COLTS AGREE TO 3-YEAR, $70 MILLION DEAL WITH MICHAEL PITTMAN JR., AP SOURCE SAYS
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Two weeks ago, Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard promised that Michael Pittman Jr. would be on the team’s roster next fall.
On Monday, he made sure of it.
The Indianapolis Colts are closing in on a three-year, $70 million deal with $46 million in guarantees to keep receiver Michael Pittman Jr, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal is being finalized.
The move comes one week after the Colts placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Pittman, which would have allowed Pittman to negotiate with other teams this week when free agency opens. Had he accepted an offer, the Colts could have matched it — or would have received two first-round picks.
Pittman had the best season of his four-year career last season, becoming the fourth Colts player to catch 100 passes in a single season. He also had his second 1,000-yard season.
Incentives could push the total value of the deal to $71.5 million.
RUSSELL WILSON HAS AGREED TO SIGN A 1-YEAR DEAL WITH THE STEELERS, AP SOURCE SAYS
Russell Wilson is heading to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback has agreed to sign a one-year deal with the Steelers, a person familiar with the details told The Associated Press on Sunday night.
The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the contract hasn’t been finalized, said Wilson will receive the veteran’s minimum of $1.21 million while the Denver Broncos pay the remainder of his $39 million salary.
Wilson posted his intentions on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, saying: “Year 13. Grateful. (at)Steelers.”
The 35-year-old Wilson was 11-19 in two seasons with the Broncos after being acquired in a trade from Seattle. He bounced back from a dreadful 2022 season and threw 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and only eight interceptions, but still lost his job to Jarrett Stidham after going 7-8 in coach Sean Payton’s first season last year.
Wilson led Seattle to eight playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title in 10 seasons with the Seahawks.
The Steelers lost a wild-card playoff game with Mason Rudolph as their starting quarterback. Rudolph went 3-0 after replacing Kenny Pickett, who was 7-5 before going down with an injury. Mitch Trubisky started the other two games and went 0-2.
Pittsburgh is scheduled to play the Broncos in Denver this upcoming season — and the game could feature a return by Wilson. The NFL is expected to release its league schedule in May.
Last week, the Broncos informed Wilson they’d release him when the new league year begins Wednesday — but gave him permission to speak to other teams.
“We thank Russell for his contributions and dedications to our team and community while wishing him the best as he continues his career,” the team posted on its social media channels last week, adding, “We are excited to improve this offseason and will have the flexibility to get better through the draft and free agency.”
After signing a nearly quarter-billion dollar extension before playing a down in Denver, Wilson contended the Broncos had threatened to bench him for the final nine games last season if he didn’t push back his $37 million injury guarantee in his contract.
Wilson declined to adjust his deal and started seven more games before getting benched in what Payton insisted was a football move, not a financial one.
The move also comes less than two weeks after Steelers general manager Omar Khan said the team had “full faith” in Pickett, a former star next door at the University of Pittsburgh who has struggled to be a difference maker at the most important position on the field.
Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin has defended Pickett at every turn since the Steelers selected him with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 draft. Tomlin admitted in the days after Pittsburgh’s loss to Buffalo in the playoffs that 2024 would be a “huge” year for Pickett and the plan was to bring in competition during training camp.
That competition now likely won’t be on the well-liked Rudolph — who will become a free agent on Wednesday — but instead a player with a potentially Hall of Fame caliber resume who has just one playoff win since 2016 and struggled to fit in in Denver.
Wilson joins a team that has plenty of youth on offense in running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren and wide receivers George Pickens and Diontae Johnson, and stars on defense in perennial All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
With Watt and Fitzpatrick both in their primes, Pittsburgh appears to be in a hurry to close the gap between itself and the AFC’s elite, a club the Steelers haven’t been a part of for at least a half-decade. Team president Art Rooney II said in January it was “time to get some wins” in the playoffs, something Pittsburgh hasn’t done since beating Kansas City in the divisional round in 2016.
Enter Wilson and first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, hired last month to revive a unit that has finished 21st or worse in points per game four times in the last five years.
Getting Wilson on the cheap gives Pittsburgh plenty of flexibility in free agency as it looks to address positions along the offensive and defensive lines as well as the secondary and inside linebacker. The team cut several players — namely veteran defensive back Patrick Peterson and center Mason Cole — in recent weeks to create more flexibility and Wilson’s arrival signals an “all-in” approach with the team in its longest drought between postseason victories since Franco Harris made the “Immaculate Reception” more than five decades ago.
