Cooper Kupp, Geno Smith, Justin Fields, Najee Harris, and More NFL News

Cooper Kupp and more as Sigmund Bloom runs down the week in NFL news.

Sigmund Bloom's Cooper Kupp, Geno Smith, Justin Fields, Najee Harris, and More NFL News Sigmund Bloom Published 03/13/2025

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Follow all of the free-agent moves with our Player Movement Tracker.

News About AFC Teams

Baltimore Ravens News

The Ravens signed OT Ronnie Stanley to a three-year, $60 million deal.

Why It Matters: Stanley started all 17 games last year after only playing in 31 over the previous four years. He's about to turn 31, which isn't ancient by offensive tackle standards, so the Ravens may have gotten a good deal here to keep their long-time left tackle in-house. The offensive line went through some changes last year, but Stanley's return will help a line that otherwise is composed of players on their rookie contracts.

The Ravens signed WR DeAndre Hopkins to a one-year, $6 million deal.

Why It Matters: Hopkins will help the Ravens offense, but he doesn't have much to offer fantasy teams anymore.  He'll be the #3 wide receiver behind Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman and the fourth or fifth option in the pass offense at best. Hopkins will only have fantasy relevance if the Ravens' passing game is depleted by injuries. He'll get another shot at a ring after playing for mediocre teams before getting traded to the Chiefs last year.

Buffalo Bills News

The Bills signed QB Josh Allen to a six-year, $330 million contract.

Why It Matters: This will certainly look like a bargain as Allen gets into the later years of the extension that keeps him under contract through 2030. That will give the Bills extra flexibility as they resume their perennial run to finally get atop the AFC mountain and advance to a Super Bowl during the Allen era. The Bills also signed EDGE Gregory Rousseau to a four-year, $80 million extension and signed LB Terrel Bernard to a four-year, $50 million deal. Both were in the final year of their rookie deal, and both deals, like Allen's, should be cost savers as the cap continues to go up significantly every season.

The Bills signed WR Joshua Palmer to a three-year, $36 million deal.

Why It Matters: Palmer will replace Amari Cooper and Mack Hollins, who are both free agents and not returning to the Bills. There's some best-ball appeal there, so Palmer should move out of the undrafted ranks in Underdog drafts. Palmer is a good enough outside wide receiver option to be competition for targets with Keon Coleman, so Coleman's current ADP in the 110s will either hold steady or drop slightly with this news.

Cincinnati Bengals News

The Bengals signed TE Mike Gesicki to a three-year, $25.5 million deal.

Why It Matters: This was a small surprise, as the Bengals were expected to have their cap room tied up while trying to sign all three of Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Trey Hendrickson to long-term deals. Now Hendrickson is on the trade block so that freed up money to sign Gesicki, who was the latest tight end to have a career revival with Joe Burrow. Gesicki's ADP is sure to go up from the pre-free agency level of right around pick 200.

The Bengals signed RB Samaje Perine to a two-year, $3.8 million deal.

Why It Matters: Perine will take some passing downs and help spell Chase Brown, but have no doubt that the Bengals still see Brown as an every-down workhorse after his strong second half in the wake of Zack Moss's season-ending neck injury. Brown is going in the third round of early Underdog drafts, but he's a second-round value.

Cleveland Browns News

The Browns signed DE Myles Garrett to a four-year extension.

Why It Matters: This was the more likely path forward than a blockbuster trade. The Browns will try to stay competitive, with a trade for Kirk Cousins the possible next domino, but quarterback still very much in play at #2, or perhaps in the second round with Alabama's Jalen Milroe having experience with new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. The contract extension comes in at $40 million a season, which is sure to raise the price for Micah Parsons in Dallas and Trey Hendrickson wherever he ends up via trade.

The Browns traded QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick to the Eagles for QB Kenny Pickett.

Why It Matters: Pickett gives the Browns an emergency plan at quarterback if they don't trade for Kirk Cousins and reunite him with Kevin Stefanski. He still has a pulse in deep superflex dynasty leagues, but it's clear that his stint with the Eagles didn't enhance his value much, if at all.

Denver Broncos News

The Broncos signed LB Dre Greenlaw to a three-year, $35 million deal and S Talanoa Hufanga to a three-year, $45 million deal.

