Transactions News & Rumors

Chargers, CB Donte Jackson Agree To Deal

March 10th, 2025 at 3:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Donte Jackson is the latest cornerback to find a new home on Monday. The veteran has an agreement in place with the Chargers, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

This will be a two-year deal, Schefter adds. Jackson can earn $13MM on his latest pact. After a one-and-done season in Pittsburgh, he will look to secure a starting role on a Chargers team which may lose Asante Samuel Jr. in the near future.

Samuel has yet to sign anywhere just yet, but after a four-game 2024 season, the second-generation NFL corner — who obviously spent much more time in Brandon Staley’s defense than Jesse Minter’s — may heading out of L.A. soon. Enter Jackson, who will relocate for a second straight offseason. After being part of Diontae Johnson‘s first of many 2024 transactions, Jackson will join a Chargers team that also has Kristian Fulton out of contract.

Although the Steelers re-signed Cameron Sutton after his offseason arrest led to a Lions release, Jackson logged a higher snap share on defense. Jackson, 29, started all 15 games he played with the Steelers and played 82% of the team’s defensive snaps. He intercepted five passes for Mike Tomlin’s team.

The Chargers are in disagreement with Pro Football Focus re: Jackson, as the advanced metrics site graded him 110th overall at corner (among regulars) last season. Perhaps illustrating how far we still need to go for reliable coverage metrics, Pro-Football-Reference tagged Johnson with a solid 59.7% completion rate allowed and an above-average 69.9 passer rating as the closest defender.

Jackson had previously signed a three-year, $35.18MM extension with the Panthers, starting 76 games with the team that made him a second-round pick. The Bolts saw rookie-year promise from Tarheeb Still but have some work to do at corner even after the Jackson addition.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Panthers To Add Patrick Jones

March 10th, 2025 at 3:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers did not wind up landing Milton Williams, but they are nevertheless adding along the defensive front. Edge rusher Patrick Jones is heading to Carolina, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

This will be a two-year deal, Garafolo adds. The pact has a maximum value of $20MM. Jones flashed potential in 2024, the final year of his rookie pact, and it has now earned him a payday.

Garafolo previously mentioned Jones as a player who might do better than expected in free agency, and his contract year is almost definitely at the root of it. Jones stepped in as a rotational rusher and registered seven sacks for the Vikings, who gave him only four starts throughout his rookie contract. Jones also racked up career-best numbers in tackles for loss (nine) and QB hits (12) last season.

Although Jones did tally four sacks in 2022, the Panthers are betting on the former third-round pick’s upside over his past production. That can be a good route to take in free agency, which regularly sees overpays. Jones, though, played 635 defensive snaps in 2023 and posted one sack. The Panthers also have major questions at edge rusher, with Jadeveon Clowney going into his age-32 season and ex-Jones Viking teammate D.J. Wonnum not seeing much time after a late activation off the PUP list.

No Panther topped six sacks after Brian Burns‘ departure, and the team plummeted to 32nd in both points and yards allowed — despite the team increasing its win total to five. The Panthers probably will still be on the lookout for EDGE help, but they have a hopeful hidden gem in Jones.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Raiders To Sign Jeremy Chinn

March 10th, 2025 at 3:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Raiders are set to lose Tre’von Moehrig, but they have moved quickly in finding another starter at the safety spot. Jeremy Chinn has an agreement in place with Vegas, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

This will be a two-year deal, Garafolo adds. Chinn will receive more than $16MM if he collects the full value of the pact. Over 75% of the contract is guaranteed at signing, making this a lucrative move for the versatile defender.

Although the Raiders were connected to keeping Moehrig or pursuing Camryn Bynum in free agency, they will end up with Chinn, who made a difference in Washington after being phased out in Carolina. Formerly the Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up who was a stat machine as versatile piece in Phil Snow’s defense, Chinn faded to a part-timer to close out Ejiro Evero’s first season running the show. But Chinn did much better in Washington.

Last season, Chinn logged 412 snaps in the box, 299 at free safety and 202 in the slot. Chinn delivered an all-around season, notching 117 tackles (a career-high seven for loss) to go with two sacks, two fumble recoveries and five pass deflections. He also mixed in a forced fumble and an interception. This did not land Chinn a big-ticket deal like Moehrig or Bynum agreed to Monday, but he still should have a chance at another free agency trip down the line.

