Dell Sports – NFL News

Reports: Patriots signing WR Stefon Diggs to $69 million deal

Reports: Patriots signing WR Stefon Diggs to $69 million deal

The New England Patriots are signing wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a three-year, $69 million deal, according to multiple reports.

The contract will reportedly include $26 million in guaranteed money.

Diggs is a two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection. Since entering the league in 2015, he is third in receptions (857), trailing only Travis Kelce (939) and Davante Adams (919). From 2018 to 2023, he posted six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.

Diggs had 107 receptions for 1,183 yards and eight touchdowns for the Buffalo Bills in 2023. Last offseason, he was traded to the Houston Texans.

The 31-year-old got off to a fast start in Houston with 47 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns in eight games. However, his season was cut short, when he tore his ACL in Week 8.

The dynamic wideout will give young quarterback Drake Maye a reliable No. 1 target and improve the New England offense, which finished last in passing yards last season (2,995).

Reports: Giants to sign 10-time Pro Bowl QB Russell Wilson

Reports: Giants to sign 10-time Pro Bowl QB Russell Wilson

The New York Giants will sign quarterback Russell Wilson to a one-year, $10.5 million contract, per multiple media reports.

The deal could reach up to $21 million with incentives, according to ESPN.

Wilson is one of the most accomplished quarterbacks of his era; he is a 10-time Pro Bowl selection and Super Bowl champion (XLVIII).

After spending nine years with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos in a blockbuster deal in 2022. After an underwhelming two-year tenure, he was released in 2024 and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Last season, Wilson got back on track, throwing for 2,382 yards, 16 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 11 games, guiding the Steelers to a 6-5 record in those contests. He also rushed 155 yards and two touchdowns. The signal caller earned his first Pro Bowl nod since 2021.

Wilson started for the Steelers' AFC wild-card loss to the Baltimore Ravens, but he put up strong numbers, completing 20 out of 29 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. The Steelers mustered only 29 total rushing yards in the game.

The veteran quarterback will look to reenergize the Giants, who are coming off a 3-14 campaign. He will join fellow free agent addition Jameis Winston on the roster. The franchise still has at least one major move to make, holding the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Giants reportedly had interest in four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, who remains unsigned.

NFL transactions: Raiders sign DT Fotu, TE Thomas

NFL transactions: Raiders sign DT Fotu, TE Thomas

The Las Vegas Raiders signed unrestricted free agent defensive tackle Leki Fotu and tight end Ian Thomas to contracts on Tuesday.

Terms of the deals were not announced by the team.

Fotu, 26, recorded 92 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 58 career games (22 starts) with the Arizona Cardinals (2020-2023) and New York Jets (2024).

Thomas, 28, had 119 catches for 1,062 yards with four touchdowns in 99 career games (54 starts) with the Carolina Panthers (2018-24).

--The New York Giants re-signed offensive lineman Aaron Stinnie.

Stinnie, 31, played in 16 games (three starts) last season with the Giants.

Signed as an undrafted rookie by Tennessee, Stinnie played in 47 career games (15 starts) with the Titans (2018-19), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019-23) and Giants.

--The Philadelphia Eagles added depth to their offensive line by signing veteran tackle Kendall Lamm to a contract.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Lamm, 32, underwent back surgery after playing in 15 games (seven starts) last season with the Miami Dolphins. He has also spent time with the Houston Texans (2015-18), Cleveland Browns (2019-20) and Titans (2021).

Seahawks sign veteran TE Eric Saubert

Seahawks sign veteran TE Eric Saubert

The Seattle Seahawks signed tight end Eric Saubert, an NFL journeyman most recently with the San Francisco 49ers, as a free agent on Monday.

Saubert, 30, has played eight NFL seasons, appearing for the Atlanta Falcons (2017-18), Chicago Bears (2019), Jacksonville Jaguars (2020), Denver Broncos (2011-21), Dallas Cowboys (2023), Houston Texans (2023) and San Francisco (2024).

His best season on offense came in 2022, when he hauled in a career-high 15 receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown for Denver.

Saubert has become valued for both his special teams contributions and blocking ability. Last season, he appeared in all 17 games for the 49ers, logging 302 special teams snaps.

He played 377 offensive snaps, catching 11 of his 14 targets for 97 yards and a TD.

Report: Chiefs re-sign veteran DT Mike Pennel

Report: Chiefs re-sign veteran DT Mike Pennel

The Kansas City Chiefs have re-signed veteran defensive tackle Mike Pennel, ESPN reported Monday.

Terms were not disclosed. Pennel, 33, is heading into his 12th NFL season and fifth with the Chiefs.

He played on a one-year, $1.2 million deal last season and recorded a career-high 3.0 sacks with 25 tackles in 17 games (seven starts) for Kansas City.