Why It Matters: The Broncos added two hard-hitting 49ers to a defense that was already one of the best in the league last year. Greenlaw should be healthy after getting back on the field near the end of the season briefly, showing he was back from his freak Achilles injury in Super Bowl LVIII. Hufanga will start next to Brandon Jones and open up a spot in the 49ers defense for 2024 fourth-round Malik Mustapha, who looked ready to be a full-time player as a rookie last season, filling in for an injured Hufanga.

The Broncos signed TE Evan Engram to a two-year, $23 million deal.

Why It Matters: Engram should get enough targets to remain fantasy-relevant in Denver, but he might not get the kind of target load he had in Jacksonville. His ADP will go up from its pre-free agency level of 140 because Sean Payton wanted him, but the Broncos could still draft a tight end early from this stacked class.

Houston Texans News

The Texans traded OT Laremy Tunsil and a 2025 fourth-round pick to Washington for a 2026 second, 2025 third, 2026 fourth, and 2025 seventh-round pick.

Why It Matters: The Texans also traded away Kenyon Green to the Eagles for Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and released Shaq Mason. The already beleaguered offensive line will have three new starters. One will probably be Laken Tomlinson, who signed a modest one-year, $4.25 million deal after starting every game for the porous Seahawks line last year. 2024 second-round pick Blake Fisher will likely start at right tackle, with Tytus Howard changing sides to replace Tunsil. It probably can't get worse for the Texans line, but there could be some bumps in the road before it gets better.

Indianapolis Colts News

The Colts signed CB Charvarius Ward to a three-year, $60 million deal and S Cam Bynum to a four-year, $60 million deal.

Why It Matters: The Colts haven't invested much in their secondary, while Chris Ballard has been the general manager, but that changed this year. Ward wasn't his usual shutdown #1 self last year by his own admission, but he still gives the Colts a better chance to match up with Calvin Ridley, Brian Thomas Jr., and Nico Collins. Bynum had five takeaways last year and should add a playmaking element to the back of the Colts defense.

The Colts signed QB Daniel Jones to a one-year, $14 million deal.

Why It Matters: The Colts said they were going to have a quarterback competition this year, and this signing matches with that. Jones has an experience edge over Anthony Richardson, and it appears the organization has soured on the 2023 #4 overall pick. This will be one of the biggest stories to watch in training camp, and the winner will be a good value pick at quarterback. Both are available outside of the first 10 rounds in early Underdog drafts.

Jacksonville Jaguars News

The Jaguars signed WR Dyami Brown to a one-year, $10 million deal.

Why It Matters: Brown came on in the playoffs and earned a nice short-term payday. He'll vie with Gabe Davis for snaps outside opposite Brian Thomas Jr. The Commanders traded for Deebo Samuel Sr. earlier this month to replace Brown and others who rotated as Washington's #2/#3 wide receivers.

Kansas City Chiefs News

The Chiefs signed LB Nick Bolton to a three-year, $45 million deal.

Why It Matters: The Chiefs gave Bolton a top-of-the-market contract after he was one of the few players who showed up in an embarrassing Super Bowl blowout loss. He'll be an LB2/LB3 level play helped by continuity in Steve Spagnuolo's defense. Spending a second-round pick on Bolton, even though he was slightly undersized by NFL linebacker standards, has paid off for Kansas City.

WR Xavier Worthy was arrested on a domestic violence charge, but the Williamson County (Texas) authorities decided to drop the charge.

Why It Matters: The league will surely do its own investigation, so Worthy isn't completely out of the woods as far as a suspension or fine goes, but this turned from a potentially big story to a small one pretty quickly. We should still file it away in case Worthy's name comes up in similar situations in the future because it does affect how the league sees future infractions when a player is tarnishing the shield via making the news for the wrong reasons.

The Chiefs signed WR Marquise Brown to a one-year, $6.85 million deal.

Why It Matters: Brown is getting basically the same amount he got from the Chiefs last year, even though he barely played. It appears he has chemistry with Patrick Mahomes II, and he could have a larger role during the season if Rashee Rice isn't ready for Week or when/if Rice is suspended for a drag racing incident last year. Brown's pre-free agency ADP of 138 on Underdog should move up with him back in Kansas City.

