NFL Player News

It’s good news in that it’s not a season-ending injury, but high-ankle issues are quite frequently season-altering issues. One silver lining here is that there are no current games to rush back for. Diaby might not be 100 percent by Week 1, but he will be much closer to it than most high-ankle sprain sufferers are when they return. Diaby notched 7.5 sacks as a third-round rookie last season, and profiles as a major part of the Bucs’ 2024 pass rush.

Gallup was released by Dallas last offseason and signed with the Raiders. He ultimately retired before training camp but is now attempting to make a comeback. Gallup played under now Commanders head coach Dan Quinn in Dallas when Quinn served as the team’s defensive coordinator. His familiarity with the staff could get his foot in the door as a depth option, but Gallup’s play has declined drastically since he suffered a torn ACL in 2021. It’s unclear how much, if anything, he has left in the tank.

Slayton remains with the Giants on a solid three-year deal after leading the team in receiving in four of his six years with the franchise. Even so, the speedster has peaked at 50 receptions (twice) and 770 yards during that time as a primary deep threat, leaving his fantasy value in the WR4 range for fantasy managers in deep leagues.

Burks signed a one-year deal with the Eagles last offseason and saw the bulk of his regular season snaps on special teams. However, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes, Burks stepped into a starting role during the postseason and thrived. He totaled three TFLs, two forced fumbles, and one sack across three postseason starts plus a fourth appearance. The move to Cincy will give him a starting role for the first time in his career after filling depth roles for the Packers, 49ers, and Eagles.

Jackson was acquired just before the start of the 2024 regular season in a trade with the Seahawks and now remains with the Panthers on a new two-year deal. He played all but 13 defensive snaps for the Panthers a season ago and should remain the team’s top perimeter cornerback option moving forward.

The transaction will be finalized when the new league year starts on Wednesday, at which point Tomlinson will be free to sign with any team. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Tomlinson will be designated as a post-June 1 cut. His release will create $6.4 million in cap space while leaving the Browns with a $5 million dead cap charge. Tomlinson had two years left on his four-year, $57 million contract with the Browns. The big man notched three sacks and six TFLs in 2024 with a nearly identical stat line in 2023. While not an elite defender, Tomlinson is a solid interior lineman who should earn a multi-year deal on the open market.

The nine-year veteran has played his entire career with the Colts and now moves to a Vikings team desperate for interior offensive line help. His $9 million average annual value drops him from the fifth highest paid center to the eighth highest paid center, but still is representative of his dominating nature on the interior when healthy. Kelly has missed a combined 10 games the previous two seasons and turns 32 shortly, making the hefty contract somewhat of a gamble for the Vikings.

According to FOX NFL’s Jordan Schultz, the deal is worth over $54 million, though we don’t have the full details yet. Wharton appeared in all 17 games for the Chiefs and totaled 6.5 sacks plus seven TFLs. He added two sacks and a TFL to that tally during Kansas City’s run to the Super Bowl. Wharton never ascended to an every-down role with the Chiefs but will have the opportunity to do so in Carolina. The Panthers have been aggressive in fixing their defense early in free agency, signing multiple defensive linemen on top of other key moves.

The longtime Raven heads to the division-rival Steelers on a $10 million contract, seemingly an excellent fit in the 3-4 defensive scheme in Pittsburgh. He’ll likely take on more of a rotational role with the Steelers considering their depth at the position, but his athleticism and veteran presence give the Steelers yet another animal on the interior of their defense.

The deal is reported to be fully guaranteed and carries a maximum value of $10 million, the incentives of which have yet to be disclosed. The Dolphins have struggled while playing with their backup quarterback in each of the previous two seasons as starter Tua Tagovailoa struggled through head injuries. Whether or not Wilson is the answer to those woes remains to be seen, but he joins a situation where he’s likely one of the favorite backups to see playing time in the coming season.