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Gaints sign veteran defensive back David Long Jr.

Gaints sign veteran defensive back David Long Jr.

The New York Giants on Wednesday signed free agent defensive back David Long Jr., who played for three NFL teams and started for two in 2023.

Long, 26, has played primarily cornerback, starting 12 of 66 regular-season games for the Los Angeles Rams (2019-22), Las Vegas Raiders (2023), Carolina Panthers (2023) and Green Bay Packers (2023). He started one game each for the Raiders and Packers.

He has 96 career tackles and eight passes defended.

The Rams selected him in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Michigan. He started in Super Bowl LVI, a 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Long and veteran free-agent signing Jalen Mills are expected to bring experience to a Giants secondary that added safety Tyler Nubin and cornerback Andru Phillips in the draft last weekend.

Report: Saints signing former Lions DB Will Harris

Report: Saints signing former Lions DB Will Harris

The New Orleans Saints agreed to terms on a one-year deal with former Detroit Lions defensive back Will Harris, NFL Network reported Wednesday.

Harris, 28, appeared in 81 of a possible 83 regular-season games over the last five years with the Lions.

Detroit drafted him in the third round in 2019 and he has lined up at both safety and cornerback.

Harris had 18 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery in 17 games (two starts) last season. His career totals include 246 tackles, two picks, two forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks.

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce 'extremely grateful' for new deal

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce 'extremely grateful' for new deal

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce wanted more money but was not interested in executing a leverage play as a means to get it.

Kelce, as it turns out, got what he wanted as the Chiefs reworked his contract, pumping up his salary to $34.25 million over the next two seasons. The $17.125 million per year represents the highest average annual salary among all NFL tight ends.

"I'm not a guy that sits out," Kelce said on the "New Heights" podcast with his brother, Jason. "I'm not a guy that holds out. I'm a guy that loves coming into the building, and the Chiefs know that. So, for them to want to get this done for me knowing how much blood, sweat and tears that I put into this thing, I'm extremely grateful."

Kelce, 34, was in line to earn $12 million in 2024 and $16.25 million in 2025 prior to the deal.

"I'm so excited and so thankful to this organization for getting it done, making me feel appreciated and compensated the right way, and on top of that I got to move the needle for the tight end room," Kelce said. "It's everyone else's job to keep making that tight end AAV (average annual value) go up and up with every single contract that's better than mine in the future.

"I'm so fricking thankful to (general manager) Brett Veach, (president) Mark Donovan, Coach (Andy) Reid -- Big Red, I love you, big guy -- and obviously (team owner) Clark Hunt. The Hunt family has been unbelievable to not only myself and this Kansas City community, but they've just been so generous since I've been here in making it feel like home. For the past (11) years I've been able to make this place exactly that and I've loved every single second of it and I'm going to love the next two years playing here in Kansas City and we'll see what happens after that."

Kelce was set to become a free agent after the 2025 season as part of a four-year, $57.25 million deal he signed in August 2020.

The nine-time Pro Bowl selection was due to be fourth among NFL tight ends in annual salary in 2024, behind Darren Waller (New York Giants), T.J. Hockenson (Minnesota Vikings) and George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers).

Kelce led the Chiefs with 93 receptions for 984 yards and five touchdowns in 2023. Kelce sat out Week 17 against the Los Angeles Chargers, forgoing a chance to stretch his streak of consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to eight in order to enter the playoffs healthy.

Kelce has 907 receptions for 11,328 yards and 74 touchdowns in 159 regular-season games with the Chiefs since he was drafted in the third round in 2013.

Reports: Bucs decline option on LB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

Reports: Bucs decline option on LB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are declining the fifth-year option on outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, according to multiple reports.

As the 32nd and final pick of the first round in the 2021 NFL Draft, he would have been guaranteed $13.2 million for the 2025 season if the Bucs had picked up his option.

Tryon-Shoyinka, who turned 25 on Tuesday, set career highs with five sacks and 45 tackles in 17 games (12 starts) last season.