BILLS LOCK UP LEFT TACKLE DAWKINS TO A 3-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION AND RE-SIGN DB LEWIS TO 2-YEAR DEAL
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills reached an agreement on Monday to sign left tackle Dion Dawkins to a three-year contract extension that locks up the starter through 2027, with the deal also expected to provide the team salary cap relief this season.
Also, the Bills re-signed backup defensive back Cam Lewis to a two-year, $4 million contract, the player’s agent Sean Stellato said. Lewis was a pending unrestricted free agent, who returns after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Bills. ESPN.com first reported Lewis’ signing.
Dawkins was entering the final season of a four-year contract, and due to count more than $16.6 million against the salary cap. Buffalo has spent the past few weeks slashing payroll after entering the offseason projected to being a league-high $44 million over the cap.
Re-signing Dawkins solidifies the long-term future of quarterback Josh Allen’s primary protector on a line undergoing changes after veteran starting center Mitch Morse was cut last week.
The agreement with Dawkins comes two days before the NFL’s free agency signing period officially opens.
JAGUARS AND FORMER BILLS WR GABE DAVIS AGREE TO A 3-YEAR, $39M DEAL TO REPLACE CALVIN RIDLEY
The Jacksonville Jaguars found a replacement for receiver Calvin Ridley in free agency.
The Jaguars and former Buffalo receiver Gabe Davis agreed to a three-year, $39 million contract during the NFL’s legal tampering period Monday, according to a person familiar with negotiations. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal can’t be announced until the new league year begins Wednesday.
Davis could earn up to $50 million with incentives, the person said.
Adding Davis means Jacksonville is moving on from Ridley, who is expected to be one of the top receivers on the market and likely not affordable for a team with little salary cap flexibility right now.
Davis caught 163 passes for 2,730 yards and 27 touchdowns in four years with Buffalo. He had six more TD receptions in the playoffs.
Ridley caught 76 passes for 1,016 yards and eight TDs in his lone season in Jacksonville. But re-signing him before free agency would have cost the Jags a second-round draft pick they didn’t want to give up.
Instead, they will give Atlanta a third-rounder to essentially rent Ridley for 17 games.
The 6-foot-2 Davis, who grew up in nearby Orlando, gives quarterback Trevor Lawrence a bigger option who should be able to bring down 50-50 balls and help the offense be more effective in the end zone.
Davis is the latest — and most notable — addition to Jacksonville’s offense. The team re-signed left guard Ezra Cleveland to a three-year, $28.5 million contract, agreed to sign former Bills center Mitch Morse to a two-year, $10.5 million deal and renegotiated a lower cap number for right guard Brandon Scherff.
They also traded a sixth-round pick in next month’s draft to New England for quarterback Mac Jones, who will compete for the backup job behind Lawrence.
FALCONS SIGNING COUSINS TO REPORTED 4-YEAR, $180M DEAL
The Atlanta Falcons agreed to a four-year deal with free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins, his agent, Mike McCartney, confirmed.
The deal is worth $180 million, including a $50 million signing bonus and $100 million guaranteed, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Cousins has spent the last six years with the Minnesota Vikings. Previously, he played six seasons with the Washington Commanders.
The 35-year-old was on pace to have the best season of his career in 2023 before tearing his Achilles in Week 8. He had 2,331 passing yards with 18 touchdowns, which was the most in the NFL at the time.
Atlanta has struggled to produce competent quarterback play since Matt Ryan left in 2021. Starters Desmond Ridder and Marcus Mariota combined for just 5,055 passing yards with only 27 touchdowns to 21 interceptions over the last two campaigns. Atlanta has gone 7-10 in back-to-back seasons.
REPORT: EAGLES SNAG BARKLEY ON 3-YEAR, $37.75M CONTRACT
The Philadelphia Eagles and star running back Saquon Barkley have agreed to a three-year, $37.75-million contract, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The deal for Barkley has a maximum value of $46.75 million and contains $26 million fully guaranteed, adds Schefter.
The Eagles are signing Barkley away from the divisional rival New York Giants, who opted against tagging the Pro Bowler for a second season but were reportedly interested in bringing him back on a long-term deal. Barkley signed a revised one-year contract last offseason to replace the tag.
