NFL Player News

The team also inked rookie backup Jake Fromm to a four-year deal. A former five-star recruit who earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as a true junior, Epenesa (6’5/275) lacks an explosive first step on tape but buoyed his physicality and heavy hands into high-end production at the collegiate level, finishing his career as the first Hawkeye with back-to-back seasons of double-digit sacks since Matt Roth (2003-04). As The Athletic’s Dane Brugler notes, Epenesa actually averaged less than 50 percent of Iowa’s snaps in his first two years before becoming a full-time starter (90.1%) in 2019. Unfortunately, his sluggish 18th-percentile Adjusted SPARQ athleticism coupled with an unimpressive 40 (5.04) and median 32.5-inch vertical (63rd-percentile) means his team fit will be crucial in ensuring his impact as an EDGE rusher to begin his career. Don’t be surprised if he’s kicked inside if struggling out the gates. Even so, his upside remains that of a double-digit sack artist and Pro-Bowler.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the deal is fully guaranteed. Hekker has been named an All Pro four times in his career, and he likely will be punting an awful lot for one of the worst offenses in football.

It’s likely that the Cardinals didn’t have to lay out much cash here for Brissett, but we don’t have the terms yet. Brissett, who currently holds the all-time interception percentage record (in a good way) at 1.4 percent, was battered behind New England’s line in five starts last year before giving way to Drake Maye. The sterling 2022 season isn’t that far in the rearview mirror, though, and he’d be a competent-if-unexciting option if Kyler Murray had to miss games for any reason in 2025.

Tonyan had a brief moment of being a fantasy-relevant tight end while he was a member of the Packers, but he’s become a roster afterthought over the last few years. He’ll be behind Travis Kelce and Noah Gray — with a few others competing with Tonyan — to open the 2025 campaign.

Martin was released by the Bills on Thursday, and it didn’t take too long for the 35-year-old to find a new home. The veteran punter averaged 46.7 yards per punt and ranked 11th with 46.3 percent of his punts landing inside of the 20-yard line. The Panthers offense looked vastly improved at the end of 2024, but he should get plenty of chances to punt the football in 2025.

Adam Schefter notes that Reid will get $22.25 million fully guaranteed. It’s a strong contract for the 28-year-old safety, who finished 2024 with a career-best 78.2 PFF grade and is versatile enough to play in the box, over the top, and at slot if necessary. He’ll give defensive coordinator Brandon Staley some pre-snap versatility. Reid will replace Will Harris, who the Commanders signed earlier today, as New Orleans’ starting safety next to Tyrann Mathieu.

Gifford will be a depth piece for the linebacking corps, but where he’s excelled over the last couple of years is on special teams. He’ll help improve that unit while backing up the inside backers on the 49ers’ defense.

Koonce missed all of 2024 after he tore his ACL before the start of the season. The 26-year-old was re-signed to a one-year $12 million contract, and if he is the same player he was prior to the injury — 52 QB pressures in 2023 — the contract will be a steal, and Koonce will be looking at a massive deal come 2026.

$2 million of this is guaranteed, per Ian Rapoport. Turner was a first-round bust for the Saints, never playing more than 335 defensive snaps in a season. The former 28th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft has five sacks in 31 career appearances. The Cowboys will try to turn the tools that initially got Turner drafted highly into a productive EDGE rotational player.

Floyd was released by the 49ers on Tuesday, and it took mere hours for him to find a new home. The 32-year-old will get $10 million according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Floyd was able to procure 8.5 sacks with San Francisco in 2024, and he should be one of the primary pass-rushers for Atlanta in the 2025 campaign.

Pettis saw late playing time for the lowly Saints because of playing time, but the former second-round pick will make his living with New Orleans as a special-teams contributor.