Going into an age-27 season, Chinn is on track to start for a Raiders team that lost Moehrig and has Marcus Epps out of contract as well. He of 67 career starts (including 17 last year), the former second-round pick has three 100-tackle seasons on his resume. The Raiders, who also lost linebacker Robert Spillane, have a player in Chinn who has extensive experience in the box.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Bengals, DT T.J. Slaton Agree To Deal

March 10th, 2025 at 3:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

T.J. Slaton is set to be on the move. The Bengals have an agreement in place to add the defensive tackle, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Slaton will sign a two-year, $15.1MM deal, Pelissero adds. That marks a notable raise for the former fifth-rounder compared to his rookie contract. Having served as a full-time starter over the past two years, though, he could prove to be a worthwhile addition to Cincinnati’s defense.

Joining Bobby Brown as a young nose tackle paid Monday, Slaton exited the 2024 season ranked as the top run-stopping D-tackle, according to ESPN’s run stop win rate metric. Slaton placed ninth among interior D-linemen in this metric in 2023, establishing himself as a player with a valuable skill. Considering the Packers only used Slaton as a two-year starter, these assessments show he has made the most of his chances.

Going into his age-28 season, Slaton will join a Bengals team that let run stuffer D.J. Reader walk in 2024. The team ranked 25th in scoring defense and 19th against the run last season. Cincinnati also agreed to re-sign B.J. Hill today while adding linebacker Oren Burks. Slaton, however, has a clear role to play in the Queen City. He will be slated (no pun intended) to line up at nose tackle in Al Golden’s defense.

It is looking unlikely the Bengals will retain Trey Hendrickson, though they are setting a high price, and Sam Hubbard retired last week. The Bengals, however, did check their DT box off the to-do list — starters anyway — on Day 1 of free agency.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Giants To Sign DL Roy Robertson-Harris

March 10th, 2025 at 2:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

Roy Robertson-Harris visited with the Cardinals shortly after his release. The veteran defensive lineman has found a deal in short order, but it is not with Arizona.

Robertson-Harris has instead worked out an agreement with the Giants, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. This will be a two-year, $10MM deal, he adds. A veteran of 62 starts, he should be able to provide at least a rotational presence along the interior for New York. The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson clarifies the max value of the deal is $9MM.

A former Bears UDFA, Robertson-Harris had signed a Jaguars extension — a contract the team traded to the Seahawks midway through. After using Robertson-Harris sparingly post-trade, Seattle made the veteran interior D-lineman one of its bevy of cap casualties. Robertson-Harris drew interest from the Cardinals, but he will land in New York.

Robertson-Harris (62 career starts) signed two Jags contracts, the second a three-year deal worth $23.4MM. Pro Football Focus graded him 81st among interior D-linemen in 2024. For his career, the career-long 3-4 defensive end has 19 to go with 27 tackles for loss and 67 QB hits. Robertson-Harris, 31, started 17 games for the Jaguars in 2022 and ’23 and posted 6.5 sacks and 10 TFLs during that span.

The Giants will have Robertson-Harris as an option to use in their 3-4 scheme — an alignment the vet has played in throughout his career — alongside All-Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence. The team still has Rakeem Nunez-Roches and D.J. Davidson on its roster as well.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Titans To Re-Sign Sebastian Joseph-Day

March 10th, 2025 at 2:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

Sebastian Joseph-Day spent last season with the Titans, and he will remain in place for 2025. The veteran defensive lineman is re-signing in Tennessee, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Rapoport adds this will be a one-year pact including $5MM guaranteed. The deal can max out at $7.5MM. Joseph-Day started 12 games in 2024 and he will be counted on to remain a key presence up front for the Titans.

Tennessee is bumping Joseph-Day’s base value up by $1MM from his 2024 arrangement. While Joseph-Day’s years of commanding the kind of deals he did from the Chargers (3/24) are probably over, the former Rams cog is coming off a solid season. Joseph-Day, 30 later this month, finished with six tackles for loss — six more than he compiled during a 2023 season that involved an in-season release.