The two-time Super Bowl champion has 5.0 sacks, 231 tackles and three forced fumbles in 138 games (25 starts) with the Green Bay Packers (2014-16), New York Jets (2017-18), Chiefs (2019-20, 2023-24), Atlanta Falcons (2021) and Chicago Bears (2022).

Report: Pats match Raiders' offer, retain LB Christian Elliss

Report: Pats match Raiders' offer, retain LB Christian Elliss

The New England Patriots matched the Las Vegas Raiders' offer sheet for linebacker Christian Elliss, NFL Network reported Monday.

The Raiders agreed with the 26-year-old restricted free agent last week to a reported $4.8 million offer sheet and the Patriots had until Monday to match it.

New England's original tender to Elliss was worth $3.26 million. He is now locked in for two more seasons with the Patriots.

Elliss recorded a career-high 80 tackles with 1.5 sacks, five passes defensed and one interception in 16 games (five starts) for the Patriots in 2024. New England claimed him off waivers from Philadelphia in December 2023.

Elliss has 117 tackles in 39 games (six starts) with the Eagles (2021-23) and Patriots.

Report: Titans agree to deal with K Joey Slye

Report: Titans agree to deal with K Joey Slye

The Tennessee Titans are signing veteran kicker Joey Slye, NFL Network reported Monday.

Contract terms were not disclosed.

Slye kicked for the New England Patriots last season and made 26 of his 33 field-goal attempts, including a career-long 63-yarder. His 78.8 percentage was the lowest of his career since his rookie season in 2019 with the Carolina Panthers.

He also has played for the Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders.

In 95 career games, Slye has connected on 81.7 percent of his field goals (147 of 180) and 89.6 percent of his PATs, including a career-high 96.2 percent last season.

Slye, 28, would replace Nick Folk, who led the NFL in kicking percentage on field goals the past two seasons but can't provide the distance that Slye can. The 40-year-old Folk is a free agent.

Reports: Giants reach 1-year deal with WR Zach Pascal

Reports: Giants reach 1-year deal with WR Zach Pascal

The New York Giants agreed to terms on a one-year contract with wide receiver Zach Pascal on Saturday, per multiple reports.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed for Pascal, who visited the Giants on Monday.

Pascal, 30, did not have a catch while playing predominantly on special teams last season with the Arizona Cardinals. He logged 278 special teams snaps and 68 offensive snaps.

He has 169 receptions for 2,057 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in 112 career games (47 starts) with the Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles and Cardinals.

Reports: Giants sign QB Jameis Winston to 2-year deal

Reports: Giants sign QB Jameis Winston to 2-year deal

The New York Giants are signing quarterback Jameis Winston to a two-year, $8 million contract, according to multiple media reports Friday.

Winston is a 10-year veteran with 87 career starts under his belt. He spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2019, Winston simultaneously led the league in passing attempts (626), passing yards (5,109) and interceptions (30); he finished second in passing touchdowns (33).

After a four-year stint with the New Orleans Saints, Winston played for the Cleveland Browns in 2024. He started seven games, guiding them to a 2-5 record. He threw for 2,121 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Winston, 31, becomes the second signal-caller on the Giants' roster, joining 26-year-old Tommy DeVito. The franchise is still connected to four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers. In addition, they hold the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Winston gives them stability under center. He can be injury insurance behind the 41-year-old Rodgers or a potential bridge option to allow a young quarterback time to develop.

Ex-No. 1 overall pick, college Hall of Famer Kenneth Sims dies at 65

Ex-No. 1 overall pick, college Hall of Famer Kenneth Sims dies at 65

Former No. 1 overall NFL draft pick and College Football Hall of Famer Kenneth Sims died Friday at age 65, the University of Texas announced.

The university said Sims died peacefully at his home. According to a report, Sims had been battling an illness.

Sims played defensive end for Texas from 1978-81 and was a consensus All-American as a junior and senior. He had 23 tackles for loss as a senior, won the Lombardi Award and finished in eighth place in Heisman Trophy balloting.

Sims then went No. 1 in the NFL draft to the New England Patriots in an era in which quarterbacks didn't always go first overall. In this draft, Ohio State's Art Schlichter went No. 4 overall to the Baltimore Colts and BYU's Jim McMahon went fifth to the Chicago Bears. Heisman Trophy-winning running back Marcus Allen was the 10th pick by the Los Angeles Raiders.

Sims had three sacks in nine games as a rookie and placed fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year balloting. He had a career-best 5.5 sacks in 13 games in 1985 before breaking a leg. That caused him to miss the postseason, including the Patriots' Super Bowl XX loss to the Chicago Bears.

Overall, Sims had 17 sacks and five fumble recoveries in 74 games (64 starts) over eight NFL seasons with the Patriots.

Sims was inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 2021. According to Texas, Sims had 322 tackles (50 for loss), 29 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and three blocked kicks during his stellar college career.

