Transactions - Pro Football Rumors

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.

Cowboys Never Made An Offer To DeMarcus Lawrence?

March 14th, 2025 at 6:17pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Cowboys did not offer a contract to retain defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence before he signed with the Seahawks, per WFAA’s Ed Werder.

Lawrence signed a three-year, $32.5MM contract with Seattle that includes $18MM guaranteed and a maximum value of $42MM. In one of his first interviews after signing his new deal, he took a clear shot at his former team by saying he would never win a Super Bowl in Dallas.

Lawrence’s comments, according to Werder, “were directed at Jerry and Stephen [Jones] as they declined to offer him a contract and he was forced to find another team to finish his career and achieve his goals.”

Micah Parsons responded to Lawrence on X, saying he was driven by “rejection and envy.” Lawrence responded, doubling down on his claim and exposing simmering tensions between the former teammates. According to Werder, the two “disagreed on personality or approach” while together in Dallas.

Lawrence was already a two-time Pro Bowler by the time Parsons was drafted by the Cowboys in 2021. Lawrence played in only seven games that year, but he earned back-to-back Pro Bowl nods with Parsons in 2022 and 2023. A foot injury ended Lawrence’s 2024 season after just four games, and the Cowboys opted to get cheaper and younger at the position.

In the past week, Dallas signed Payton Turner and Dante Fowler for less money combined than Lawrence received from the Seahawks. They will join Parsons, Marshawn Kneeland, and Sam Williams in a deep, talented edge rusher room.

Patriots To Sign OL Wes Schweitzer

March 14th, 2025 at 5:21pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Patriots are signing veteran offensive linemen Wes Schweitzer, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

The eight-year veteran has 62 starts in his career, but just 13 have come in the last four years due to a number of injuries. He will add offensive line depth in New England and could even compete for a starting job at guard or center.

The 31-year-old Schweitzer was originally a sixth-round pick by the Falcons in 2016. He did not appear in a single game as a rookie, but started the entire 2017 season at right guard. He lost that job during the following season’s training camp, but ended up starting 13 games at left guard after a season-ending injury to Andy Levitre.

Schweitzer appeared in 15 games in 2019 and once again ended the season as Atlanta’s starting left guard. With his rookie contract expired, he signed a three-year, $13.5MM deal with the Commanders. He started 13 games in 2020 – 10 at left guard and three at right guard – but his injury woes began in 2021. Schweizer appeared in 11 games with five starts, but went down for the year in Week 12. He struggled with injuries across the next three seasons, appearing in 17 games with eight starts and stints on injured reserve in each year.

In 2024, Schweitzer appeared in four games with 19 total snaps and just one on offense as a sixth offensive linemen. When healthy, he has proven to be a starting-caliber interior lineman, but he will need to avoid injury to earn playing time in New England.

Falcons To Sign DL Morgan Fox

March 14th, 2025 at 3:56pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Falcons are signing defensive lineman Morgan Fox on a two-year deal worth up to $8.5MM, per FOX Sports’ Peter Schrager and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pellisero, and Mike Garafolo.

Fox has been spent the last three years with the Chargers, appearing in all 51 games (19 starts) with 80 total tackles, 15.5 sacks, and 17 tackles for loss. He lined up at multiple spots along the defensive line in Los Angeles as part of a stingy defense that allowed the fewest points in the league in 2024.

The 30-year-old began his career with the Rams in 2016, failing to make the initial 53-man roster but appearing in four games as a rookie. He carved out a rotational role in 2017, but tore his ACL during OTAs in the offseason and missed the 2018 season.

Since then, though, Fox has been impressively durable with 100 consecutive regular-season starts. He remained with the Rams for two seasons after his ACL rehab and recorded 6.0 sacks in 2020, earning him a two-year, $8.1MM contract with the Panthers. Fox couldn’t maintain his production in Carolina and was released after a disappointing 2021 that featured 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss.

Fox then found a new home with the Chargers as a consistent, versatile defensive linemen who could line up along the interior or off the edge. He will now add a veteran presence to a Falcons defensive line that released Grady Jarrett on Monday.

Buccaneers Re-Sign WR Sterling Shepard

March 14th, 2025 at 2:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

As Jason Licht‘s staff has checked in again with a few notable re-signings this offseason, the veteran GM is getting into the news-breaking act regarding his latest. Sterling Shepard will stay in Tampa for another season, Licht announced.