Waived by the Chargers shortly after they fired Brandon Staley and GM Tom Telesco, Joseph-Day resurfaced with the 49ers before making his way to Nashville as a free agent. A role player in two Super Bowls — the first of which because the usual Rams starter was a late-season IR activation — Joseph-Day joined Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat on a defensive line that was probably a 3-14 team’s bright spot. The Titans managed to rank 30th in scoring defense and second against the run. Pro Football Focus rated Joseph-Day as a top-10 run defender among interior D-linemen.

For his career, Joseph-Day now has 80 starts, 13 sacks and 24.5 TFLs. The Titans are changing up their edge-rushing equation, having cut Harold Landry, but they will run it back up front with Joseph-Day and Sweat complementing Simmons.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post

Jaguars, OL Patrick Mekari Agree To Deal

March 10th, 2025 at 2:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jaguars continue to renovate on offense today. The team’s latest move will see a notable addition up front. Patrick Mekari has agreed to a deal in Jacksonville, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. This will be a three-year pact with a base value of $37.5MM and a max of $39MM. Mekari will collect more than $20MM guaranteed.

The Ravens will miss Mekari, who had spent five of the last six years as an indispensable sixth-man on the offensive line. An undrafted free agent out of Cal, Mekari made himself an impressive asset in Baltimore thanks to his versatile ability to play every position along the offensive front. Despite not becoming a full-time starter for the Ravens until this past year, Mekari tallied 36 starts in his first five seasons. Not only that, but Mekari also started games at every position on the offensive line, an unheard-of accomplishment in today’s NFL.

This past season, Mekari started every game of the season for the first time in his career, though he still did so for two different positions. Mekari started the first three games of the season at right tackle as the Ravens attempted to ease second-round pick Roger Rosengarten into his rookie year. When it became apparent that Andrew Vorhees was struggling at left guard early, Mekari shifted inside and to the other side of the line and started there for the remainder of the season. While Pro Football Focus (subscription required) only graded him out as the 51st-best guard in the league, out of 77 players graded at the position, his ability to step in and start at any position — center, guard, tackle on the right or left side — was what made him so valuable as a free agent.

The Jaguars had some holes to fill on the interior of their offensive line with the retirement of center Mitch Morse and the expiration of right guard Brandon Scherff‘s contract. They likely won’t need Mekari to fill in at center, a position he started frequently during his early years in the league, as they’ve reached an agreement today with former Bucs center Robert Hainsey. Likely Mekari will fill Scherff’s old spot at right guard, though his noted versatility will give Jacksonville plenty of options in utilizing him.

As for the Ravens, Mekari’s departure will likely give Vorhees another chance at the starting job. Free agency has depleted Baltimore of its other backup linemen as both backup guard Ben Cleveland and backup tackle Josh Jones are set to join Mekari in free agency. The offensive line could be a focus of the team in the 2025 NFL Draft, though they could decide to address the position through free agency, as well.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.

DT Grady Jarrett To Land With Bears

March 10th, 2025 at 2:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

Grady Jarrett has rebounded swiftly from cap-casualty status. Hours after the Falcons released him, the veteran defensive tackle is joining the Bears on a deal fairly comparable to his previous Atlanta pact.

Chicago is adding Jarrett on a three-year, $43.5MM deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds $28.5MM will be guaranteed at signing. This represents a win for the 10-year Falcon, who is going into an age-32 season.

This signing comes after the Falcons had offered Jarrett a reduced deal, but ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler indicates the interior D-lineman believed his market value would produce a better contract. He appears to have been right. Jarrett will join a Bears team that has been busy along its lines. After trading for Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney, Chicago agreed to bring in Drew Dalman at center and Dayo Odeyingbo at DT.

While Dalman and Odeyingbo are first-time free agents, Jarrett and Thuney are closer to the end of their respective careers. The two faced off back in Super Bowl LI, a breakout night for Jarrett that included three sacks of Tom Brady. Thuney has maintained a higher performance level, earning back-to-back first-team All-Pro nods, but Jarrett has fared well contractually. This is his third veteran contract, after the Falcons had paid the former fifth-rounder in 2018 and 2022.

Jarrett has three double-digit TFL seasons, with his most recent slate coming in 2022. That marked Jarrett’s last season before an ACL tear, which marred his 2023 campaign. While Jarrett returned to action on time last year, he only accumulated 2.5 sacks. Though, the Falcons have continually offered Jarrett little support in terms of edge pressure. He has still racked up 77 TFLs and 36.5 sacks. Teaming with Odeyingbo and Montez Sweat presents a better situation than Jarrett has enjoyed in many years.