He has recorded 13 sacks, 31 quarterback hits and 114 tackles while playing all 51 regular-season games (34 starts) since his arrival in Tampa.

Tryon-Shoyinka faces new competition for playing time in 2024. The Buccaneers signed veteran Randy Gregory and spent a second-round pick last week on Alabama's Chris Braswell.

Reports: Broncos won't pick up QB Zach Wilson's option

Reports: Broncos won't pick up QB Zach Wilson's option

Zach Wilson might have just a one-year stay in Denver, as multiple media outlets reported Tuesday that the Broncos won't pick up his fifth-year option for 2025.

The Broncos acquired Wilson and a seventh-round draft pick last week from the New York Jets in exchange for a sixth-round choice. Each team will pay a portion of his 2024 salary, which has a base of just over $1 million.

Denver then selected Bo Nix 12th overall in the draft on Friday.

Wilson's option for 2025 would have been worth $22.4 million.

Broncos coach Sean Payton said that Wilson and Nix would compete for the starting role along with Jarrett Stidham, who went 1-1 as a starter for Denver last year, and Ben DiNucci.

The Broncos announced in March that they would release their regular starting quarterback from the past two years, Russell Wilson, with a post-June 1 designation. Russell Wilson went 11-19 as a starter over his two years in Denver, proving to be a big disappointment after he arrived in a March 2022 trade with the Seattle Seahawks.

Zach Wilson, 24, was chosen second overall by the Jets in the 2021 draft out of BYU. He produced a 12-21 record as New York's starter, completing 57 percent of his passes for 6,293 yards with 23 touchdown tosses and 25 interceptions.

Last season, he went 4-7 with a career-high 60.1 percent completion rate, 2,271 yards, eight TDs and seven interceptions.

Nix, 24, threw for 4,508 yards and 45 touchdowns while getting picked off just three times for Oregon last season.

Browns signing veteran C Brian Allen

Browns signing veteran C Brian Allen

AMDG Sports did not provide financial details for the 28-year-old veteran, who started 32 of his 50 games over five seasons with the Rams.

Allen was drafted in the fourth round in 2018. In 2021, he made 16 starts in the regular season and four more in the playoffs as Los Angeles marched to a Super Bowl LVI championship.

Allen then missed 22 of the Rams' 34 games over the past two seasons. He dealt with knee and thumb injuries in 2022 and lost his starting job to Coleman Shelton last season.

The Browns have centers Ethan Pocic and Luke Wypler on the roster. Pocic made 15 starts last season for Cleveland, while Wypler played in five games (one start) as a 2023 rookie.

Ravens pick up LB Odafe Oweh's 5th-year option

Ravens pick up LB Odafe Oweh's 5th-year option

The Baltimore Ravens exercised the fifth-year option on outside linebacker Odafe Oweh on Tuesday.

Drafted with the 31st pick of the first round in 2021, Oweh will earn a guaranteed $13.251 million for the 2025 season.

"We are happy to announce that the Ravens will be picking up Odafe Oweh's fifth-year option," general manager Eric DeCosta said. "We look forward to watching him play great football for us this year."

Oweh, 25, has recorded 13 sacks, 38 quarterback hits, six forced fumbles and 99 tackles in 45 games (13 starts).

He made five starts in 13 games last season, contributing five sacks, 12 QB hits and two forced fumbles. He missed four games with an ankle injury.

4-time Pro Bowl CB Chris Harris retires after 12 seasons

4-time Pro Bowl CB Chris Harris retires after 12 seasons

Four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Chris Harris announced his retirement Tuesday after 12 NFL seasons.

Harris, 34, won a Super Bowl and spent most of his career with the Denver Broncos from 2011-19.

He played for the Los Angeles Chargers (2020-21) and New Orleans Saints (2022) but was out of the NFL in 2023.

