Transactions News & Rumors

Jaguars, S Eric Murray Agree To Deal; Team To Add WR Dyami Brown

March 10th, 2025 at 2:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jaguars have used Monday to line up a pair of offensive additions, but they are also making moves on defense. Safety Eric Murray is joining Jacksonville.

Team and player have agreed to a three-year, $22.5MM deal, as first reported by NFL Network’s Maurice Jones-Drew. The contract includes $12MM in guarantees. After a five-year run in Houston, Murray will remain in the AFC South.

In addition to the Murray agreement, a deal is also in place with Dyami Brown. The former Commanders wideout is signing a one-year pact, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Brown – whose rookie contract has expired – has secured a $10MM deal worth up to $12MM.

The Jaguars have made significant changes to their skill-position corps since Liam Coen arrived, cutting Evan Engram, Devin Duvernay and Josh Reynolds and trading Christian Kirk. Brown qualifies as a potential-over-production addition, as he has one season with more than 300 receiving yards — 308 in 2024. Washington did not see too much from the 2021 third-round pick, but Jacksonville will take what amounts to a semi-expensive flier.

Brown is heading into an age-26 season, and the Jags will certainly need to see more from him to justify this one-year payment. The team did not see its $13MM-per-year deal for Gabriel Davis amount to much last season, putting some pressure on the ex-Bills WR2 now that a new regime is running the show. Brown will step in as a complementary piece behind Davis and Brian Thomas Jr.

Murray has come back after multiple one-year contracts near the league minimum. This deal tops what the Texans gave him (three years, $18MM) back in 2020; the five-year Houston contributor — after playing for $2.5MM in 2023 and $1.75MM last season — has scored a massive raise. Murray did so despite going into an age-31 season. But as the Texans slid Jalen Pitre to the nickel spot, Murray moved into a starting role once again.

The former Chiefs fourth-rounder made 75 tackles and intercepted one pass during a season that produced a No. 54 overall safety grade from Pro Football Focus. The Jags lost Andre Cisco to the Jets on Monday; Murray’s contract will make him a clear candidate to replace him.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post

Broncos To Sign S Talanoa Hufanga

March 10th, 2025 at 1:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Carrying an interesting market into free agency, Talanoa Hufanga has blended one of this decade’s top safety seasons with an injury-plagued recent past. The former All-Pro, however, has naturally generated interest.

The Broncos are signing the three-year starter, 9News’ Mike Klis reports. Denver had been mentioned as a team pursuing Hufanga, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, even though they return both their 2024 safety starters. It would appear Hufanga will be in line to replace P.J. Locke alongside 2024 addition Brandon Jones in the Broncos’ starting lineup.

One of the top safeties available this offseason, Hufanga will not see his ACL tear and subsequent wrist injury cost him too much. His Broncos deal can be worth up to $45MM and includes $20MM guaranteed. Hufanga’s contract betters Jones’; the ex-Dolphin is on the Broncos’ cap sheet on a three-year, $20MM deal.

Denver is adding Hufanga ahead of his age-26 season and will hope the former fifth-round pick can remind of his 2022 form soon. Winning a starting job out of training camp that year, Hufanga intercepted four passes, forced two fumbles and posted two sacks for a top-five 49ers defense that season. Adding five TFLs that year, the USC product took one of his INTs back for a score. A year after cutting Justin Simmons, the Broncos have dived back into the safety market for help.

After a woeful 2023 start, Vance Joseph‘s unit has picked up the pieces. Jones was part of this effort last season, as Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 3 overall safety. Hufanga stands to be an upgrade on Locke, who had helped the 2023 Bronco edition rebound before not faring quite as well last season. Locke is tied to a two-year, $7MM pact and could well slide back to the second-string role he played behind Simmons and Kareem Jackson prior to 2023. The Broncos could also save more than $4MM by releasing Locke.

The 49ers had expressed interest in re-signing Hufanga, but they did see his injuries give Ji’Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha extensive playing time. San Francisco may opt to stay young at safety, especially as a big-ticket Brock Purdy extension looms. The Broncos will see Hufanga’s guarantees line up with Bo Nix‘s rookie contract.

