After reportedly meeting with the Steelers on Friday, quarterback Russell Wilson will sign a one-year deal with Pittsburgh, multiple media outlets reported Sunday night.
Wilson, 35, also reportedly sat down with the New York Giants before apparently deciding to team up with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
Per an ESPN report, Wilson — a former Super Bowl champion and nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback — will sign a team-friendly deal that will result in his former employer, the Denver Broncos, paying $38 million of his salary.
Upon the reports surfacing on Sunday, Wilson posted a video of Steelers fans on X, formerly known as Twitter, along with the caption, “Year 13. Grateful.”
Wilson would join Kenny Pickett, the Steelers’ 2022 first-round pick, as the team’s only quarterbacks under contract. Mason Rudolph started three games and led Pittsburgh to the playoffs in 2023 but is headed to free agency.
Earlier this week, the Broncos gave Wilson permission to seek a new employer before they officially release him when the 2024 NFL league year begins on Wednesday. The Broncos are facing a huge dead-cap hit of $85 million but can save some money if the veteran lands a new deal.
Wilson was benched for the last two games of the 2023 season to avoid an injury that would trigger guarantees in his contract. He posted an 11-19 record in 30 starts across two seasons with the Broncos.
Wilson took Seattle to a pair of Super Bowls during a decorated decade with the Seahawks, winning a championship at Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014.
He won 104 regular-season games as the starter in Seattle and has passed for 43,653 yards with 334 touchdowns and 106 interceptions in 188 career contests. He has added 5,307 rushing yards and 29 scores.
REPORTS: 49ERS DL ARIK ARMSTEAD SET TO BECOME FREE AGENT
Veteran defensive lineman Arik Armstead will be heading to free agency after he and the San Francisco 49ers failed to reach a deal, ESPN and Bleacher Report reported Sunday.
San Francisco attempted to restructure Armstead’s contract, but the two sides couldn’t reach an agreement, per ESPN’s report. Armstead is now expected to be released.
If the 49ers were to immediately release Armstead, they would face a $25.86 million dead-money charge and would save only $2.492 million against the cap. San Francisco could work around this, though, but it would have to add a post-June 1 designation, which would allow the team to save over $18 million by dispersing the dead money over future years.
Armstead, 30, had five sacks and 27 tackles in 12 games (all starts) last season, his ninth with San Francisco after he was selected with the No. 17 pick in the 2015 draft.
In 116 career games (97 starts), Armstead has recorded 33.5 sacks, 302 tackles and three forced fumbles.
REPORT: WR KENDRICK BOURNE RETURNING TO PATRIOTS ON 3-YEAR DEAL
Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne has agreed to re-sign with the New England Patriots on a three-year deal, ESPN reported Sunday.
Bourne’s new contract could be worth up to $33 million, and it also features a $4.2 million signing bonus, per the report.
Bourne, 28, was limited to eight games (five starts) last season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a loss to the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 29. He had 37 catches for 406 yards and four touchdowns before having his campaign cut short.
In 99 career games (25 starts) with the San Francisco 49ers (2017-20) and Patriots, Bourne has amassed 264 receptions for 3,409 yards and 21 TDs.
PATRIOTS AGREE TO TRADE QB MAC JONES TO THE JAGUARS FOR A 6TH-ROUND DRAFT PICK, AP SOURCE SAYS
Booed and benched the past two years in New England, quarterback Mac Jones is headed home to become a backup.
The Patriots and new coach Jerod Mayo agreed Sunday to trade Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick in next month’s NFL draft, according to a person with knowledge of the decision.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade cannot become official until the new league year begins Wednesday and after Jones passes a physical.
The move brings Jones home — he was born and raised in Jacksonville — and provides competition behind starter Trevor Lawrence.
Jones will vie with 30-year-old C.J. Beathard for the team’s backup spot. Jones will count $4.96 million against the team’s salary cap in the final year of his rookie contract. Beathard is scheduled to count $2.4 million in the final year of his deal.
The Jaguars are unlikely to keep both on their 53-man roster to start the season.
Jones, the 15th overall pick in the 2021 draft, flamed out spectacularly last season and was eventually replaced by Bailey Zappe. Jones went 2-9 in 11 starts in 2023, throwing for 2,120 yards with 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
He has 46 TD passes and 36 INTs in three NFL seasons. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2021, but he regressed in his second year with former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia calling plays.
The Patriots are expected to select a quarterback with the third overall pick in the draft. LSU’s Jayden Daniels, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy could be options there.
The Jaguars were looking for a younger option behind Lawrence. Beathard won his lone start last season, but he also injured his non-throwing shoulder in an earlier appearance and was so banged up late in the season that Jacksonville nearly had to start journeyman Matt Barkley off the street.
Adding Jones is one of a few changes Jacksonville is making to its offense in 2024. The team re-signed left guard Ezra Cleveland, renegotiated a reduced cap number for right guard Brandon Scherff and plan to bring in a veteran center to compete with third-year pro Luke Fortner. Receiver could be a top target in the draft if the Jags lose Calvin Ridley in free agency.
General manager Trent Baalke and coach Doug Pederson have been adamant that Lawrence is their guy, and they hope to sign him to a long-term deal — maybe even before next season.
REPORT: BUCS, MAYFIELD NEARING 3-YEAR, $100M DEAL
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are finalizing a three-year, $100-million contract to retain quarterback Baker Mayfield, sources told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The agreement includes $50 million in guaranteed money and will carry a maximum value of $115 million with incentives, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Mayfield signed a one-year, $4-million contract with Tampa Bay as a free agent and had the unenviable task of stepping in under center following the retirement of Tom Brady in 2023.