The Chiefs signed RB Elijah Mitchell to a one-year deal and OL Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30 million deal.

Why It Matters: Mitchell has had trouble staying healthy, but he can provide home run speed when healthy as a contrast to Isiah Pacheco's rugged running style. He was completely off of the fantasy radar in early Underdog drafts, but that will clearly change now. Don't be surprised if the Chiefs add another back in the draft next month to complicate this further. Moore joins Mitchell on the San Francisco to Kansas City track. That he got $15 million a year despite mostly being a backup for the 49ers shows how hard it is to find help at offensive tackle, which is where the Chiefs sorely needed it last year.

Las Vegas Raiders News

The Raiders traded a third-round pick to the Seahawks for QB Geno Smith.

Why It Matters: Pete Carroll and Smith are reunited in Las Vegas, which is a big upgrade from what the Raiders have had at quarterback the last two seasons. He is in the last year of his deal and apparently the Seahawks had other plans at quarterback, signing Sam Darnold instead. Smith should help the fantasy value of Brock Bowers, who is already the clear TE1 in 2025 drafts, and Jakobi Meyers, who is actually not that underrated at an early draft ADP of 81. Smith should enjoy better offensive line play than he saw last year in Seattle and could be a bounce-back candidate at the very cheap price of QB28 and an ADP in the 170s.

The Raiders signed RB Raheem Mostert.

Why It Matters: This is the third time Mostert and Chip Kelly have been together. While the Raiders are certain to draft a running back early, maybe even Boise State's Ashton Jeanty at #6, Mostert should be on our waiver wire watch list at worst. He didn't look washed up at age 32 last year and obviously still has the trust of Kelly, whose Eagles signed him as a UDFA back in 2015 with Philadelphia. The following year, both ended up with the 49ers.

Los Angeles Chargers News

The Chargers signed EDGE Khalil Mack to a one-year, $18 million contract.

Why It Matters: Mack was still impactful last year, even though he was slowed by a groin injury. He and the Chargers thought it best to come to a new deal before he hit free agency. Mack has endeared himself to the new regime and should be a solid matchup edge defender play in IDP leagues with the ability to win your week in any given game.

The Chargers signed RB Najee Harris to a one-year, $5.25 million contract.

Why It Matters: Harris is in line to lead a run-first team in backfield touches, which should push his ADP up from the 9th-round range it was in going into free agency, but note the one-year contract length and relatively low salary for a starter, even at running back. The Chargers could still add a running back in the draft, perhaps even in the first round at pick #22.

The Chargers signed WR Mike Williams to a one-year, $6 million deal.

Why It Matters: Williams returns to the Chargers after he left for the Jets and was traded to the Steelers midseason in 2024. He was released last offseason by the Chargers, but the new regime must have gotten a good impression in the short time they were in the building together. Williams won't have much fantasy value but could start with Joshua Palmer signing in Buffalo. This signing is actually good news for Ladd McConkey's value because it means the team is less likely to make a splashy addition at wide receiver in the draft.

Miami Dolphins News

The Dolphins signed QB Zach Wilson to a one-year, $6 million deal.

Why It Matters: Wilson has been mentioned as a possible reclamation project in this year's free agency cycle. Landing with Mike McDaniel isn't a bad development for his road back to respectability, and Tua Tagovailoa's durability record leaves the door open for Wilson to rehabilitate his image on the field at some point this season. He should be on our waiver wire watch list in Superflex dynasty leagues.

New England Patriots News

The Patriots signed DT Milton Williams to a four-year, $106 million deal, EDGE Harold Landry III to a three-year, $43.5 million deal, LB Robert Spillane to a three-year, $33 million deal, and CB Carlton Davis to a three-year, $60 million deal.

Why It Matters: The Patriots came into free agency with a ton of cap room and spent it mostly on defensive players who have a connection to the coaching staff. Williams is the only one who didn't play for Mike Vrabel or defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, but he was one of the stars of Super Bowl LIX for the Eagles and should have a larger role in New England. If Christian Barmore can return from his blood clot issues, then he, Williams, Keion White, and Landry should make up maybe the most athletic defensive line in the NFL. Landry isn't the pass rush threat he used to be, but he can still bend the arc to get after the quarterback and should benefit from the quality of players around him. That includes Davis, who will be cast as a #2 opposite budding shutdown corner Christian Gonzalez. Davis should avoid unfavorable matchups against quicker/faster receivers and instead be able to use his length and physical style to disrupt routes and blanket opposing receivers. Spillane was a fan favorite in Pittsburgh and Las Vegas (when Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was head coach), but actually started his career under Vrabel in Tennessee. He'll move up in the LB2/LB3 ranks in IDP leagues with this move.

