Cousins cashes in again, as Falcons pay big for QB
Barkley to Eagles, Jacobs joins Packers
Kirk Cousins is leaving Minnesota for Atlanta, landing another big contract with a well-timed foray into free agency.
Cousins agreed Monday to a fouryear, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed with the Falcons, according to a person speaking on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the deal can’t be signed until Wednesday when the new league year begins.
Cousins gets a $50 million signing bonus and his salaries for 2024 and 2025 are fully guaranteed, the person said. The annual average value of $45 million would reach the top 10 for quarterbacks in the NFL.
Atlanta had a glaring need at quarterback after cycling through Desmond Ridder and Tyler Heinicke last season.
Barkley runs to Philly
The Eagles decided Saquon Barkley was the rare running back they were willing to make a financial splash on — a move made even more rewarding by prying him away from the NFC East rival Giants.
The Eagles agreed to contracts with Barkley and former Jets defensive end Bryce Huff, two people familiar with the deals told the AP. Barkley is set to sign a three-year deal for $26 million guaranteed and $37.75 million overall, while Huff is getting a three-year deal for $51 million.
Barkley, who tweeted two eagle emojis, hit free agency after the Giants elected not to put a franchise tag on the second overall pick in the 2018 draft. The Eagles made Barkley the highest-paid running back in franchise history.
Giants deal for Burns
The Giants have agreed to acquire edge rusher Brian Burns from the Panthers, a person familiar with the deal told the AP.
Burns, a two-time Pro Bowl pick, is getting a five-year contract worth up to $150 million with $87.5 million in guarantees. He will sign his franchise tag to facilitate the deal. Burns becomes the second-highest paid defensive end in NFL history.
Burns, who turns 26 next month, had 46 sacks in five seasons in Carolina.
The Giants bolstered their weak offensive line by agreeing to terms with former Packers guard Jon Runyan Jr. Runyan will sign a three-year, $30 million contract with $17 million guaranteed, according to an AP source. The 26-year-old has spent the past four seasons with Green Bay, starting this past season at right guard and at left guard the two before that. He was one of the league’s top rated guards in pass protection.
Packers swap for Jacobs
The Packers got off to a busy start, agreeing to deals with running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney, and releasing longtime running back Aaron Jones and former All-Pro offensive tackle David Bakhtiari, according to AP sources.
Jacobs was a first-round pick by the Raiders in 2019. He is coming off a down year, having rushed for a career-low 805 yards and six TDs in 13 games for the Raiders. The 26-yearold was an All-Pro in 2022 when he led the NFL with 1,653 yards and 2,053 yards from scrimmage.
In five seasons with the Raiders, Jacobs ranked third in franchise history with 5,545 yards rushing and 46 TDs.
The Packers had not announced anything regarding the 32-year-old, Bakhtiari, but he indicated in a lengthy post on social media his 11 seasons with the team had come to an end. He had only played 13 games since the 2021 season, including just one last year, while dealing with an injured left knee that has required five surgeries.
Las Vegas gets busy
The Raiders were busy, agreeing to contracts with quarterback Gardner Minshew and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.
Minshew agreed to a two-year, $25 million deal with $15 million guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the contract said. Wilkins agreed to a four-year, $110 million contract with $84.75 million guaranteed, according to agent David Mulugheta.
Wilkins, 28, played his first five seasons for the Dolphins, with whom he became one of the NFL’s top run stoppers. The Springfield native set a league record in 2022 for his position with 98 tackles.
Minshew, 27, is expected to compete with Aidan O’Connell to be the starting quarterback. O’Connell became the midseason starter last year, and the Raiders went 5-4 after he took over.
The Raiders, who pick 13th, could still draft a quarterback this year.
Minshew, a sixth-round pick in 2019, took over as Indianapolis’ starter when Anthony Richardson injured his shoulder in Week 5. The Colts finished 9-8 and nearly made the playoffs as Minshew threw for 3,302 yards and 15 touchdowns with nine interceptions. He also has played for Philadelphia and Jacksonville, starting 37 career games.