Bears To Sign DL Dayo Odeyingbo

March 10th, 2025 at 1:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bears have made three major moves along the offensive line this offseason, and their defensive front is also undergoing changes. Dayo Odeyingbo is headed to the Windy City, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.

This will be a three-year deal, Biggs adds. $48MM represents the overall value of the pact, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. $32MM is guaranteed in full, according to his colleague Ian Rapoport.

PFR’s No. 12 overall free agent, Odeyingbo will parlay his work in multiple D-line roles in Indianapolis into an upper-middle-class D-tackle deal in Chicago. Odeyingbo became a bit too pricey for the Colts to retain, as they already have D-line commitments to DeForest Buckner, Samson Ebukam and Grover Stewart; the team also has first-rounders Kwity Paye and Laiatu Latu under contract.

Throwing out his injury-delayed rookie season — which came after a pre-draft Achilles tear — Odeyingbo totaled 21 tackles for loss and 45 QB hits in his career. He posted eight sacks in 2023, playing 210 snaps on the inside (compared to 162 in 2024), as the Colts finished with 51 sacks – fifth-most in the league. The young D-end combined for eight sacks between the 2022 and ’24 seasons and has forced four fumbles over the past two years.

Odeyingbo will bring a power component opposite Montez Sweat‘s pure pass-rushing skillset, though the former has extensive experience sliding inside to rush on passing downs. Grady Jarrett is now in place on the Bears’ D-line as well, giving Sweat much better complementary rushers than he enjoyed last season. Bears 2024 trade acquisition Darrell Taylor is now a free agent.

No Bears player surpassed six sacks last season, as Sweat’s total dropped significantly from 2023. The additions of Odeyingbo and Jarrett should add some muscle to Chicago’s defense, thus helping Sweat receive better opportunities. Sweat’s presence also will free up Odeyingbo. After operating as an auxiliary pass rusher with the Colts, the Purdue alum will be expected — via this $16MM-per-year deal — to be a consistent producer. Odeyingbo’s three-year contract will allow for a potential second lucrative payday down the road, should he deliver on this initial accord.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Colts, S Camryn Bynum Agree To Deal

March 10th, 2025 at 1:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts’ first agreement of the day is a lucrative one. Safety Camryn Bynum is set to join the Colts on a four-year, $60MM contract, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports.

Bynum’s work in Brian Flores‘ defense will secure him a upper-crust safety payday. More notably, this is a big-ticket outside free agency addition from the Colts, who have been hesitant to explore these avenues — for the most part — under GM Chris Ballard. The veteran front office boss pointed to a philosophical shift this offseason, however, and Bynum will be a big part of that.

A homegrown secondary has not produced positive results for the Colts, who struggled against the pass for much of Gus Bradley‘s three-year tenure. Lou Anarumo is now in place as Indianapolis’ DC. Anarumo’s Bengals defense missed Jessie Bates over the past two seasons; the veteran defensive play-caller will now have another young safety talent in his secondary.

This brings a potentially significant loss for the Vikings, who have Harrison Smith going into what would be an age-36 season. The Minnesota staple is contemplating retirement. The Vikes also have Byron Murphy and Stephon Gilmore in free agency, creating big-picture questions in their secondary. Rumblings about a Vikings-Bynum re-signing did not produce a deal, however, and the Colts will bet on the former fourth-round pick.

Bynum, who is going into an age-27 season, had been a quality role player on a Vikings defense that made major strides during Flores’ two seasons. Pro Football Focus viewed Bynum as taking a step back in his contract year, ranking him outside the top 60 after a 21st-place assessment in 2023. Though, Bynum has been durable (51 starts since 2022) and intercepted eight passes on his rookie deal. Bynum also forced three fumbles in 2023. The Cal product also made a substantial impact as a tackler, registering 137 in 2023 and 96 last season.

The Colts have Julian Blackmon again in free agency, and after a breakthrough Nick Cross season, the former third-round pick is in a contract year. Bynum’s deal may well impact Cross’ future, but as of now, the Colts do not have too much money allocated elsewhere in their secondary.

