Morse, who turns 33 next month, entered the NFL as a second-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2015 NFL Draft.

He spent his first four seasons with the Chiefs, followed by five with the Buffalo Bills and his 2024 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

A Pro Bowl selection in 2022 with the Bills, Morse started all 143 games in his career, including all 17 last season.

With free agency opening next week, the Browns needed to clear $23 million in cap space to become cap compliant. And that made Watson's $72.7 million cap hit in 2025 a target.

Spotrac reported the Browns converted $44.745 million of his salary into a restructure bonus, leaving Watson with a base salary of $1.255 million. The 2027 season also was voided.

The Browns acquired Watson and a sixth-round draft pick on March 18, 2022, in a trade with the Texans, sending three first-round draft picks, a third-round pick and two four-round picks to Houston.

The team completed the trade despite Watson being investigated in Houston after about two dozen massage therapists accused him of sexual misconduct. He signed a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract with the Browns.

Watson, 29, was a three-time Pro Bowl selection with Houston, but a bust in Cleveland.

Because of an NFL suspension following the investigation and assorted injuries, Watson has played in just 19 games (of 51 possible) in three seasons in Cleveland and is 9-10 as a starter. He is expected to miss the 2025 season as he recovers from a second surgery for a torn Achilles.

With the Browns, Watson has completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 3,365 yards with 19 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions.

The 29-year-old outside linebacker is coming off the fifth Pro Bowl season of his nine-year career, all spent with the Chargers. He would have been due a $12.36 million bonus if he remained on the team's roster on March 12.

Bosa racked up 72 sacks for the Chargers, the second-best total in franchise history. Leslie O'Neal, who played for the club from 1986-95, had 105.5 sacks.

The then-San Diego Chargers drafted Bosa out of Ohio State with the third overall pick in the 2016 draft, and he was an immediate star. He was chosen the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year after registering 10.5 sacks, 41 tackles and a forced fumble in 12 games (11 starts) that year.

In 107 NFL games (93 starts), Bosa has 343 tackles, 17 forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

However, his availability has been spotty due to injuries. Bosa played a combined 14 games in 2022 and 2023, then just 14 (with nine starts) last year, when he notched five sacks and two forced fumbles.

Ogunbowale is an eight-year NFL veteran, also playing for the Washington Commanders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Jacksonville Jaguars. He has spent the last three seasons with the Texans.

Last season, he recorded 30 carries for 112 yards, while hauling in 19 receptions for 198 yards and a touchdown.

Throughout his career, Ogunbowale has established himself as a big special teams contributor. Last season, he logged 269 special teams snaps.

The veteran should continue to provide depth at running back behind Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce and be a valuable special teams asset.

Also, receiver Tank Dell said on Instagram that he had a second surgery on his injured left knee on Wednesday. Dell underwent surgery to repair the ACL. He also underwent surgery on the knee in mid-January.

Dell sustained a dislocated kneecap and multiple torn ligaments and also sustained meniscus damage in a Week 16 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Dell, 25, has 98 catches for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns in 25 games over two seasons with Houston.

The deal includes $34 million guaranteed at signing, per the report. Baun was set to become a free agent next week.

Baun, 28, had a breakout campaign in his first season with the Eagles, recording 151 tackles, 3.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and an interception in 16 games (all starts). He played the 2024 season on a one-year, $1.6 million contract.

Baun also had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries in four playoff starts, helping the Eagles to a Super Bowl title.

Baun started just 14 games in his four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, who selected him in the third round of the 2020 draft. He has 239 tackles in 78 career games.

The Cowboys created a total of $56.6 million under the 2025 salary cap the past two days by reworking wide receiver CeeDee Lamb's contract on Tuesday before addressing Prescott's deal.

Pass rusher Micah Parsons is expected to receive a long-term extension this offseason to avoid a contentious holdout the likes of which dominated training camp last summer, where Lamb refused to report and perform on the fifth-year option in his rookie contract.

Parsons' value could be impacted by the agreement announced Wednesday between the Raiders and defensive end Maxx Crosby, who became the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL with a three-year, $106.5 million extension.

The Cowboys converted $45.75 million of Prescott's 2025 salary into a signing bonus. Prescott signed a four-year, $240 million extension with the club last September. He'll now count $52.9 million against the Cowboys' cap in 2025.

