Transactions News & Rumors

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.

Commanders To Add OL Nate Herbig

March 14th, 2025 at 2:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers’ brother tandems are thinning out, as the Herbigs will go by way of the Watt pair on the roster. Nate Herbig is heading to Washington on a one-year deal, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets.

A 30-game starter during his career, Herbig was to open last season as Pittsburgh’s starting center. But a shoulder injury ended Herbig’s season before it could begin. While this opened the door for rookie Zach Frazier, Herbig will leave for another opportunity.

Also rostering outside linebacker Nick Herbig, the Steelers employed Nate for two seasons. They used him in 17 games (two starts) in 2023, though the older of the Herbig brothers enjoyed more prominent roles elsewhere. The Eagles used Nate Herbig as a 17-game starter from 2020-21, while he started all 11 games he played for the 2022 Jets.

The Commanders are planning on moving the former UDFA into the guard mix, Fowler adds. Washington has Tyler Biadasz locked in at center and Sam Cosmi entrenched at right guard. The team signed Nick Allegretti from the Chiefs in 2024, pairing him with ex-Kansas City teammate Andrew Wylie at RT. Laremy Tunsil is taking over at left tackle after this week’s trade.

Displaced LT Brandon Coleman could loom as a swingman, while the Commanders also brought back interior swing Michael Deiter and fellow backup Trenton Scott on Thursday night. Herbig, 26, is dropped into a crowded situation.

That said, Herbig was on track to at least play in front of Frazier to open the 2024 Steelers’ season. Pittsburgh placing him on IR (with a torn rotator cuff) before setting its 53-man roster nixed that path, and Frazier is now the team’s surefire center starter after going off the 2024 draft board in Round 2. The Steelers still have the Heyward brothers, but Derek Watt‘s retirement coming as the Steelers’ two Edmundses disbanded leaves them with only the DL-TE tandem after Nate Herbig’s Friday move. Two years remain on Nick Herbig’s rookie deal.

Patriots To Sign S Marcus Epps

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

The Raiders are moving on from both their Week 1 safety starters from 2024. Marcus Epps is heading to the Patriots, doing so after suffering an ACL tear early in his second Las Vegas season.

New England is giving Epps a one-year deal worth up to $4.4MM, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. While this is considerably less than Epps’ two-year, $12MM Raiders pact from 2023, Epps’ knee injury explains that gap.

Earning a starting job out of training camp in 2022 with the Eagles, Epps started the entire season alongside C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The Raiders took interest and handed out that $6MM-per-year deal. The Raiders snapped a 19-year drought of finishing in the bottom half of the NFL in scoring defense that year, and Epps started all 17 games for the Silver and Black. He went down in Week 3 of last season, however, hurting his value ahead of a second trip to free agency.

Epps is expected to be ready for training camp where he will compete for playing time in the Patriots’ crowded safety room. Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers opened the 2024 season atop the depth chart, but injuries limited them to 19 combined games. Backups Jaylinn Hawkins and Marte Mapu combined for another 16 starts, and Dell Pettus and Brenden Schooler each appeared in all 17 regular-season games.

Epps has only played 11 snaps on special teams over the last two years, but he may have to revive that part of his game if he can’t earn a starting role on defense.

Chiefs, DL Jerry Tillery Agree To Deal

March 14th, 2025 at 1:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Chiefs have lost Tershawn Wharton in the early stages of free agency, but they have quickly lined up a depth addition which will help replace him. Jerry Tillery has agreed to head to Kansas City on a one-year deal, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports.

Tillery started 11 games for the Vikings last year, lining up primarily along the interior of the defensive line with some snaps on the edge. He had one of the least productive seasons of his career and finished with 28 total tackles, zero sacks, and one tackle for loss.

Tillery was a 2019 first-round pick who began his career in the AFC West with the Chargers. He carved out a starting role in his second season and amassed 9.5 sacks, and 12 tackles for loss in 29 starts across his first three years in the NFL. Tillery’s production didn’t match his high snap counts, so the Chargers declined his fifth-year option after the 2021 season.

A slow start in 2022 led to Tillery’s release after seven games. He was claimed off waivers by the Raiders and appeared in the last eight games of their season with four starts. He re-signed in Las Vegas in 2023 before taking a one-year, $2.75MM contract with the Vikings in 2024.

Tiller will provided much-needed defensive line depth in Kansas City. In addition to losing Wharton, the Chiefs had three other defensive linemen hit free agency this week in Mike Pennel, Derrick Nnadi, and Marlon Tuipulotu. The team has yet to re-sign any and is currently only returning Chris Jones from last year’s unit.

Chiefs To Re-Sign Kareem Hunt

March 14th, 2025 at 12:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

Kareem Hunt returned to the Chiefs last season, and his second Kansas City run will continue into 2025. The former rushing champion is re-signing on a one-year deal, as first reported by Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz.