Jets To Sign QB Justin Fields

March 10th, 2025 at 1:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets are indeed prying Justin Fields from the Steelers. Pittsburgh’s long-rumored top option had been connected to Gang Green for several days now, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero report a deal is done.

Fields is joining the Jets on a two-year, $40MM contract that comes with $30MM guaranteed at signing. While the Steelers will look for another starter option, their 2024 backup secured a big raise to replace Aaron Rodgers. The latter is now a potential Pittsburgh option.

Linked to ramping up their Fields pursuit at the Combine, the Jets will land the youngest of this free agent crop’s starter-level options. Fields was unable to hold off Russell Wilson for the job last year, as Mike Tomlin overruled some staffers by turning to the veteran who had won the job out of training camp, but his going into an age-26 season created natural interest. Fields has roughly 3 1/2 seasons of starter work, and the Jets will attempt to mold him.

A Friday report pegging the Fields-Pittsburgh fit as a bit shaky, citing Tomlin’s decision to yank him from the starting lineup as a factor. Fields did not impress as a passer in 2024 and has never been among the league’s better options here, but the 2021 first-rounder does bring all-time rushing skills from the QB position. The Jets will need to coax improved play from the Ohio State alum through the air, but Tanner Engstrand’s offense does bring a bit of familiarity — personnel-wise, at least — for its new centerpiece.

Fields will reunite with Buckeyes target Garrett Wilson. The two overlapped as Ohio State regulars in 2019 and 2020, and after Wilson clashed with Rodgers last year, he will have his former college passer targeting him in 2025. The Jets again need a Wilson complement, after a few Rodgers-driven moves ultimately did not translate to wins, but they are checking the QB box off their list. While Fields may not be a set-it-and-forget-it option that keeps the Jets out of the mix for a rookie, they are at least covered for Aaron Glenn’s first season.

Fields matched his 2023 yards-per-attempt figure (6.9) and finished with a 5-1 TD-INT ratio during his six-start run in Pittsburgh. The former 1,000-yard Bears rusher also ran for five scores in 2024. He ranked 23rd in QBR in 2023 with the Bears, who had passed on drafting Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud first overall in 2023. Chicago’s effort to build around Fields ended largely because of the Panthers’ 2023 freefall, which gave the Bears Caleb Williams access.

Resurfacing in Pittsburgh after being traded for only a sixth-round pick, Fields had closed the gap on Wilson during the latter’s training camp calf injury and had supporters in the building when Tomlin benched him in October. Fields also was believed to have backers in Pittsburgh this offseason, and while it is unclear if he gave the team a chance to match the New York proposal, the Steelers need a new plan quickly.

Unlike the Giants, Browns or Titans, the Steelers sit nowhere close to the top of the draft. A trade-up for one of this year’s starter-level passers would be incredibly costly for Pittsburgh, which could certainly pivot back to Wilson as a stopgap as well. After so much Fields momentum, it is worth wondering how motivated Wilson would be to stay with his 2024 team — even as the decorated veteran expressed interest in re-signing before the offseason rumor cycle heated up.

As for the Jets, this marks a bit of a course change. They had tabbed top-three draft choices (Sam Darnold, Zach Wilson) and a trade pickup (Rodgers) to start over the past seven seasons. The organization had also turned to draft choices (Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith) previously. This agreement reminds of the Ryan Fitzpatrick fit, though Fields and the current Amazon analyst’s skillsets certainly differ. The Jets, who have now seen two blockbuster Packers trades at the position backfire, will hope Fields can show upside that would prevent yet another first-round QB from stopping through in the near future.

Jags To Sign Nick Mullens, Johnny Mundt

March 10th, 2025 at 1:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

Grant Udinski made the move from Minnesota to Jacksonville as the team’s new offensive coordinator. A pair of former Vikings are following him to the Jags.

Quarterback Nick Mullens has a Jacksonville deal in place, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports. This will be a two-year pact worth $6.5MM. Mullens will collect $3MM guaranteed as Trevor Lawrence‘s new backup.

The Jags are also inking tight end Johnny Mundt, per Garafolo’s colleague Tom Pelissero. His deal is also two years in length and it is worth $5.5MM. Mundt, along with Mullens, will look to have success in continuing to work with Udinski in Duval County.