Running back shuffle
The Bears and Pro Bowl running back D’Andre Swift have agreed to a three-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told the AP. The deal is reportedly worth $24 million, with $15.3 million guaranteed. Acquired by Philadelphia in a draft-day trade with Detroit last year, the 25-year-old Swift had his best season in 2023. He ran for a career-high 1,049 yards and five TDs and made his first Pro Bowl.
The Titans are replacing four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry with Tony Pollard. Pollard and the Titans agreed to a $24 million, threeyear contract, a person familiar with the deal told the AP. Pollard, 26, was a fourth-round pick by Dallas in 2019 out of Memphis. The Cowboys declined to tag Pollard despite him running for 1,005 yards and six touchdowns. Pollard also had a career-high 55 receptions for 311 yards.
After seven years and 69 touchdowns with the Chargers, running back Austin Ekeler is headed to Washington on a two-year deal worth up to $11.43 million, according to reports.
The Chargers, in turn, bolstered their rushing attack by agreeing to terms with running back Gus Edwards. Edwards, who spent the first six years of his career with the Ravens, will sign a two-year deal, according to AP sources.
The Bengals are moving on from running back Joe Mixon, who had four 1,000-yard seasons and 49 touchdowns in seven years with Cincinnati. Former Colts and Bills running back Zack Moss is signing a two-year, $8 million deal with the Bengals, while Mixon hits free agency at age 27.
Chiefs bring back Jones
The Chiefs finalized a five-year, $158.75 million contract with Chris Jones, keeping the All-Pro tackle in the middle of their defensive line as they chase a record-setting third consecutive Super Bowl title. Jones, who turns 30 in July, will make $95 million guaranteed over the first three years, a person familiar with the details told the AP . . . The Panthers have agreed to terms on a five-year, $100 million contract with free agent guard Robert Hunt that includes $63 million in guaranteed money, two people familiar with the situation told the AP. The 6-foot-6-inch, 330pound Hunt started 55 games over the past four seasons with the Dolphins . . . The Jaguars found a potential replacement for Calvin Ridley, signing former Buffalo receiver Gabe Davis to a three-year, $39 million contract . . . The Broncos agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $22.5 million with former Dolphins safety Brandon Jones. Kicker Wil Lutz is resigning with Denver on a two-year deal. The Broncos also re-signed fifthyear safety P.J. Locke to a two-year contract . . . The 49ers added help at pass rusher, agreeing to a two-year, $20 million contract with Leonard Floyd. The deal reportedly can be worth up to $24 million and includes $12 million guaranteed. The 31-yearold matched a career high with 10½ sacks last season for Buffalo . . . Linebacker Mack Wilson, who spent the last two seasons with the Patriots, inked a three-year deal with the Cardinals, according to ESPN . . . The Bengals and safety Geno Stone have agreed on a two-year, $15 million deal. Stone had seven interceptions last season . . . The Lions and former Vikings and Saints defensive end Marcus Davenport agreed to terms on a 1-year, $10.5 million deal, according to NFL Network . . . The Dolphins agreed to sign former Titans center Aaron Brewer to a three-year deal worth $21 million to replace Connor Williams, Miami’s starting center for the past two seasons. Williams was Pro Football Focus’s toprated center in 2023 before suffering a torn ACL in December . . . The Seahawks locked down tight end Noah Fant with a two-year, $21 million contract. The 26-year-old caught 32 passes for 414 yards last year . . . Seahawks left guard Damien Lewis agreed to a four-year, $53 million deal with the Panthers, according to Bleacher Report . . . Former Chiefs kicker Tommy Townsend has agreed to a two-year, $6 million deal with the Texans . . . The Jets are re-signing kicker Greg Zuerlein to a two-year contract worth $8.4 million with $4.2 million guaranteed.