Prescott's 2024 season was cut short by season-ending surgery to repair a partial avulsion of the hamstring tendon in November. Prescott threw for 1,978 yards with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions in eight games last season.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Prescott owns a 76-46 record in 122 career starts since being picked by Dallas in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He has thrown for 31,437 yards with 213 touchdowns and 82 interceptions.

When the 2025 NFL campaign kicks off, Prescott will play for his third head coach with the Cowboys. Brian Schottenheimer -- the team's offensive coordinator the past two seasons -- will take over for the departed Mike McCarthy, who held the role since 2020.

The deal, which includes $91.5 million guaranteed, was announced by multiple media outlets before the Raiders reported that they signed Crosby to a multi-year extension.

"I'm just worried and focused about being the best version of myself every single day," Crosby said of being the highest-paid non-QB in the NFL.

"My focus is on winning. Being the best player and leader I can be. The money is obviously incredible for my family, my kids and my future kids. Setting everybody up financially, not having that stressor is an absolute blessing. It doesn't change my approach. I'm still going to be here the same time every single day and put the work in.

"... We've got a lot of work to do. Obviously, it's a great honor to be in this position. My focus is on the day-to-day. That's what I'm going to continue doing."

Crosby had two seasons remaining on his four-year extension that he signed in 2022. He had a base salary of $22.2 million in 2025 and $18.8 million in 2026; however, he didn't have any guaranteed money left in the deal.

"This program is built around competition. We'll always pursue to find great competitors that will help us build a great team," Raiders coach Pete Carroll said. "There is no way we can find a player is more focused, directed and committed to giving everything he's got to every opportunity he's going to get. For us to make this statement today, this fits perfect. ... This is a great day for us. We're really thrilled about it."

Crosby, 27, recorded a team-leading 7.5 sacks to go along with 45 tackles in 12 games (all starts) in 2024 before undergoing season-ending ankle surgery.

The four-time Pro Bowl selection said Wednesday that he's "getting close" to being 100 percent recovered from the injury and started running on a treadmill. He estimated that he has one month left of rehab.

Crosby has 366 tackles and 59.5 career sacks in 95 games (89 starts) since the Raiders selected him in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Eastern Michigan.

Also on Wednesday, the Raiders signed former Cincinnati Bengals guard Alex Cappa to a two-year, $11 million deal. Cappa's agency confirmed the deal over X, formerly Twitter.

Cappa, 30, will join the Raiders, whose new general manager John Spytek -- then with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- drafted him in the third round in 2018.

Cappa's 51 quarterback pressures allowed per NFL Next Gen Stats were the worst in the league among players with at least 400 snaps.

He started all 50 games in which he played for the Bengals across three seasons and 96 of the 102 in his NFL career.

Metcalf, 27, requested a trade to join a contender and the team has agreed to explore options, per the reports. The news hits the same day that the Seahawks released veteran wide receiver Tyler Lockett.

Metcalf, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, is set to count $31.875 million against the team's salary cap in 2025, per Spotrac. He's set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026, meaning any trade likely would have to come with an extension.

Metcalf has 438 receptions for 6,324 yards and 48 touchdowns in 97 career games (93 starts) in six seasons with the Seahawks, who selected him in the second round of the 2019 draft.

The Seahawks finished 10-7 last season, its first under new head coach Mike Macdonald, but missed the playoffs after losing the tiebreaker to the Los Angeles Rams for the NFC West title.

Earlier Wednesday, the Seahawks released Lockett in a cost-cutting move. He was set to make $17 million this season, including a $5.3 million roster bonus due March 16.

Seattle's passing game has shifted to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who hauled in 100 catches last season, 34 more than Metcalf. Lockett finished with 49.

The move will save the Jaguars $10.4 million against the salary cap.

Kirk was headed into the final season of a four-year, $72 million contract he signed with the Jaguars in 2022. The deal included a $20 million signing bonus and $37 million in guaranteed money.

Kirk, 28, sustained season-ending injuries each of the past two seasons -- a broken collarbone in 2024 and a core muscle injury in 2023.

That followed his career-best 2022 season, in which he started 17 games, tallied 1,108 yards and scored eight touchdowns.

Last season, he appeared in eight games (seven starts), catching 27 passes for 379 yards and a touchdown.