The 27-year-old spent the first six seasons in New York after going No. 2 overall during the 2018 NFL Draft. He burst onto the scene with a 1,307-yard, 11-touchdown campaign to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Barkley struggled to replicate that form over the next three seasons while dealing with injuries. But he bounced back in 2023 with a career-high 1,312 yards to earn his second career Pro Bowl nomination.
RAIDERS, WILKINS AGREE TO 4-YEAR, $110M DEAL
The Las Vegas Raiders and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins have agreed to a four-year contract worth $110 million with $84.75 million in guaranteed money, his agent told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Wilkins’ average salary of $27.5 million and total practical guarantee both rank third among defensive tackles behind only Chris Jones – who signed a reported position-record five-year, $158.75-million deal on Sunday – and Aaron Donald, according to Spotrac.
The 28-year-old Wilkins was widely viewed as a potential franchise-tag candidate for the Dolphins, but the club ultimately allowed him to hit the open market.
The Raiders have had a long-standing need at defensive tackle and will now pair Wilkins with All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby.
Wilkins spent five years in Miami after being drafted 13th overall in 2019.
The defensive tackle had a career-high nine sacks and 23 quarterback hits in 17 appearances in 2023. He’s produced 20.5 sacks, 355 tackles, and four forced fumbles in 81 games across five seasons.
REPORT: TITANS LANDING POLLARD ON 3-YEAR, $24M DEAL
The Tennessee Titans are expected to sign running back Tony Pollard, sources told KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson.
Pollard’s deal is for three years and $24 million, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings were also in contention for Pollard’s services, but he opted for a larger payday with the Titans, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports.
Pollard posted consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, making the Pro Bowl in 2022. The Memphis product finished the 2023 campaign with 1,005 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, and 311 receiving yards.
He totaled 4,940 scrimmage yards and 28 scrimmage touchdowns in 79 games with Dallas. The 26-year-old also contributed in the return game with 1,500 yards and one score.
Longtime Titans running back Derrick Henry is a free agent and is expected to sign elsewhere.
REPORT: HIGGINS REQUESTS TRADE FROM BENGALS
Franchise-tagged wide receiver Tee Higgins has requested a trade from the Cincinnati Bengals, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Higgins wanted to remain in Cincinnati but is disappointed that the Bengals haven’t engaged in extension talks since March 2023, adds Schefter.
The 25-year-old received the one-year, $21.8-million tag in late February to keep him from hitting free agency.
Likely complicating Higgins’ contract situation is the Bengals’ need to pay three-time Pro Bowl wideout Ja’Marr Chase, who has two years left on his rookie deal and will likely require an extension next offseason.
Cincinnati also rewarded star quarterback Joe Burrow with a five-year, $275-million extension last year.
Higgins has excelled as the No. 2 wideout behind Chase. He produced 1,000-yard campaigns in 2021 and 2022 but was limited to 12 appearances last year and finished with 656 yards.
The 2020 second-round pick could be in high demand after the free-agent receiver market was weakened by Mike Evans and Michael Pittman Jr. re-signing with their respective teams.
BEARS AGREE TO 3-YEAR CONTRACT WITH PRO BOWL RUNNING BACK D’ANDRE SWIFT
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bears and Pro Bowl running back D’Andre Swift have agreed to a three-year contract, a person familiar with the deal said on Monday.
The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because free agents can’t officially sign with new teams until Wednesday. The deal is reportedly worth $24 million, with $15.3 million guaranteed.
Acquired from Detroit in a draft day trade last year, the 25-year-old Swift had his best season. He ran for a career-high 1,049 yards and five touchdowns, and made his first Pro Bowl.
Swift spent his first three seasons in Detroit and has carried 593 times for 2,729 yards and 23 touchdown runs in his career. He has also caught 195 passes for 1,412 yards and eight scores. Swift joins Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson in Chicago’s backfield.
The Bears have been busy the past week. They agreed to a four-year, $76 million contract extension with Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson that guarantees him $54.4 million and signed veteran safety Kevin Byard to a two-year contract.
Chicago finished 7-10 last season. The Bears have the No. 1 and No. 9 overall picks in the draft next month.
REPORTS: PANTHERS RELEASE S VONN BELL
Panthers safety Vonn Bell was released on Monday before he was due a $3 million roster bonus, according to multiple reports.
Releasing Bell creates $1.05 million under the salary cap for Carolina in 2024.
Bell spent just one season with the Panthers, who signed the former Bengals safety on the opening day of free agency last March.
Carolina confirmed another move Monday, re-signing long-snapper JJ Jansen to a one-year deal. Jansen, 38, owns the franchise record with 243 games played.