He went on to set career highs with 4,044 passing yards and 28 touchdowns in his first campaign with the Bucs as Tampa Bay captured the NFC South title and earned a win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card round.
“I wanted a chance to come back,” Mayfield told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “I love coach (Todd) Bowles and the staff. I’m happy to be here and I want to win more in the postseason.”
After spending his first four seasons with the Cleveland Browns, Mayfield was traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2022. He was released by Carolina later that season and claimed by the Los Angeles Rams.
The Bucs have now retained two key offensive starters after they re-signed receiver Mike Evans to a two-year, $52-million deal. All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield is also expected to remain with the organization after the team franchise tagged him earlier this month.
Mayfield was one of the notable Bucs starters poised to hit the free-agent market next week. Linebackers Lavonte David and Devin White are some of the other key players set to hit the market.
REPORT: BEARS SIGNING BYARD TO 2-YEAR, $15M DEAL
The Chicago Bears are signing free-agent safety Kevin Byard to a two-year contract, a source told Josina Anderson of CBS Sports.
Byard’s contract is worth $15 million, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The Philadelphia Eagles released the defensive back on March 1 after acquiring him in a midseason trade with the Tennessee Titans last October.
Byard began his career with the Titans as a 2016 third-round pick, and quickly established himself as one of the NFL’s premier ballhawks.
He spent seven-and-a-half seasons in Tennessee, racking up 27 interceptions – including an NFL-high eight picks in 2017 – and earning two first-team All-Pro nominations.
Byard will fill the void at the back of the Bears’ defense created by longtime starter Eddie Jackson’s release.
REPORT: FALCONS MAJOR CONTENDERS FOR COUSINS
The Atlanta Falcons are major contenders to sign quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency, sources told Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.
The Minnesota Vikings are reportedly still attempting to retain Cousins, who spent the last six seasons with the NFC North club.
Minnesota expects Cousins to inform the team of his decision to explore free agency Sunday night, sources told Dianna Russini and Alec Lewis of The Athletic.
Cousins’ contract doesn’t void until the new league year begins Wednesday. The Vikings have until then to extend him before his $28.5-million dead-money hit is officially on the books. The early free-agent tampering period starts Monday at 4 p.m. ET.
The veteran passer’s 2023 campaign ended after eight games due to a torn Achilles.
Cousins is considered the top quarterback set to become available on the open market, and he said in January that he’s targeting a return to action during OTAs.
The Vikings reportedly aren’t willing to give him the fully guaranteed deals he’s commanded in the past. He inked a three-year, $84-million fully guaranteed pact with the club as a free agent in 2018.
The Falcons desperately need an established quarterback: Poor play from both Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke held the team out of the playoffs in 2023.
Cousins was in the midst of one of his best seasons before going down with injury, throwing for 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns against five interceptions.
EAGLES ALL-PRO DT FLETCHER COX RETIRES AFTER 12 SEASONS
Six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, who spent his entire 12-year NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles, announced his retirement on Sunday over social media.
Cox, 33, is one of the most lauded defensive players in franchise history. He helped the Eagles win their lone Super Bowl title in the 2017 season.
“After much reflection, I have made the decision to retire from the game of football,” Cox wrote in a social media post. “I gave everything I had to this team and to this city. I don’t know what’s next for me, but I do know that I’m forever grateful for my time here in Philadelphia and with the Eagles organization. Go Birds!”
He started 182 of 188 games for the Eagles. He totaled 519 tackles, including 88 tackles for loss and 70 sacks, along with 173 quarterback hits, 16 forced fumbles, 14 fumble recoveries and three returned for touchdowns.
Last season, Cox recorded 33 tackles, five sacks, three tackles for loss and 17 quarterback hits in 15 games.
He was selected to the Pro Bowl in the 2015 through 2020 seasons, and was first-team All-Pro in 2018.
He thanked family members, his girlfriend, Eagles fans, the city of Philadelphia, the organization, current and former head coaches and several teammates in his statement.
The Eagles selected him 12th overall in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State.
“April 26, 2012 was a special day that changed my life forever when Andy Reid called me to say I would be drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles,” Cox wrote. “I fulfilled a lifelong dream by making it to the NFL. But what I didn’t know at the time was how much of an honor and privilege it would be to represent the city of Philadelphia and the Eagles organization for the next 12 seasons.”
Cox set the franchise record for most sacks (70) and Pro Bowl honors (six) for a defensive tackle, and is second behind longtime teammate Brandon Graham (195) for career regular-season games.
“What made Fletcher truly special is that his influence extends even further behind the scenes,” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. “The six-time team captain was a key figure in establishing a championship culture in our building. As nasty as he was on the field, he was a master of his craft while also serving as a big brother and mentor to so many young players over the years.
“He had a tremendous amount of respect for the game of football and the legacy he would one day be leaving behind, and that was reflected in the way he set the standard every single day whether on the practice field or in the locker room. That standard will live on for many years thanks to his leadership and the respect he earned from everyone in the building.
“We are incredibly thankful for everything he gave to our organization and to the City of Philadelphia over the years, and we wish him all the best as he embarks on the future.”
REPORT: JETS RE-SIGN S CHUCK CLARK TO 1-YEAR DEAL
The New York Jets are bringing back safety Chuck Clark on a one-year deal, ESPN reported Sunday.
Clark, 28, was set to become a free agent on Wednesday. Financial terms were not available.
The Jets acquired Clark last March from the Baltimore Ravens for a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He tore his ACL in the team’s offseason program and missed the season.
Clark was a sixth-round pick in the 2017 draft by Baltimore, where he played six seasons.
In 96 regular-season career games (63 starts), Clark had 384 tackles, 3.5 sacks, five interceptions, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and two touchdowns (one on an interception return, one on a fumble return).