Reports: Texans reach deals with OTs Cam Robinson, Trent Brown

Reports: Texans reach deals with OTs Cam Robinson, Trent Brown

The Houston Texans reportedly agreed to deals with free-agent offensive tackles Cam Robinson and Trent Brown on Friday.

Robinson's one-year deal could be worth as much as $14.5 million with bonuses, according to multiple reports. Brown reportedly will receive $3 million.

Houston is looking for tackles after recently trading five-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders.

Robinson, 29, has started all 101 regular-season games he's played over eight NFL seasons. He was a second-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017 and played 91 games with the team until being traded to the Minnesota Vikings last October.

Brown, who turns 32 next month, has started 96 of 103 games over 10 NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers (2015-17), New England Patriots (2018, 2021-23), Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders (2019-20) and Cincinnati Bengals (2024).

The 2019 Pro Bowl pick played just three games for the Bengals last season before sustaining a season-ending knee injury.

Homecoming: Saints reportedly to bring back WR Brandin Cooks

Homecoming: Saints reportedly to bring back WR Brandin Cooks

Wide receiver Brandin Cooks and the New Orleans Saints reportedly are headed for a reunion.

Per multiple media outlets on Friday, Cooks agreed to terms on a contract that bring him back to New Orleans. The Saints selected Cooks with the 20th overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Cooks, 31, recorded 26 catches for 259 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games (nine starts) last season with the Dallas Cowboys.

He has totaled 710 receptions for 9,532 yards and 60 touchdowns in 158 career games (144 starts) with the Saints, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans and Cowboys.

Cooks would join a group of wide receivers in New Orleans that consists of Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, among others.

Agent: Lions sign CB Avonte Maddox to 1-year deal

Agent: Lions sign CB Avonte Maddox to 1-year deal

The Detroit Lions signed former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox to a one-year contract, agent Jason Chayut confirmed Friday.

Maddox, who turns 29 on March 31, capped his seven-year tenure in Philadelphia with a victory in Super Bowl LIX.

Maddox played in all 17 regular-season games (three starts) in 2024 but was on the field for just 33 percent of the defensive snaps, a career low, while losing time to rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.

He recorded four interceptions, three sacks, eight forced fumbles and 270 tackles in 81 games (41 starts) since the Eagles made him a fourth-round pick in 2018.

The Lions announced two deals with cornerbacks on Thursday, re-signing Khalil Dorsey and signing former second-round pick Rock Ya-Sin.

Report: QB Aaron Rodgers visiting Steelers on Friday

Report: QB Aaron Rodgers visiting Steelers on Friday

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is visiting with the Steelers on Friday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

A deal with the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player "could be forthcoming," per the report.

The New York Jets released Rodgers on March 12, making him a free agent for the first time in his career.

The only quarterbacks on the Steelers' current roster are Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson.

Rodgers, 41, reportedly was mulling offers from the Steelers and New York Giants after the Minnesota Vikings withdrew from contention earlier this week, per multiple reports.

Rodgers passed for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2024, returning from a season-ending Achilles injury suffered in his first game with the Jets in September 2023.

The 10-time Pro Bowl selection ranks fifth in league history in touchdown passes (503) and seventh in passing yards (62,952).

Giants sign WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey

Giants sign WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey

The New York Giants signed wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey to a contract on Friday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the team, however ESPN reported it was a one-year pact.

Humphrey, 26, set career highs in catches (31) and receiving yards (293) to go along with one touchdown in 17 games (seven starts) last season with the Denver Broncos.

The 6-foot-4 veteran has totaled 62 catches for 770 yards with seven touchdowns in 58 career games (23 starts) with the New Orleans Saints (2019-21), New England Patriots (2022) and Broncos. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Texas.

Report: Chiefs keep DE Charles Omenihu on $7M deal

Report: Chiefs keep DE Charles Omenihu on $7M deal

The Kansas City Chiefs are re-signing defensive end Charles Omenihu to a one-year, $7 million deal, ESPN reported.

Omenihu, 27, tallied one sack in six games (one start) during the 2024 regular season and added one sack and one forced fumble during the Chiefs' three-game postseason run.

He missed the first 11 games last season while rehabbing from a torn ACL suffered in the AFC Championship Game victory at Baltimore on Jan. 28, 2024.

During his first season with Kansas City in 2023, Omenihu missed the first six games while serving a suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. He was arrested in January 2023 on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic assault.

A fifth-round draft pick by Houston in 2019, Omenihu has 19.5 sacks, 53 quarterback hits, 101 tackles and six forced fumbles in 78 games (12 starts) with the Texans (2019-21), San Francisco 49ers (2021-22) and Chiefs.

Titans sign edge rusher Lorenzo Carter

Titans sign edge rusher Lorenzo Carter

The Tennessee Titans have signed edge rusher Lorenzo Carter, the team announced Thursday.