Bell, 29, missed four games last season after starting 48 the previous three seasons with the Bengals. He had never missed more than three games in a season due to injury before 2023.
Bell spent the first four seasons of his career with the Saints and has 705 tackles, 9.5 sacks and seven interceptions in 122 career games.
REPORTS: RB JOSH JACOBS EXPECTED TO SIGN WITH PACKERS
The Green Bay Packers are expected to sign running back Josh Jacobs, NFL Network reported Monday.
Terms of the deal were not reported.
Jacobs, 26, took a slight step back last season for the Las Vegas Raiders from a productive year in 2022, when he rushed for 805 yards and six touchdowns in 13 games, all starts, as he worked his way through a quadriceps injury.
One season earlier, Jacobs rushed for an NFL-best 1,653 yards and 12 TDs in 17 games. In five seasons with the Raiders, he rushed for 5,545 yards and 46 TDs in 73 games (72 starts) after he was a first-round draft pick in 2019 out of Alabama.
The Raiders did not place a franchise tag on Jacobs last month, although it was believed that Las Vegas had prioritized re-signing the 2022 NFL rushing champion.
The Raiders are expected to turn to Zamir White to lead their rushing attack next season. White rushed for 451 yards and one touchdown last season in 17 games, while starting the four games when Jacobs was out.
REPORTS: RAMS LAND G JONAH JACKSON, TE COLBY PARKINSON
The Los Angeles Rams reached agreement on three-year deals for interior offensive lineman Jonah Jackson and tight end Colby Parkinson, ESPN and NFL Network reported Monday.
The Rams lured Jackson away from Detroit on a deal worth $51 million, including $34 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network.
Parkinson comes over from Seattle on a deal worth $22.5 million, including $15.5 million guaranteed, per ESPN.
Jackson, 27, started all 57 games he played in with the Lions since they selected him in the third round of the 2020 draft.
The Rams also re-signed guard Kevin Dotson last week on a reported three-year deal worth $48 million.
Parkinson, 25, caught 25 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games (one start) for Seattle last season, playing behind Noah Fant and Will Dissly.
The Rams add Parkinson less than two months after Tyler Higbee tore multiple ligaments in his right knee in the divisional playoff loss at Detroit.
Higbee signed a two-year extension worth $27 million — $17 million guaranteed — last September but head coach Sean McVay said he is likely a candidate for the physically unable to perform list to start next season.
Parkinson has 57 career catches and four TDs in 54 games (four starts).
REPORTS: COMMANDERS TO SIGN DE DORANCE ARMSTRONG, C TYLER BIADASZ
Center Tyler Biadasz and defensive end Dorance Armstrong agreed to join the Washington Commanders, following new head coach Dan Quinn from Dallas, according to reports.
Biadasz, 26, started 53 games in four seasons with the Cowboys since entering the NFL in 2020 as a fourth-round pick out of Wisconsin.
Armstrong, 26, had a breakout season in 2023, finishing second to Micah Parsons with 7.5 sacks in the regular season, with Quinn running the Cowboys’ defense.
Armstrong has 23.5 sacks and 14 starts in 93 career games.
The Cowboys are expecting to shuffle their offensive line with left tackle Tyron Smith and Biadasz hitting free agency.
A fourth-round draft pick in 2018 out of Kansas, Armstrong had 21 sacks in the past three seasons.
Rejoining Quinn as part of a rebuilt defense in Washington gives Armstrong a chance to help the Commanders move on from losing former first-round draft picks Montez Sweat and Chase Young, who were traded during the 2023 season.
REPORTS: VIKINGS LAND PASS RUSHER JONATHAN GREENARD
Pass rusher Jonathan Greenard parlayed a career year in Houston into a $76 million payday with the Minnesota Vikings, according to multiple reports.
Greenard’s contract includes $42 million guaranteed, according to his agents, Robert Bailey and Drew Rosenhaus.
Greenard had a career-best 12.5 sacks, 52 tackles and 22 quarterback hits during the 2023 season but general manager Nick Caserio opted to allow Greenard to test free agency.
The Vikings are expected to lose their own top pass rusher, Danielle Hunter, in a revamped defense under Brian Flores.
Greenard, 26, was drafted in the third round in 2020 and posted 23 sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception in 49 regular-season games.
Caserio said at the NFL Scouting Combine “availability” was the biggest question with Greenard through four seasons as a pro. He missed 15 games in his first four years in the league.