The Bears had used former second-round pick Gervon Dexter as a primary starter at DT, but it appears the 2022 draftee will be sliding to the second team soon. Fellow starter Andrew Billings remains under contract as well, but Jarrett and Odeyingbo will supply a high-priced tandem to help Chicago after its defense ranked 27th in yards allowed last season. The Bears were 28th against the run.

Jaguars To Sign TE Hunter Long

March 10th, 2025 at 2:27pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jaguars remain busy on the opening day of the negotiating window. Tight end Hunter Long is the latest free agent to agree to head to Jacksonville.

Long has a two-year deal in place, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. The pact has a base value of $5MM and can max out at $6MM. The veteran will represent a familiar face to Jags GM James Gladstone given Long’s time with the Rams.

Gladstone was in Les Snead‘s front office when the team acquired Long in the Jalen Ramsey trade. While Liam Coen was back at Kentucky (OC stint No. 2) at this point, Gladstone will bring the former Dolphins draftee back to Florida. Long, whom the Dolphins included along with a third-round pick to acquire Ramsey in March 2023, missed most of 2023 but was part of the Rams’ run game last season.

Catching seven passes with the Rams last year, Long only has eight grabs for his career. He provided more value as a blocker, ranking in the top 10 (per Pro Football Focus) among tight ends in the run game.

The Jaguars have moved on from a three-year Evan Engram partnership, creating a need for receiving production at the position, and lost Luke Farrell to the 49ers today. But they will bring in Long as a supporting-caster on an offense that will need some retooling after several skill-position players were shown the door over the past week.

Cardinals To Sign Josh Sweat

March 10th, 2025 at 2:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

The top edge rusher on the market has not needed to wait long to find a destination. Josh Sweat has reached a deal with the Cardinals, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

This will be a four-year, $76.4MM deal, Schefter adds. Sweat will collect $41MM guaranteed. Coming off a strong 2024 regular and postseason with the Eagles, he will be counted on to add a considerable boost along the edge in Arizona.

One of the top free agents entering the week, Sweat will parlay a dominant Super Bowl LIX performance into a nice third contract. The Cardinals will reunite the seven-year Eagles EDGE with Jonathan Gannon, Sweat’s DC for two seasons in Philly. The Eagles have now lost both Sweat and Milton Williams. Especially since the Super Bowl champs re-signed Zack Baun, these defections are not unexpected.

Sweat’s contract looks similar to Shaquil Barrett‘s after his Super Bowl rampage. The Buccaneers had agreed to a four-year, $72MM deal to bring back Barrett, who had pressured Patrick Mahomes throughout a Super Bowl LV blowout. Sweat did not do as well, but he also does not have a sack title on his resume like Barrett did. Still, Sweat did well to rebound after taking a pay cut to stay with the Eagles last year.

Carrying only one double-digit sack season on his resume (11 in 2022), Sweat still led a championship-winning Eagles team in sacks (eight) before registering 2.5 more against the Chiefs. Sweat pushing Kansas City LT Joe Thuney into Mahomes, forcing a Baun second-quarter interception, rounded out a banner night for a player who hit free agency at just 27. Sweat did well to only sign a three-year contract (worth $40MM) in 2021, keeping him squarely in his prime to cash in as the cap exploded. The cap has gone up by an astonishing $97MM since Sweat’s last contract.

The Cardinals re-signed Baron Browning just before free agency but will slide the ex-Bronco to the sidekick role upon landing Sweat. Stepping into Gannon’s system should bring familiarity, as Sweat’s best season came under Gannon. Sweat’s 11 sacks helped Philly threaten the 1984 Bears’ single-season sack record, and he became the player retained last year — ahead of a Haason Reddick separation. The Eagles still have Nolan Smith rostered, but Myles Garrett rumors turned out to be irrelevant after the latter’s record-smashing Browns extension.

Philly may need to add a piece to its edge rush, as little experience exists after Smith. A Cardinals team that has not effectively rebounded after the exists of Chandler Jones, J.J. Watt and Zach Allen acquired a proven pass rusher. More work remains on Arizona’s defensive line, but Sweat represents a building block in Gannon’s third season.

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