This pact has a base value of $1.5MM, Schultz adds. Incentives can add another $1MM to Hunt’s earnings. After a five-year run with the Browns, the 2017 Offensive Rookie of the Year came back to Kansas City and handled a notable offensive workload. He will remain part of the team’s backfield plans for at least one more campaign.

Isiah Pacheco was expected to handle a heavy workload in 2024, but he was limited to seven games due to a broken fibula. His absence helped open the door for Hunt signing and then receiving 200 carries on the year; he turned that opportunity into 728 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. The 29-year-old added 176 yards in the passing game, then scored a pair of touchdowns in the playoffs.

Before the start of free agency, it became clear the Chiefs would be interested in adding a veteran running back this spring. That plan resulted in a one-year agreement with Elijah Mitchell, who missed all of last season. The former 49er nevertheless figures to have a role of some kind with Kansas City. Pacheco, meanwhile, is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

The Chiefs could also look to the draft to add a long-term option at the position, something which would make sense since all three of their current top backs are pending 2026 free agents. Hunt – who saw his yards per carry average rebound slightly to 3.6 after it dropped at the end of his Browns tenure – will nevertheless compete for playing time in 2025. Regardless of how Kansas City’s backfield shakes out, the Toledo product figures to have a notable role based on the trust he has received from the organization.

Hunt made a mid-season return to the Browns in 2023 after Nick Chubb‘s season-ending knee injury. The latter is a free agent, and his departure (which would not come as a surprise at this point) would leave Cleveland in need of at least one notable addition. Today’s news confirms another new Hunt agreement will not be possible, though.

Bills To Bring Back CB Dane Jackson

March 14th, 2025 at 12:34pm CST by Adam La Rose

Dane Jackson is headed back to Buffalo. After a single season with the Panthers, the veteran corner has a Bills deal in place, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

This will be a one-year deal, Garafolo adds. Jackson spent his first four seasons with the Bills, making 28 starts during that span. The former seventh-rounder landed a two-year free agent deal in Carolina last offseason, but things did not go according to plan with his new team.

Jackson was limited to nine games in 2024, and he only managed three starts. The Panthers brought him in as a familiar face to general manager Dan Morgan, but in spite of that factor the team elected to give more playing time to younger options in the secondary as the season progressed. That limited Jackson’s usage, and his overall snap share checked in at a career-low 43%. The 28-year-old was released last month.

That move allowed Jackson to sign with an interested team before free agency officially began, but it has still taken until today for a deal to be worked out. He will nevertheless give Buffalo a familiar option in the secondary as the team navigates its cornerback situation. Former first-rounder Kaiir Elam was traded to the Cowboys earlier this week, while Rasul Douglas remains unsigned.

That leaves Buffalo with Christian Benford (perhaps the next candidate for a lucrative extension) and Taron Johnson (one of the league’s highest-paid slot corners) as starters. Jackson – who logged more than 800 defensive snaps in 2022 – could step into a starting role upon returning to the team. Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic notes Jackson can be penciled in as a first-team option for now, although he adds Buffalo could very well continue making moves at the position as the offseason continues.

At a minimum, Jackson could offer the Bills experienced depth at what will no doubt be a low cost. After the Pitt alum inked a contract averaging $4.25MM per year last offseason, this latest pact should check in at a lower rate. Still, Jackson could help his 2026 free agent prospects with a strong second Buffalo stint.

Vikings, LB Eric Wilson Agree To Deal

March 14th, 2025 at 11:56am CST by Adam La Rose

Eric Wilson is set to return to where his career began. The veteran linebacker has agreed to a deal with the Vikings, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Wilson spent his first four years in Minnesota, logging 25 starts during that span. In 2020, he occupied a full-time first-team role and collected 122 tackles, three sacks and three interceptions. In spite of that production, the former UDFA has not managed to secure a multi-year deal during his free agent tenures.

After splitting his time between the Eagles and Texans in 2021, Wilson enjoyed a three-year run with the Packers. He missed four contests during his debut Green Bay season, but since then he has been a regular in the team’s lineup. The 30-year-old started 12 games last year, and his 72 tackles were the second-highest total of his career. Wilson added a pair of sacks and an interception, a sign of the production he will be capable of upon returning to Minnesota.

The Packers re-signed Isaiah McDuffie earlier this month, preventing him from reaching free agency. That two-year deal ensures Green Bay will have continuity at the linebacker spot with Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper still in the fold. The McDuffie move opened the door for Wilson to depart, but this news means the latter will now play his former team twice in 2025.

The Vikings have been active on defense so far this offseason, but the Wilson reunion represents the team’s first outside addition at the linebacker spot. Minnesota still has Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace on the books as starters, but Wilson will offer an experienced rotational option as well as a veteran special teams presence. Kamu Grugier-Hill is a free agent, and this Wilson move could lead him to head elsewhere as the offseason continues to unfold.