New York Jets News

The Jets signed LB Jamien Sherwood to a three-year, $45 million deal.

Why It Matters: Sherwood was a breakout player in IDP leagues last year, and the Jets new regime made it a top priority to bring him back. He's in the new breed of linebackers that were undersized by previous standards but are more important in this pass-heavy version of the NFL. The size of the contract and affinity from Aaron Glenn and Co. should push Sherwood up IDP rankings in both dynasty and redraft leagues. Sherwood has hit it big after lasting until the 146th pick of the 2021 draft.

The Jets signed CB Brandon Stephens to a three-year, $36 million deal.

Why It Matters: This one is curious, as Stephens didn't exactly blossom as a running back convert to cornerback with the Ravens, but he's in line to start for Aaron Glenn's defense after the Lions got a bit of payback when they signed D.J. Reed away from the Jets in free agency to replace Carlton Davis, who signed New England. Expect opposing quarterbacks to pick on Stephens until he punishes them for doing it.

The Jets signed QB Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million deal.

Why It Matters: Fields gets a starting job, which should boost him multiple rounds in early best ball drafts, where he was falling to pick 150 and later. New offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand should be able to craft an offense to Fields' strengths, and Fields will be reunited with college teammate Garrett Wilson, who is set up for a career year now. The fantasy impact of this move could be underestimated after Fields was unceremoniously replaced by Russell Wilson last year. Fields had the last laugh as Wilson has found a lukewarm reception in free agency.

Pittsburgh Steelers News

The Steelers traded the 52nd pick of the upcoming draft to the Seahawks for WR DK Metcalf and signed Metcalf to a four-year, $132 million extension.

Why It Matters: For fantasy, this is a disaster for both Metcalf and George Pickens, but in NFL tactical terms, it could give the running game more room to operate as defenses will have to account for deep threats on both sides of the field now. It doesn't appear that a trade of Pickens is on the horizon, but the Steelers are much less likely to bring Pickens back in free agency next year after committing big money to Metcalf. We'll wait to see who will be throwing the ball to them, as the Steelers are trying to sign Aaron Rodgers, with bringing back Russell Wilson as a Plan B. They also brought back Mason Rudolph to back up whoever is going to start in a minor move this week.

The Steelers signed RB Jaylen Warren to a second-round restricted free agent tender worth $5.3 million for one year and signed RB Kenneth Gainwell to a one-year contract.

Why It Matters: Warren should be the starter and get a boost in value with Najee Harris signing in Los Angeles. His ADP should go up from the 80s, but don't rule out the Steelers drafting a running back from this deep class. It might not happen until the third round or later after they traded away their second-round pick for DK Metcalf, but a running back pick at #21 isn't impossible. Gainwell was impressive against the Steelers last season, and they noticed. He'll help lighten the load on Warren but shouldn't be a threat to his season-long and weekly ceiling.

Tennessee Titans News

The Titans signed OT Dan Moore to a four-year, $82 million deal.

Why It Matters: This is a massive payday for a player who is only a league-average offensive tackle, and that's if you view him in the best possible light. 2024 #7 pick JC Latham can at least move to his natural position of right tackle now, and there aren't many offensive line coaches that are better than Bill Callahan, but this stands out as a possible massive overpay based on Moore's level of play with Pittsburgh.

The Titans signed LB Cody Barton to a three-year, $21 million deal.

Why It Matters: It's not a huge contract, but Barton should be in line to lead the Titans in tackles after Kenneth Murray Jr. was traded to Dallas and Jack Gibbens was not tendered as a restricted free agent. Barton wasn't thought of that highly in IDP leagues going into the offseason, but that should change after the Titans targeted him early in free agency.

News About NFC Teams

Atlanta Falcons News

The Falcons signed LB Divine Deablo to a two-year, $14 million deal.