Following Jacksonville’s new OC from Minnesota, Mullens joins the Jags after spending three years as a backup. Mullens played behind Kirk Cousins for two seasons and Sam Darnold for one, receiving some starting chances when Cousins suffered an Achilles tear midway through the 2023 season. Mullens, 30 later this month, has made 20 career starts — most of them coming as a Jimmy Garoppolo fill-in with the 49ers.

The former San Francisco UDFA is 5-15 as a starter, but he carries a career 8.0 yards-per-attempt figure and a 65.8% completion rate. Mullens went 0-3 as a starter in place of Cousins in 2023, having replaced Joshua Dobbs as the latter’s momentum faded, but Minnesota retained him to play behind Darnold following J.J. McCarthy‘s meniscus tear. When the Vikings added Daniel Jones to the practice squad, he never usurped Mullens as the backup. After the Vikes activated Jones, he did not dress for their wild-card game over Mullens.

Mundt, 30, treks to Jacksonville and will join Hunter Long as TEs added in the wake of the Evan Engram release. Like Long, Mundt has not made his bones as a receiver. Mundt has yet to catch 20 passes in a season or eclipse 200 yards. Both Mundt and Mullens are older than the Jags’ new OC, who is 28.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Rams To Sign DL Poona Ford

March 10th, 2025 at 1:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

Poona Ford will remain in Los Angeles next season, but he will not be a member of the Chargers. The veteran defensive lineman has a deal in place with the Rams.

This will be a three-year pact, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. The deal is worth just under $30MM and includes $17MM in guarantees. That marks a notable raise compared to Ford’s one-year Chargers contract from last year.

Not seeing too much time with the Bills in 2023, Ford played a much bigger role with the Bolts. Logging a 32% snap share in 2023 with Buffalo (in eight games), Ford stepped in as a starter on Jim Harbaugh’s low-cost defensive line. The former Seahawk stood out, ranking as Pro Football Focus’ No. 5 overall interior defender.

Ford, 29, matched his career high with eight tackles for loss and contributed three sacks to help Jesse Minter’s defense climb to No. 1 in points allowed. The Bolts relied on other low-cost cogs to make this ascent — after underachieving during Brandon Staley’s time in charge — but Ford was quite important, starting every game the team played during a rebound season. The seven-year vet also batted down five passes and intercepted another.

Quietly running his career start total to 81 (after a four-season run as a Seattle first-stringer), Ford did well to reestablish his value before it was too late to fetch a quality contract. This deal also dwarfs his two-year, $12.4MM Seattle pact from earlier this decade. Ford will join a Rams team that lost two-year nose tackle Bobby Brown to the Panthers. Ford will be in position to play alongside Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske up front with the Rams.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Panthers Expected To Sign Tre’von Moehrig

March 10th, 2025 at 1:10pm CST by Rory Parks

The Panthers lost out to the Patriots in the battle to sign coveted free agent DT Milton Williams, but another big fish is still on the line. Safety Tre’von Moehrig looks to have an agreement in place with Carolina, per Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz.

Schultz says Moehrig is set to receive a three-year, $51MM pact. While the incumbent Raiders were interested in retaining him, the 25-year-old will find himself on the move once the contract is finalized. Moehrig’s new pact can top out at $60MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com adds.

A second-round pick of Las Vegas in the 2021 draft, Moehrig has been in the starting lineup since Week 1 of his rookie campaign. The TCU alum made a successful transition from Gus Bradley’s defense in 2021 to Patrick Graham’s in the subsequent three seasons, and he saved the best for his walk year. Marcus Epps going down in Week 3 of the 2024 slate allowed for Moehrig to play near the line of scrimmage more frequently (439 box snaps in 2024 compared to 326 in ’23), and he responded with a career-best 104 tackles to go with five TFLs and a sack. Moehrig also snared two interceptions, giving him five over the past two seasons.

Per Pro Football Focus, Moehrig ranks in the top-15 among safeties in terms of INTs and forced incompletion rate from 2023-24. That production set him up as one of the most desirable DBs on this year’s free agent market, and he landed at No. 24 on our list of 2025’s Top 50 FAs.