Lions Re-Sign WR Tim Patrick

March 14th, 2025 at 10:38am CST by Adam La Rose

Tim Patrick‘s return to the NFL resulted in a strong season with the Lions in 2024. The veteran wideout will remain in Detroit for at least one more campaign.

The Lions announced on Friday that Patrick has been re-signed. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports this will be a one-year deal worth up to $4MM. A complementary role will again be in store on a Detroit team led by Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams at the receiver position.

Patrick had a successful run with the Broncos from 2018-21, but two major injuries derailed his career. The former UDFA suffered an ACL tear in 2022, and he missed the entire campaign as a result. Patrick was set to return the following year, but an offseason Achilles tear left him sidelined for 2023 as well. His Denver release during roster cutdowns this past summer came after talks on a Saints trade did not produce a deal.

In spite of that, Patrick did not need to wait long to find a new opportunity. The Utah product took a deal on the Lions’ practice squad, and after being elevated three teams he found himself as a regular presence in the lineup. Patrick handled a 59% snap share, operating as a key role player on the league’s highest-scoring offense. He posted 33 catches for 394 yards and three touchdowns during his debut Detroit campaign, and similar production will be expected moving forward.

Fellow receiver Allen Robinson is open to re-signing with the Lions, but the former Pro Bowler is also giving thought to retirement. Robinson hardly made an impact in 2024, but if he elected to hang up his cleats (or sign elsewhere as a free agent) Patrick’s continued presence would provide important continuity on offense as the team enters the post-Ben Johnson era on offense. Patrick, 31, could help his 2026 free agent stock with another productive Lions campaign, and it will be interesting to see if he takes on an even larger role in the passing game next season.

Ravens Sign WR DeAndre Hopkins

March 14th, 2025 at 9:25am CST by Nikhil Mehta

MARCH 14: Hopkins’ pact – which is now official – includes a $1.26MM base salary which is fully guaranteed, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes. The deal includes a $3.75MM signing bonus, while its incentives are based on playing time and performance thresholds. With void years being included, Hopkins will carry a 2025 cap hit of roughly $2MM.

MARCH 11: The Ravens are signing veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

Hopkins’ deal in Baltimore has a base value of $5MM with another $1MM available via incentives, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. He will join former Titans teammate Derrick Henry and catch passes from two-time MVP Lamar Jackson in 2025.

The five-time Pro Bowler started the 2024 season in Tennessee before being traded to the Chiefs for a fifth-round pick that could be upgraded to a fourth-rounder, though details of the conditions have not been publicly reported. Hopkins recorded just 15 receptions for 173 yards and a touchdown in six games with the Titans last year, but fared much better in Kansas City. He posted 41 catches for 437 yards and four touchdowns in 10 regular-season games as a Chief, though he only caught three of his eight targets in the playoffs.

The Ravens have been linked with Hopkins multiple times over the last few years, but they were never willing to part with the trade or financial compensation to acquire him. His $5MM APY is a significant discount on his previous contracts, the lowest and most recent of which was a two-year, $26MM deal signed with the Titans in 2023.

Hopkins was originally a first-round pick by the Texans in 2013 who followed up a solid rookie year with a breakout season in 2014. He earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2015 before a down year in 2016 with Brock Osweiler under center in Houston. The Texans then signed him to a five-year, $81MM extension in 2017, at which point Hopkins began to take off. He averaged 105 catches, 1,372 yards, and 10 touchdowns over the next three seasons and earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in each year.

The Texans then surprised the league by trading Hopkins to the Cardinals in 2020, packaging him with a fourth-rounder to receive running back David Johnson and second- and fourth-round picks in return. Hopkins then signed a two-year, $54MM extension with the Cardinals.

Houston was widely criticized for the trade, especially after Hopkins’ debut year in Arizona ended with 115 catches for 1,400 yards and six touchdowns. That earned Hopkins his fourth-straight Pro Bowl appearance, but injuries plagued him over the next two years. After playing in at least 15 games in his first eight seasons, he appeared in just 19 across 2021 and 2022 with a commensurate decrease in production. Hopkins was released after the 2022 season and signed with the Titans, where he put up another 1,000-yard season despite inconsistent quarterback play from Will Levis and Ryan Tannehill.

Another downtick in production in 2024 showed that the 32-year-old Hopkins was no longer the dominant wideout he once was, but he won’t be asked to shoulder a heavy burden in Baltimore. The Ravens already have Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman at wide receiver and Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely at tight end, not to mention one of the best rushing attacks in league history with Jackson and Henry as the primary ballcarriers. Instead, Hopkins will play a tertiary role in the Ravens’ passing game, which has lacked a contested-catch specialist in the receiver room for most of Jackson’s tenure.

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