Why It Matters: Deablo will compete with Troy Andersen for the inside linebacker job next to Kaden Elliss. Deablo was a productive starter for Las Vegas the last three seasons and should be the favorite to win over the athletically gifted, but oft-injured Andersen. Elandon Roberts was signed on a very cheap deal in Las Vegas and could be the replacement for Deablo.

Arizona Cardinals News

The Cardinals signed DE Josh Sweat to a four-year, $76 million deal.

Why It Matters: Sweat is enjoying the annual practice of players getting a bump in free agency pay after their team wins the Super Bowl. He immediately becomes the Cardinals best pass rusher on the edge and should set a career high in snaps on his new team. 

Carolina Panthers News

The Panthers signed S Tre'von Moehrig to a three-year, $51 million deal.

Why It Matters: Moehrig should become the quarterback of the secondary for the Panthers, who also signed #1 corner Jaycee Horn to a four-year, $100 million extension. Moehrig was a starter for the Raiders for four years after they took him in the second round in 2021. Isaiah Pola-Mao and free agent signing Jeremy Chinn are in line to start at safety for the Raiders now.

The Panthers signed RB Rico Dowdle to a one-year contract.

Why It Matters: Dowdle might have passed up a chance to return to the Cowboys in a bid for more money that never materialized. Now, he'll be a backup with the ability to become a solid starter if Chuba Hubbard goes down. This is a reminder that we probably won't see Jonathon Brooks this year, and may never see anything near what we and the Panthers were hoping for when they took him in the second round last year.

The Panthers gave WR Adam Thielen a raise from the last year of his contract and he will return for the 2025 season.

Why It Matters: Thielen came on when Bryce Young found his game in the second half of the season, and should be in line to lead the Panthers in catches this season. This is also good for 2024 UDFA Jalen Coker after Thielen took him under his wing last year.

Chicago Bears News

The Bears signed OL Drew Dalman to a three-year, $42 million deal.

Why It Matters: Dalman was probably the best center available in free agency. The Bears have very quickly rebuilt their interior offensive line in a great sign that Ben Johnson sees exactly where everything went wrong for the Bears offense last year. RFA Ryan Neuzil was tendered at a right of first refusal level by the Falcons and could be the replacement for Dalman on an otherwise very stable offensive line.

Dallas Cowboys News

The Cowboys signed RB Javonte Williams to a one-year, $3 million deal.

Why It Matters: Williams veteran chops on passing downs should mesh nicely with whatever rookie back the Cowboys take on the first or second day of the draft. This should give Williams a bump in best-ball leagues, but his ADP will come down after the draft unless the Cowboys fail to secure a strong prospect despite having no starting level quality back for the second straight season.

The Cowboys signed WR/KR KaVontae Turpin to a three-year, $13.5 million deal.

Why It Matters: The Cowboys offense is short on playmakers, but Turpin could get more work than expected, in addition to being one of the premier return threats in the NFL. New head coach Brian Schottenheimer is apparently high on Turpin's potential as an offensive piece.

Detroit Lions News

The Lions signed DB D.J. Reed to a three-year, $48 million deal.

Why It Matters: The Lions lost Carlton Davis to the Patriots, but got a good replacement in free agency. Reed's strong performance against Justin Jefferson last year could have been part of why he was so high on the team's free-agent target list. Reed could be the #1 corner in a cornerback group made up of youngsters and reclamation projects. 

Green Bay Packers News

The Packers signed OL Aaron Banks to a four-year, $77 million deal.

Why It Matters: Banks is one of many players that the 49ers lost in what looks like a cost cutting year for the team as they prepare to sign Brock Purdy to a second contract in the next year. Banks might not have played up to the top end guard money he got from the Packers, but he was one of the best options out there in free agency at the position.

Los Angeles Rams News

The Rams signed WR Davante Adams to a two-year, $46 million deal with $26 million guaranteed and released WR Cooper Kupp.

Why It Matters: Adams value should be up on this news. He'll be in a much better offense. Matthew Stafford is more than good enough to make up whatever Rodgers Rules bump Adams got from their reunion in New York last year. His early Underdog ADP of 50 is sure to rise at least one round in the wake of the Rams release of Cooper Kupp. That the Rams think more of Adams even though he is older and they know Kupp better than any other team is very telling.