Shepard rejoined former Oklahoma teammate Baker Mayfield last year, and the former injury-prone Giant played a supporting role during a season in which Chris Godwin and Mike Evans missed time. With Godwin coming back, Shepard will join him. It is a one-year deal that guarantees Shepard $500K and can max out at $2.25MM, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets.

The Bucs signed Shepard after the draft last year, bringing him in after Mayfield had reached out about the receiver’s interest in playing another season. Shepard enjoyed a bigger role than he had in his Giants finale, catching 32 passes for 354 yards and a touchdown. Coming off a 2022 Achilles tear, Shepard only caught 10 passes for 57 yards with the Giants after having re-signed with the team that drafted him. Shepard, 32, also has an ACL tear on his medical sheet.

Tampa Bay brought back Godwin on a three-year, $66MM deal. Godwin had said he turned down several million — ESPN indicated that number may have been as high as $30MM in total (via the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud). While it is not known if Godwin turned down a four-year offer for more nonguaranteed money — as it would be a bit difficult to imagine he passed on anything close to $30MM in additional guarantees — the Bucs have continually proven they can retain talent. Godwin and Shepard join stalwart linebacker Lavonte David, guard starter Ben Bredeson and rotational outside linebacker Anthony Nelson in re-signing this offseason.

Shepard has fallen off the pace he had been on during his early Giants years. Totaling at least 575 receiving yards each season from 2016-20, the former Odell Beckham Jr. New York sidekick has not eclipsed 375 in a season since. But the injury-prone slot target did help the Bucs while Godwin was on the shelf last year. He will attempt to do so again, most likely settling in as a No. 4 receiver for a team that saw promise from third-round rookie Jalen McMillan down the stretch last year. McMillan’s time as a top-two option is on hold, but the Bucs — who also roster former sixth-rounder Trey Palmer — have depth secured in Shepard.

Cowboys To Bring Back DE Dante Fowler

March 14th, 2025 at 2:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Dante Fowler delivered a production uptick in his age-30 season, giving the Commanders’ pass rush a significant boost. Washington, however, will lose its leading 2024 sacker.

Although Fowler has played for Dan Quinn on three teams, the two will separate once again. Fowler is going back to the Cowboys, per his agency. The veteran defensive end will return to Dallas on a one-year deal worth up to $8MM, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets.

Quinn had brought Fowler to Atlanta in 2020 and Dallas in 2022. After that even-year reunion pattern recurred via Fowler’s 2024 Washington arrival, the Commanders are losing a player who delivered strong value during an NFC runner-up season. Fowler is coming off a 10.5-sack slate. That marked his second-most in the NFL, but it did not drive a significant free agent market.

Serving as the undercard to Dorance Armstrong‘s Quinn reunion last year, Fowler outproduced the higher-paid player. Fowler did so at just $3.25MM. The Commanders still have Armstrong on a three-year, $30MM deal, but they have since added Deatrich Wise and Jacob Martin as supplementary rushers. Washington has also been mentioned as one of the Trey Hendrickson suitors, as Fowler’s defection will amplify the team’s need for a starter-level edge rusher opposite Armstrong.

Fowler posted 14 tackles for loss and 12 QB hits — both the second-highest marks of his career in those categories. He did this as a seven-game starter, as Washington used the 10th-year player in a rotational role for a while. Fowler saw a 52% snap share, which was up from his Cowboys seasons. But Dallas’ pass-rushing situation has changed significantly this week. DeMarcus Lawrence and Chauncey Golston have defected in free agency. With Sam Williams coming off an ACL tear, the Cowboys suddenly need supporting-casters to pair with Micah Parsons.

Not overlapping in Dallas with new DC Matt Eberflus previously, Fowler could be in line for a bigger role compared to his two prior Dallas seasons. The former Jaguars, Rams and Falcons edge rusher played 30% of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps in 2022 and logged a 25% snap share in 2023. He was still productive for those deeper Dallas DE groups, combining for 10 sacks in those two seasons. The Cowboys have 2024 second-rounder Marshawn Kneeland on their roster as a potential Parsons complementary starter as well, but Fowler adds what could be important insurance.

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