"I just waited a year and I stayed in shape, but I realized that everybody was pretty much moving on with the younger players, the younger wave," Harris told the Denver Gazette. "So I thought it would be great to just call it an end."

Harris signed with Denver as an undrafted free agent out of Kansas and helped the Broncos win Super Bowl 50 after the 2015 season. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2016 and made the Pro Bowl in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018.

He was a member of the NFL's All-Decade team for the 2010s.

Harris intercepted 22 passes, returning four for touchdowns, and added 621 tackles, 97 passes defensed, seven forced fumbles and six sacks in 172 career games (145 starts).

Reports: Raiders signing WR Michael Gallup

Reports: Raiders signing WR Michael Gallup

Wide receiver Michael Gallup is signing a one-year, $3 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, multiple media outlets reported.

Gallup was released by the Dallas Cowboys last month, clearing $9.5 million in salary cap space, ending his six-year stint with the team.

With Las Vegas, Gallup likely would serve as the third receiver on the depth chart behind All-Pro Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers.

Gallup, 28, had 34 catches for a career-low 418 yards and two touchdowns last season.

He had big seasons in 2019 and 2020 when he combined for 125 receptions, 1,950 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has totaled 266 catches for 3,744 yards and 21 touchdowns since being selected by Dallas in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Jaguars release WR Zay Jones, K Joey Slye

Jaguars release WR Zay Jones, K Joey Slye

The Jacksonville Jaguars released veteran wide receiver Zay Jones and kicker Joey Slye on Tuesday.

Per Spotrac, the moves freed up $5.22 million of cap space for the Jaguars in 2024.

Jones' job with Jacksonville appeared to be in jeopardy after the team signed Gabe Davis in free agency and selected fellow wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Jones, 29, had 34 catches for 321 yards and two touchdowns in nine games (seven starts) last season.

He totaled 287 receptions for 3,028 yards and 18 touchdowns in 104 career games (67 starts) with the Buffalo Bills, Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders and Jaguars.

Slye's time in Jacksonville lasted all of approximately six weeks. The then-free agent signed a one-year contract with the Jaguars on March 18.

Jacksonville has Riley Patterson on the roster. The team also selected fellow kicker Cam Little in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Slye, 28, converted 19 of 24 field goals and 32 of 35 extra points in 17 games for the Washington Commanders last season.

He has made 82.3 percent of his field goals and just 88.5 percent of his PATs across five seasons with four teams.

Browns to exercise 2025 option for CB Greg Newsome

Browns to exercise 2025 option for CB Greg Newsome

Newsome will earn $13.37 million guaranteed during the 2025 season.

He recorded 49 tackles, 14 passes defensed, two interceptions and a half-sack in 14 games (13 starts) last season.

Newsome, 23, has 128 tackles, 29 passes defensed, two picks and one sack in 41 career games (39 starts) with the Browns. Cleveland selected Newsome with the No. 26 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.

NFL Draft ratings dip after strong first round

NFL Draft ratings dip after strong first round

After drawing around 12 million viewers on ESPN, ABC and NFL Network for the first round on Thursday, the NFL draft saw its worst ratings for the second and third round on Friday since 2012.

Thursday's viewership was up 6 percent from last year and was the highest it's been since 12.5 million watched in 2021. ESPN led the way this year with 5.6 million, followed by ABC (4.5 million) and NFL Network (1.6 million).

When the 2020 draft was remote during the pandemic, a record 15.3 million viewers tuned in for the first round.

Only 5.1 million tuned in on Friday, down 8 percent from last year's 5.5 million viewers.

Unlike NFL Network and ABC, which carried Day 2 of the draft in full, ESPN opted to carry Game 3 of the Milwaukee Bucks-Indiana Pacers first-round series on Friday, with ESPN2 broadcasting the draft.

Falcons exercise fifth-year option for TE Kyle Pitts

Falcons exercise fifth-year option for TE Kyle Pitts

The Atlanta Falcons picked up tight end Kyle Pitts' fifth-year option on Monday.