The Rams signed QB Jimmy Garoppolo to a one-year, $11 million deal.

Why It Matters: Garoppolo is a solid system quarterback and he should give the offense a relatively high floor if Stafford goes down. The Rams were one play from the NFC title game last year and a home date with Washington, and this move along with the new deal for Stafford shows they very much see themselves in a Super Bowl window.

Minnesota Vikings News

The Vikings signed RB Aaron Jones to a two-year, $20 million deal.

Why It Matters: The Vikings brought back Jones on a modest starter level deal that should keep his value intact for the 2025 season. His ADP before this move was around the 90th pick and should get a small boost back to where it was last offseason. The Vikings could still draft a running back and probably should after they appeared to move on from Ty Chandler with the midseason trade for Cam Akers last year.

The Vikings signed CB Byron Murphy II to a three-year, $66 million deal, DT Jonathan Allen to a three-year, $60 million deal and DT Javon Hargrave to a two-year, $30 million deal.

Why It Matters: Minnesota keeps their best corner at a reasonable price and adds two big upgrades to the defensive line with their opening salvo of free agency. More importantly, none of these signings count against the compensatory pick formula because Allen and Hargrave were released and Murphy played for the Vikings last year. That preserves the likely third round pick they will get for losing Sam Darnold in free agency if they don't make any other big signings of another team's free agent.

The Vikings signed C Ryan Kelly to a two-year, $18 million deal and OG Will Fries to a five-year, $88 million deal. 

Why It Matters: The interior offensive line was a problem last year, and the Vikings addressed it by poaching two standouts from the Colts. Kelly is getting to the autumn of his career, but the price was right. Fries is coming back from a season-ending broken tibia, but he was probably the best guard available in free agency. He chose the Vikings over the Giants. The Colts spent third and fourth round picks on Tanor Bortolini and Matt Goncalves last year, and both are in line to start in their second year in the wake of these moves.

New Orleans Saints News

The Saints restructured the contract of QB Derek Carr.

Why It Matters: There was a small crack in the door for the Saints to move on from Carr and go full-on rebuilding mode as they are in a bad spot with the cap, but this ensures that he'll start for them for at least one more year. 

The Saints signed DE Chase Young to a three-year, $51 million deal.

Why It Matters: Young played in all 17 games last year and was very good. He wanted to return to New Orleans because he had a good experience with the team and should continue to rebuild his value in IDP leagues after failing to deliver on very high expectations in Washington as the #2 pick in the 2020 draft.

The Saints signed TE Juwan Johnson to a three-year, $21.25 million deal.

Why It Matters: With Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau both likely on the shelf going into training camp, Johnson has a chance to be a primary target for Derek Carr next year. Johnson was once a highly recruited wide receiver, and has successfully reinvented himself as a tight end after going undrafted in 2020. He was also undrafted in most Underdog leagues this offseason, but that is likely to change now.

New York Giants News

The Giants signed WR Darius Slayton to a three-year, $36 million deal.

Why It Matters: Relations between Slayton and the Giants have been testy at times, but he has now signed his third deal with the team, and this one is a big raise from the two-year, $12 million deal he signed in 2023. Malik Nabers is still the clear #1 in this pass offense, but Slayton will give them a legit deep threat as we wait to see who will be throwing them the ball next season.

The Giants signed S Jevon Holland to a three-year, $45 million deal and CB Paulson Adebo to a three-year, $54 million deal.

Why It Matters: The Giants have a young and talented secondary now and the group should be able to grow together with everyone under contract through at least 2026. The Giants did not get all of their free agent targets, but the secondary could be a strength after they pulled off these two moves at the open of free agency.

Philadelphia Eagles News

The Eagles signed RB AJ Dillon to a one-year deal.

Why It Matters: The Eagles were quiet at the opening of free agency, watching some of their key contributors on defense sign elsewhere (and trading C.J. Gardner-Johnson for former first-round guard Kenyon Green), which will give them a comp pick haul for 2026. Dillon is back after a neck injury ended his 2024 early, and he'll compete with 2024 fourth round pick Will Shipley to back up Saquon Barkley.

San Francisco 49ers News

The 49ers offered RB Jordan Mason a second-round restricted free agent one-year contract.

