led the team with 17 kick returns for 489 yards (28.8 yards per return). Davis logged nine returns for 232 yards (25.8). In Nwangwu’s one game of action, even if you took out his 99-yard return touchdown, he would’ve averaged 29.0 yards per return.

It’s tough to see how exactly the room will play out in 2025. With Davante Adams, and potentially Allen Lazard, departing in free agency, Gipson could end up being more of a factor in the receiving game. Despite only logging 39 yards last year as a receiver, Gipson would be the third-leading returning wide receiver behind Garrett Wilson and Lazard. Davis’ RB3 role won’t likely change much behind Breece Hall and Braelon Allen.

If Nwangwu is healthy, though, he is clearly more effective as a kick returner and could easily be an improvement over Davis, should New York put two men back, consistently. After injury limited the dynamic returner in the past two seasons, Nwangwu will get a chance to prove his worth with the Jets once again.

Chiefs To Sign QB Bailey Zappe

March 14th, 2025 at 6:52pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Chiefs are signing quarterback Bailey Zappe to a one-year deal, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Adding Zappe is Kansas City’s second move at quarterback this week; they also signed Gardner Minshew to a one-year deal. That likely means that Carson Wentz will be looking for a new gig in 2025 after backing up Patrick Mahomes in 2024.

Zappe’s signing is technically a reunion, as he spent the first few months of the season on the Chiefs’ practice squad. He didn’t appear in any games in red and gold before he was signed by the Browns after Deshaun Watson‘s season-ending Achilles injury.

Zappe became the QB3 in Cleveland behind Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson. He only appeared one game: a rough Week 18 start against the Ravens. That loss secured the No. 2 overall pick for the Browns in April’s draft.

Zappe will likely take up a similar role in Kansas City behind Mahomes and Minshew. Though he holds the distinction of being Bill Belichick‘s last quarterback in the NFL, it seems Zappe’s starting days are behind him. Joining the Chiefs will give him a shot at a Super Bowl, though, and potentially help him develop and earn a QB2 job in the future.

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