In 93 career games (77 starts) with the Arizona Cardinals (2018-21) and Jaguars, he has 404 receptions for 5,176 yards with 29 touchdowns.

The Seahawks made the move as opposed to paying Lockett $17 million this season, including a $5.3 million roster bonus due March 16.

Seattle's passing game has shifted to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who tied Lockett's franchise record with 100 catches last season. Lockett had 100 receptions in 2020.

Lockett, 32, finished with 49 catches for 600 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games (14 starts) last season.

A one-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection, Lockett has 661 receptions for 8,594 receiving yards and 61 touchdowns in his career. Each total ranks second only to Hall of Famer Steve Largent (819, 13,089, 100) in franchise history.

Lockett was selected by the Seahawks in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Kansas State.

"I really enjoyed being in Seattle!" Lockett wrote on social media. "I met so many great people and captured so many great memories! The 12's really make this place meaningful! Although, my time on the Seahawks may have run its course I'm thankful for everything!!"

Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald was quick to praise Lockett for all that he has done with the organization.

"You think about Tyler and his career and the arc of his career, and to have that mentality, man, just the humility, putting the team first, what else can you ask for?" Macdonald said. "And he loves ball. That guy comes out here. He's been doing it for such a long time, but the enthusiasm, the attitude, the productivity, man. The city knows Tyler, shoot, better than I do, but coming to know him this year has been a blessing for me personally too. I mean this guy, he's just one of one. We absolutely love him."

The Packers selected Crosby in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft, and he stayed with the team through the 2022 season. In that time, he became the Green Bay franchise leader in career points (1,918), field goals (395), 50-yard field goals (43) and extra points (733).

Crosby, 40, became a free agent following the 2022 season and played in three games with the New York Giants in 2023. He currently hosts The Mason Crosby Show on 105.7 The Fan radio in Milwaukee.

He played in 258 regular-season games and 23 in the postseason for Green Bay. He also is the franchise leader for games played and consecutive games played and also appeared in the postseason 12 times with the Packers, winning Super Bowl XLV with the team in 2011.

His name also is among the who's who in the history of kickers. He and former Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson are the only players to appear in at least 250 regular-season games and score at least 1,900 points with one team. He also scored 100-plus points in 15 seasons, trailing only Adam Viniatieri (21 seasons) and Jason Elam (16) in that category.

Hubbard, 29, was voted a team captain in each of his final four seasons with the Bengals. He was the longest-tenured player on the team's roster.

The Cincinnati native recorded 41 tackles and two sacks in 14 games (all starts) in 2024 before sustaining a season-ending PCL injury in a game against the Tennessee Titans. Prior to that, Hubbard had a 2-yard touchdown catch in the Bengals' 37-27 victory over the Titans.

"I want to send a sincere thank you to my teammates, coaches, trainers, support staff, Bengals ownership, and the NFL for everything you all have done for me," Hubbard said on social media. "I could not have done any of this alone. To the fans -- Who Dey Nation -- I thank you the most; you inspired me. From the years of struggle and adversity to Super Bowl LVI, you never stopped believing. I hope I made you proud."

Hubbard had 398 tackles, 38.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries in 104 career games (88 starts) since he was selected by Cincinnati in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Hubbard also was a two-time nominee for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year award. The award recognizes a league player for their work off the field, as well as excellence on the field.

"Sam epitomizes what you want in a player -- he's a great teammate, a talented athlete and a passionate community member. He helped us win a lot of football games, and he had a number of very memorable plays over the years. His 98-yard fumble recovery return in the wild card win over Baltimore is one of the most iconic touchdowns in team history. It has been my honor to watch him play his entire NFL career for his hometown team. We thank him for the memories he created as 'Cincinnati's Own.'"

Minshew, 28, signed a two-year contract in last offseason and made nine starts in the 10 games in which he appeared last season. He completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 2,013 yards with nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions before a broken collarbone ended his season.

Minshew has $3.16 million in fully guaranteed money remaining on the two-year, $25 million contract he signed with Las Vegas last March. The Raiders will save $6.34 million against the salary cap by parting ways with Minshew.

The Raiders used Minshew and second-year quarterback Aidan O'Connell last season. New coach Pete Carroll is expected to seek a veteran signal-caller in free agency and the Raiders were active in meeting with quarterbacks in the 2025 draft class during the NFL Scouting Combine.