The fourth overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft will stay with Atlanta through at least 2025. The option carries a guaranteed $10.878 million salary for 2025.

Pitts was named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2021, when he caught 68 passes for 1,026 yards and one touchdown, but his production had tailed off in the two seasons since, in part due to a torn MCL midway through his sophomore campaign.

Pitts, 23, has totaled 149 receptions for 2,049 yards and six touchdowns over 44 career games (40 starts) while catching passes from Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke in the past two years.

The Falcons signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in free agency before adding QB Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth pick in the draft last week.

Atlanta is also expected to have a new game plan under Raheem Morris, who was hired to replace Arthur Smith as head coach. Speaking at the owners' meetings last month, Morris indicated he was high on Pitts.

"He's the mayor of Atlanta," Morris said. "I think he wants to come back and have a highly productive year. I think he's excited about his partnership with some of the guys that we brought in."

Eagles add to OT depth with signing of Mekhi Becton

Eagles add to OT depth with signing of Mekhi Becton

The Philadelphia Eagles signed free agent offensive tackle Mekhi Becton, a former first-round pick of the New York Jets, to a one-year contract, the team announced Monday.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed, but it is valued at up to $5.5 million, according to multiple media reports.

The Jets made Becton the 11th overall selection of the 2020 NFL Draft, and the Louisville product started 13 of his 14 games as a rookie. However, a knee injury in Week 1 ended the left tackle's second season, and Becton moved to right tackle, only to miss all of the 2022 season because of another knee injury.

The 6-foot-7, 363-pound lineman started all 16 games he played in 2023, playing 95 percent of the offensive snaps. The Jets did not pick up the fifth-year option on Becton, who turned 25 on April 18.

The Eagles, who did not select an offensive tackle in last weekend's draft, add depth to the roster at the position behind starting left tackle Jordan Mailata and right tackle Lane Johnson. Backup Jack Driscoll signed as a free agent with the Miami Dolphins.

Reports: Chiefs adjust Travis Kelce's contract; now highest-paid TE

Reports: Chiefs adjust Travis Kelce's contract; now highest-paid TE

Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs agreed to a new two-year deal that makes the nine-time Pro Bowl selection the NFL's highest-paid tight end, according to multiple reports.

Kelce's deal was quickly celebrated by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

"I told yall I'll never let him leave!! Congrats my guy! @tkelce," Mahomes said via X.

The Chiefs signed head coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach to contract extensions prior to the draft. Mahomes signed a 10-year deal in 2020.

Kelce, 34, was set to become a free agent after the 2025 season. The new deal replaces the final two years on his existing contract, a four-year, $57.25 million deal he signed in August 2020.

Kelce led the Chiefs with 93 receptions for 984 yards and five touchdowns in 2023. Kelce sat out Week 17 against the Chargers, forgoing a chance to stretch his streak of consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to eight in order to enter the playoffs healthy.

He was due to be fourth in the NFL in annual salary behind Darren Waller (Giants), T.J. Hockenson (Vikings) and George Kittle (49ers) in 2024.

Kelce has 907 receptions for 11,328 yards and 74 touchdowns in 159 regular-season games with the Chiefs since he was drafted in the third round in 2013.

Jason Kelce joining ESPN's 'MNF' pregame show

Jason Kelce joining ESPN's 'MNF' pregame show

Recently retired Jason Kelce is joining ESPN this fall to be part of its "Monday Night Countdown" pregame show, The Athletic reported Monday.

Kelce announced his retirement early last month after 13 seasons as the center for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Kelce was sought after by CBS, NBC and Amazon, per the report. CBS was interested in Kelce for its "NFL Today" show, per the report.

Drafted in the sixth round (191st overall) in 2011, Kelce became a Super Bowl LII champion and one of the most durable, decorated and respected centers in NFL history -- and one of the league's most passionate players.

The six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection started 205 games for the Eagles, including the postseason.

Kelce, 36, is the older brother of Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce. The siblings have a popular podcast called "New Heights."