Carter, a third-round pick by the New York Giants in 2018, spent four seasons with the franchise while appearing in 49 games. During that span, the 29-year-old amassed 153 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 14.5 sacks.

The edge has spent the last three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. In 2024, he played 13 games (11 starts) and posted 32 tackles, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble and a career-low zero sacks. According to Pro Football Reference, he had three quarterback pressures and two knockdowns.

The low pass rushing statistics certainly stand out. However, it is worth noting that he was brought on only nine blitzes last season. That is a far cry from his earlier totals; he had a career-high 78 blitzes in 2019.

Carter has also been deployed as an inside linebacker in the past, most significantly in 2021.

At 6-foot-5 and 264 pounds, he is a commanding presence, and he ran a 4.50-second 40-yard dash at the 2019 NFL combine.

The Titans will look to maximize the versatile athlete's abilities this season.

Falcons sign WR Jamal Agnew to 1-year deal

Falcons sign WR Jamal Agnew to 1-year deal

The Atlanta Falcons signed wide receiver and return specialist Jamal Agnew on Thursday. It is a one-year deal worth up to $2.5 million, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.

Agnew spent the 2024 season on the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad while recovering from a leg injury.

The wideout was a fifth-round pick by the Detroit Lions in 2017 and quickly made a name for himself as a return man. In his rookie campaign, he led the NFL in punt return yards (447), punt return touchdowns (two), and yards per punt return (15.4). As a result, he was named a first-team All-Pro.

Agnew, 29, signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021, where he received more opportunities on offense. In three seasons with the franchise, Agnew totaled 61 receptions for 641 yards and five touchdowns. In addition, he saw time in the backfield with 23 carries for 195 yards and a score.

The versatile playmaker also continued making an impact in the return game. In 2022, Agnew earned his first Pro Bowl nod after recording 205 punt return yards and 547 kick return yards.

Agnew is coming off a major injury sustained in Week 17 of the 2023 season, but he has the potential to jolt the Falcons' return game. Last season, Atlanta ranked 20th in yards per kick return (26.4) and 17th in yards per punt return (9.5).

'It's a lot of hate': Shedeur Sanders postpones workouts but remains positive

'It's a lot of hate': Shedeur Sanders postpones workouts but remains positive

The Big 12 Conference's inaugural Pro Day had its share of standouts Thursday, but one thing it did not have was Shedeur Sanders working out.

The Colorado quarterback elected not to participate in workouts, though he was in attendance at the event in Frisco, Texas, highlighting the top NFL prospects in the Big 12, and he told NFL Network (broadcasting the event) that he isn't letting critics get to him.

"It's a lot of critics, it's a lot of hate," Sanders said. "But we know what to do. We know how to handle that in every way, so we remain happy."

The showcase, which continues through Friday, features more than 200 football players from the conference. Among the notable participants on Thursday included Arizona's Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who posted the best 40 time of all running backs (4.45), and Utah's Caleb Lohner, who bested all tight ends with a 37-inch vertical jump.

Perhaps the highest-profile athlete in attendance, Sanders chose instead to work out at Colorado's "CU Football Showcase" on April 4. He spoke about his approach and the NFL draft process in general.

"It's definitely a learning experience," Sanders said. "A lot of things aren't in your control, and getting the knowledge from Dad (Deion Sanders) ... coaches, family and friends and everybody that's supporting me and helping me through this process, it's extremely important. I'm thankful that I have those resources."

Sanders is considered a top target of the New York Giants, who select No. 3 overall and have recently parted ways with their previous starting quarterback, Daniel Jones.

Sanders was the Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team quarterback on the All-Big 12 team in 2024, throwing for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns for 9-4 Colorado, finishing eighth in the Heisman Trophy balloting.

Other standouts from the Big 12 workouts have included Arizona State running back DeCarlos Brooks (10-foot, 10-inch broad jump), Oklahoma State tight end Jake Schultz (31 bench press) and UCF running back Peny Boone (6.93 3-cone).

Texans sign veteran CB Ronald Darby

Texans sign veteran CB Ronald Darby

Ronald Darby is staying in the AFC South, as the Houston Texans signed the former Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback on Thursday.

ESPN and NFL Network reported earlier in the week that the Texans' agreement with Darby, 31, was for one year and $2.5 million.

Darby played in 13 games (12 starts) for the Jaguars and recorded 46 tackles, three for loss, and nine pass breakups.

This will be Darby's seventh NFL team after stays with the Buffalo Bills (2015-16), Philadelphia Eagles (2017-19), then-Washington Football Team (2020), Denver Broncos (2021-22), Baltimore Ravens (2023) and Jacksonville.

Darby was a second-round draft pick by Buffalo in 2015 and was runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year after recording 68 tackles and two interceptions. Darby has eight career interceptions, but none since 2019.