Minshew has completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 11,950 yards with 68 touchdowns and 34 interceptions in 59 career games (46 starts) with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts and Raiders. He was selected by the Jaguars in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

The Colts are in the market for a veteran to compete with Anthony Richardson, and reportedly have shown interest in chasing Daniel Jones in free agency. Minshew started most of the 2023 season following Richardson's season-ending shoulder injury. He had 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2023, then started nine games with the Raiders after joining Las Vegas in free agency.

The Browns hosted three of the top-ranked prospects in the class on Wednesday: Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter as well as quarterbacks Cam Ward (Miami) and Shedeur Sanders (Colorado).

With only the Tennessee Titans ahead of the Browns in the draft, Cleveland is casting a narrowed net before the college pro day circuit kicks into high gear. The Browns met with all three prospects at the NFL Scouting Combine, where 18-minute, in-person interviews are permitted with up to 45 players in the 2025 draft pool. They also met with Colorado two-way player Travis Hunter, who has said he hopes to remain a wide receiver and cornerback in the NFL.

None of the four prospects worked out with their position group in Indianapolis.

Carter was not even available for a complete battery of official measurements because of his ongoing recovery from an AC joint injury in his shoulder.

The Browns entered the offseason with uncertainty at quarterback. Deshaun Watson had a second Achilles surgery and might not play in 2025. Jameis Winston can become a free agent.

Defense might become a higher priority for Berry and the Browns if they're backed into a corner by defensive end Myles Garrett. After requesting a trade, Garrett responded to the Browns' statement they would not part with the perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate by stating he has no plans to sign a contract extension to stay in Cleveland.

The 2025 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 24-26 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

Thuney started at left tackle late in the season for the Chiefs and manned that spot for Kansas City in the Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bears agreed to a trade for Rams guard Jonah Jackson, parting with a 2025 sixth-round pick, according to multiple reports.

Terms of the deal between the Bears and Chiefs were not known. Deals cannot become official until the first day of the league year on March 12.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles previously was in the Chiefs' personnel department and worked for Kansas City when the team signed Thuney as a free agent to a five-year, $80 million contract in 2021. He has one year remaining on that deal.

The Bears are working to settle an offensive line that became a concern in front of 2024 No. 1 pick Caleb Williams last season. New head coach Ben Johnson said last week at the combine he would have no reservations changing out three or four starting spots in the offseason, pointing out the example of the Carolina Panthers' overhaul last offseason that included two massive additions at guard: free agents Robert Hunt (Dolphins) and Damien Lewis (Seahawks).

The Athletic reported Wednesday that New England was in the bidding to reacquire Thuney via trade.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said at the NFL Scouting Combine last week that Thuney is a natural "center-guard" and would not be used at left tackle in 2025.

The Chiefs have a number of moving parts on the line even after securing right guard Trey Smith with the franchise tag. One piece the team is lacking entering the offseason is a certain solution at left tackle.

Thuney, 32, is a two-time All-Pro and two-team second-team All-Pro with four Super Bowl rings -- two with the Chiefs, two with the Patriots. He has played in 146 regular-season games since being drafted by New England 78th overall in 2016.

The star pass rusher defended Rodgers Tuesday on own podcast, "The Rush with Maxx Crosby."

"First year after an Achilles is one of the hardest things to do," Crosby said. "I think with all the doubt, all the negativity around Aaron Rodgers, ‘Oh, he needs to retire,' things like that, he's getting cut by the Jets, I think he's going to come back and have a -- I know he's 42 or 41, but I think he's going to have a big year this year, and I hope it's in our town. That would be legendary."

The Jets informed Rodgers last month that they are moving on without him.

Last season, Rodgers rebounded to start all 17 games but the Jets finished only 5-12. He completed 63.0 percent of his passes for 3,897 yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

"I think this year, fully healthy, full offseason, my prediction is he's going to have a great year," Crosby said.

Rodgers spent 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers before moving on to the Jets. The future Pro Football Hall of Fame member ranks in the top 10 in NFL history in many statistical categories.

He is first in passer rating (102.6), fifth in career touchdown passes (503), and seventh in both pass completions (5,369) and passing yards (62,952).