Why It Matters: At least one beat writer thinks this could be to create a trade market for Mason, but it will be tough to convince a team give up four years of a third or fourth round running back in an excellent draft class for one year of Mason at over $5 million. Mason's role should grow as the #2 behind Christian McCaffrey. It's clear that the 49ers and probably the league at large think more of Mason than the fantasy football community. Mason was falling to the 190s in early Underdog drafts, but he should at least be going ahead of Isaac Guerendo, who was in the 170s, at a minimum.

Seattle Seahawks News

The Seahawks traded WR DK Metcalf to Pittsburgh for the Steelers second round pick and signed WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a one-year contract.

Why It Matters: Metcalf wanted his pay reset to market level with only one year left on his contract, and the Seahawks had clarity that they didn't want to be the team that did it, so they cashed him in for a second-round pick. The team also released Tyler Lockett, so Valdes-Scantling is set up to start in a reunion with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Valdes-Scantling revived his career in New Orleans with Kubiak last year, and his blocking ability should be valued in the run-first attack. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is now set up for as many targets as he can handle. There's an argument to take him in the top 15 picks after he was in the late 20s before these moves.

The Seahawks traded QB Geno Smith to the Raiders for Las Vegas' third-round pick and signed QB Sam Darnold to a three-year contract.

Why It Matters: Darnold may have trouble adjusting behind a weak offensive line, but he was cheaper than what Smith wanted on his next deal and the Seahawks decided to move on. Darnold should be able to at least preserve the floor for Smith-Njigba, and if the line can improve, he might show some of the flashes we saw under Kevin O'Connell last year. At least the Klint Kubiak offense will be very highly structured and use the run to set up the pass. 

The Seahawks signed LB Ernest Jones IV to a three-year, $33 million deal.

Why It Matters: The Seahawks made good on their trade of Jerome Baker and a fourth-round pick for Jones, signing him to a reasonably priced deal to make him the quarterback of the defense for the next three years. He'll be a solid LB2 for IDP leagues this year.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs signed LB Lavonte David to a one-year, $10 million deal and EDGE Haason Reddick to a one-year, $14 million deal.

Why It Matters: David has been a stalwart for the Bucs defense since the team took him in the second round back in 2012. He remains underrated in IDP leagues and should retire a Buc after signing this deal. Reddick was a bust for the Jets after a holdout following a trade from the Eagles abbreviated his season, but he is exactly the kind of edge rush presence the team needs after 2021 first round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka was a bust.

The Bucs signed WR Chris Godwin to a three-year, $66 million deal.

Why It Matters: One of the worst kept secrets in free agency was that Godwin was more likely to return to the Bucs than sign elsewhere. His value is as high as it could be staying with Baker Mayfield even though Liam Coen and the "Cooper Kupp role" are part of Jacksonville's offense now. The Bucs promoted from within when they gave Josh Grizzard the job, ensuring a lot of continuity in the offense. Jalen McMillan's ADP should drop significantly from the 80s with Godwin back in the fold, but the 2024 third-round pick could still have some best ball punch with his big play and touchdown-scoring prowess.

Washington Commanders News

The Commanders signed TE Zach Ertz to a one-year, $6.25 million deal.

Why It Matters: Ben Sinnott dynasty teams will have to wait another year for his breakout and Ertz will have some bye week/depth value in redraft leagues after establishing chemistry with Jayden Daniels last year.

The Commanders signed LB Bobby Wagner to a one-year deal with $8 million guaranteed.

Why It Matters: Wagner will remain the quarterback of Dan Quinn's defense in a great and low-priced move for a player with his track record. He'll be a solid LB3 in IDP leagues. The Commanders have turned into a team that good players want to play for and stay with.

The Commanders traded a 2026 second, 2025 third, 2026 fourth, and 2025 seventh-round pick to the Texans for OT Laremy Tunsil and a 2025 fourth-round pick.

Why It Matters: Tunsil wasn't a great culture fit under DeMeco Ryans and might have been looking for a raise from his $20.95 million salary over the next two seasons, but this was still a bit of a shock. The Commanders swooped in and greatly upgraded their left tackle spot without giving up a first-round pick. This is a big win for Jayden Daniels as Washington tries to maximize their Super Bowl window after exceeding all expectations by making it to the NFC title game last season.

 

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