Reports: Bills picking up option on DE Greg Rousseau

Reports: Bills picking up option on DE Greg Rousseau

The Buffalo Bills are picking up the fifth-year option on defensive end Greg Rousseau, Fox Sports reported Monday.

NFL teams have until Thursday to exercise the 2025 options on their 2021 first-round draft picks.

Rousseau, the 30th overall selection in 2021, will earn a fully guaranteed salary of $13.387 million in 2025.

Rousseau, 24, registered five sacks, 18 quarterback hits and 42 tackles while starting 16 games last season.

His career totals include 17 sacks, 42 QB hits, 129 tackles and three forced fumbles in 46 games (all starts).

Patriots sign DT Christian Barmore to $92M extension

Patriots sign DT Christian Barmore to $92M extension

The New England Patriots reached agreement with defensive tackle Christian Barmore on a four-year extension with a maximum value of $92 million.

Agent Nicole Lynn confirmed the figures Monday with ESPN, which also reported that the deal includes $41.8 million guaranteed for the 2021 second-round pick.

Barmore, 24, was entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2024 and was scheduled to earn a base salary of $1.82 million. The extension runs through the 2028 season.

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said at the NFL league meetings in March that contract talks were active and likely to lead to a new deal following Barmore's breakout season in 2023.

"Three years ago, Christian and I sat in the greenroom at the NFL Draft on night 1 and his names was not called," Lynn posted Monday on X. "He would eventually slide to round 2, and that became one of the hardest nights of my career. Fast forward and now he is one of the highest paid DTs. God is always faithful!"

The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Barmore paced the Patriots with a career-high 8.5 sacks in 17 games (six starts) last season, also setting career highs in tackles (64), quarterback hits (16) and pass breakups (six).

Barmore has recorded 12.5 sacks, 32 QB hits and 133 tackles in 44 career games (11 starts).

Broncos acquire DE John Franklin-Myers from Jets

Broncos acquire DE John Franklin-Myers from Jets

The Denver Broncos acquired defensive end John Franklin-Myers from the New York Jets in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick, both teams confirmed Monday.

Franklin-Myers, 27, recorded 3.5 sacks, 14 quarterback hits, 33 tackles and three passes defensed in 17 starts with the Jets last season.

"It is something we have been working on the past couple of weeks," Broncos general manager George Paton said. "He is a player that we have always respected. He is durable. For three straight years he has not missed a game, and four straight years of 54-plus pressures. He can play all down the line of scrimmage. The one thing that sticks out on tape is the relentless motor this guy plays with. We are excited to get him. ... He is going to help our defensive line."

A fourth-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 2018, Franklin-Myers has recorded 19.5 sacks, 61 QB hits, 135 tackles, three fumble recoveries and one interception in 81 games (52 starts) with L.A. (2018) and New York (2020-23).

Boomer Esiason, Phil Simms sacked at 'NFL Today'

Boomer Esiason, Phil Simms sacked at 'NFL Today'

Boomer Esiason and Phil Simms are out at CBS Sports as analysts on the network's Sunday pregame show "The NFL Today."

Both former NFL quarterbacks announced Monday that they were leaving the network; The Athletic reported that Matt Ryan is in. J.J. Watt will remain and could have an expanded role this season.

The moves come in the aftermath of the announced retirement of CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus, with David Berson replacing him as boss of CBS Sports.

"More their decision than maybe mine," Esiason said of CBS Sports. "I had been there for 22 years. The guy who hired me back in 2001 was a guy by the name of Sean McManus, who was the CBS Sports Chairman ... I never in my wildest dreams (thought) it would have lasted 22 years."

Simms was there for 26 years, first as the in-booth No. 1 analyst alongside Jim Nantz before shifting to the studio in 2017 when the network inked Tony Romo.

"Great 26 yrs run with CBS SPORTS. Even though that part of my career is over I look forward to what is next," Simms posted to X.