The Raiders used journeyman Gardner Minshew and second-year quarterback Aidan O'Connell last season. New coach Pete Carroll is expected to seek a veteran signal-caller.

The veteran spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Denver Broncos, where he appeared in 144 games. He won Super Bowl 50 with the organization.

After a one-year stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Packers signed the veteran kicker in October 2024.

In 11 games, McManus made 20 out of his 21 field goal attempts, including going a perfect 3-for-3 from 50+ yards. In addition, he converted all 30 of his extra-point attempts.

During the Packers' wild-card matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, McManus did miss a 38-yard attempt. It was his first missed field goal in the postseason; for his career, he is 11-for-12.

With an average annual salary of $5.1 million, McManus will be tied with Buffalo's Tyler Bass for the 10th-highest paid kicker in the NFL.

Williams signed a three-year, $12 million deal with the Saints after having a career season with the Detroit Lions in 2022.

But his production was meager in 27 games (five starts) with New Orleans. Williams had just 470 rushing yards and two touchdowns and caught 27 passes for 119 yards.

Last season, Williams had 164 yards and one touchdown on the ground and nine receptions for 57 yards in 14 games (one start).

In 2022, Williams rushed for 1,066 yards and an NFL-high 17 rushing touchdowns with the Lions before becoming a free agent.

Williams, who turns 30 next month, has rushed for 4,122 yards and 32 touchdowns and caught 187 passes for 1,310 yards and eight TDs in 117 games (45 starts) with the Green Bay Packers (2017-20), Lions (2021-22) and Saints.

The moves combined to save the Seahawks approximately $27.25 million against the cap, according to the Seattle Times.

Fant, 32, began his career in Seattle and returned in 2024 after stints with the New York Jets (2020-22) and Houston Texans (2023). But his reunion was marred by injuries. He started at right tackle in Week 1, suffered a knee injury and spent half the season on injured reserve. He came back to start Week 9, only to aggravate the injury and miss the remainder of the season.

Fant made 26 starts on the offensive line in his 48 career appearances with the Seahawks (2016, 2018-19, 2024). He has played in 101 career games, starting 75.

Jones, 28, spent two seasons in Seattle and started 16 of 17 games in 2023 before losing his starting role midway through the 2024 campaign. He compiled 77 tackles and 8.5 sacks in 34 games for Seattle after starting his career in Denver (2019-22), where he started 29 of his 56 appearances and amassed 133 tackles and 22 sacks.

Seattle acquired Roberston-Harris, 31, from the Jacksonville Jaguars just before the 2024 trade deadline in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round draft pick. He played 11 games for Seattle in a reserve role and did not record a sack after having two in six games for the Jaguars.

The veteran spent time with the Chicago Bears (2017-20) before going to the Jaguars (2021-24). He has 211 career tackles and 19 sacks in 117 games (62 starts).

Jenkins, 31, made nine starts in 13 appearances for the Seahawks in his lone season with the club. He had a career-high two sacks and in Week 5 returned a fumble 102 yards for a touchdown.

The most notable candidate not to be tagged: Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, who instead will test the open market while the team reportedly works on an offer to bring him back.

Per ESPN, this marked the fewest players on the franchise tag since 1994, when only two got the tag. It's sharply down from last year's total of eight players tagged around the league.

Higgins was tagged for the second straight year at $26.2 million, and he and the Bengals will work on a long-term contract between now and the July 15 deadline. Smith was tendered at $23.4 million.

Higgins, 26, played in 12 games in 2024 and caught 10 TD passes with 73 receptions for 911 yards. He has 34 career touchdowns, 330 catches and 4,595 yards in 70 regular-season games since being selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Smith, 25, was a Pro Bowl selection at right guard in 2024 and has started 80 games -- 13 in the playoffs -- since being selected in the sixth round in 2021.

Darnold, 27, landed in Minnesota last winter on a one-year free agent deal, projected as the Vikings' interim quarterback, particularly after the team subsequently used a first-round pick on QB J.J. McCarthy.

Darnold won the quarterback job in training camp, during which McCarthy sustained a season-ending right knee injury. In the regular season, Darnold proved to be a revelation, leading the Vikings to a 14-3 record while completing 66.2 percent of his passes for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, all career highs. He was intercepted 12 times.

The surprise season earned Darnold a Pro Bowl selection, and he wound up 10th in MVP voting.