Carolina, which finished dead last in terms of total defense and in the bottom-10 in terms of passing yards allowed in 2024, was known to be targeting defensive reinforcements for DC Ejiro Evero‘s unit. That agenda triggered the pursuit of Williams and Moehrig, and the Panthers have also agreed to sign edge rusher Patrick Jones and D-linemen Bobby Brown and Tershawn Wharton.

The Raiders, perhaps knowing they were going to lose Moehrig to another club, agreed to terms with fellow safety Jeremy Chinn earlier today.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Vikings To Sign CB Isaiah Rodgers

March 10th, 2025 at 12:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

In the wake of the Eagles releasing corners Darius Slay and James Bradberry, it seemed Isaiah Rodgers was in line to step into a notable role. Instead, he will be on the move.

Rodgers has agreed to terms on a two-year deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The pact is worth $15MM and includes $8MM fully guaranteed. Rodgers has come back from a season-long suspension to earn multiyear pact, winning a Super Bowl ring between his gambling ban and this agreement.

Receiving an indefinite suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy while with the Colts, Rodgers missed the 2023 season but resided as an Eagles stash that year. With Vic Fangio taking over, the ex-Colts starter/kick returner played a supporting role as the Eagles broke in two rookies (Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean).

Using Rodgers as a three-game starter, the Eagles gave him 328 defensive snaps for a CB corps that stayed mostly healthy. Rodgers, who had worked as a Colts boundary defender in 2022, broke up three passes in the playoffs for the Eagles last season. The team had eyed another agreement with the 27-year-old cover man, but it does not seem like it was quite prepared to go where Minnesota did.

As the Vikings have Murphy back in the fold and slot defender Josh Metellus under contract, Rodgers will be positioned to vie for the boundary job Stephon Gilmore may be vacating. Gilmore is considering retirement after his age-34 season. The Vikings, who sported a top-five defense last season, may still lose three secondary charges, as stalwart safety Harrison Smith is now 36 and also contemplating walking way. Rodgers, then, could become a key presence on Brian Flores’ third Vikes defense.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Lions To Sign CB D.J. Reed

March 10th, 2025 at 12:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

Carlton Davis‘ free agency defection (to the Patriots) will not go unanswered for even an hour. The Lions have a deal in place with another high-end free agent at the position.

D.J. Reed is heading from Aaron Glenn‘s current team to his former team, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Viewed by many as the top cornerback in this class, Reed secured $48MM over three years. Although the Lions used first- and second-round picks on corners last year, the team still prioritized a veteran to replace Davis.

PFR’s No. 9 overall free agent, Reed rated as our top corner available. The three-year Sauce Gardner sidekick delivered solid work in New York, but the team has the All-Pro on its extension radar and gave Michael Carter a top-market slot deal last summer. That left Reed set to explore the market, and he will land a second lucrative deal in free agency.

Reed, 28, has shown the value of agreeing to a three-year deal during his first crack at free agency. The former 49ers and Seahawks contributor hit the market a second time and parlayed his age and performance into a raise from the Lions. Reed, who will not turn 30 until November 2026, played out a three-year, $33MM deal with the Jets.

Among boundary corners to start at least 10 games last season, Reed ranked 11th in yards per target (6.4). The same measurement in 2023 places Reed (6.6) 12th. Pro Football Focus ranked Reed 16th among CB regulars in 2023 and 31st in ’24. Gardner soared to the All-Pro level immediately, but Reed provided a solid complementary piece. He will now work opposite Terrion Arnold in Detroit, as the Lions will place a veteran CB deal in a secondary housing rookie contracts at corner and safety (Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph).

The Lions are transitioning to a new DC for the first time in Dan Campbell‘s run, but they ensured continuity in Kelvin Sheppard. Reed brings an important piece for a Lions team that ran into injury trouble in the secondary — via Davis’ late-season broken jaw — and along its defensive line. As Aidan Hutchinson makes his way back to a team that is also hoping Marcus Davenport shakes his recent string of injuries, Sheppard’s secondary could be an imposing one in 2025.

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