NFL Player News

The Saints and Williams agreed to terms on a three-year, $12 million contract Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

After racking up an NFL-high and team-record 17 rushing touchdowns for the Lions last season, Williams will move on to the third organization of his career. With New Orleans, he'll be the clear second option out of the backfield behind Alvin Kamara, but Williams should nonetheless earn his typical allotment of short-yardage and goal-line work. Moreover, the 2017 fourth-round selection offers the team a reliable option to turn to in the event that Kamara ends up facing any NFL discipline stemming from a February 2022 incident that has Kamara slated to appear in court in July, per ESPN.com.

Dallas didn't extend Dowdle (ankle) a qualifying offer or contract tender as a restricted free agent Wednesday, so he's officially an unrestricted free agent, per the NFL's transaction log.

Dowdle appeared in five games for the Cowboys in 2022, playing nearly exclusively on special teams, before landing on injured reserve with an ankle injury in October. He spent the rest of the season on IR, but now that he's healthy, the undrafted running back out of South Carolina will look to land a new deal in free agency. The 24-year-old also has experience as a kick returner, would should boost his value this summer.

Chicago didn't extend Evans a qualifying offer or tender as a restricted free agent Wednesday, so he's officially an unrestricted free agent, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.

Evans appeared in six games for the Bears in 2022, totaling 14 rushing attempts for 64 yards and securing his lone target for 33 yards. The 2020 third-round pick has previous experience as a kick-return man during his time in Tennessee, which should increase his value as a free agent this summer.

Jones wasn't tendered an offer from the Seahawks as a restricted free agent, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times.

Jones landed in Seattle late last year after he was cut by the Saints. He rushed eight times for 16 yards in a Seahawks uniform and will head to the open market, where he'll look to latch on as a camp body in an effort to make a team this summer.

The Steelers didn't tender an offer to McNichols as a restricted free agent Wednesday, Alan Saunders of PittsburghSportsNow.com reports.

This was an easy decision after McNichols missed all of 2022 with a shoulder injury. He wasn't worth the $2.6 million tender and will now head to the open market.

Gaskin agreed Wednesday with the Dolphins on a one-year deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Gaskin, who finished the 2022 campaign on injured reserve while he was recovering from an illness, is now presumably healthy and in line to reprise his depth role in a Miami backfield that also includes holdovers Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson and Salvon Ahmed. In four games this past season, Gaskin carried 10 times for 26 yards and caught four passes on six targets into 28 yards.

The Cowboys will officially release Elliott on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Dallas and Elliott had reportedly been discussing a contract renegotiation for weeks, but more recent reports suggested that a release would be the likely outcome for the 27-year-old running back. Elliott should find suitors in free agency, though likely at a price far, far less than what he's accustomed to playing under. With only Malik Davis on the roster behind a rehabbing Tony Pollard (leg), the Cowboys will need to draft or sign some backfield help in the coming weeks or months.

Hill agreed Wednesday to re-sign with Baltimore on a two-year, $4.5 million contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The 2019 fourth-round pick has played nearly as many snaps on special teams (501) as offense (524) in the NFL, though he did have a career-high 262 rushing yards last season. Hill profiles as Baltimore's No. 3 back heading into offseason practices, or perhaps the No. 4 option if the Ravens add a draft pick in the early or middle rounds. J.K. Dobbins is under contract through 2023, and Gus Edwards recently accepted a pay cut to stay with the team.

The Bengals plan to re-sign Williams on Wednesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Williams suited up for each of Cincinnati's final seven regular-season games and all three playoff matchups, but he operated primarily on special teams when Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine were healthy. Perine is expected to sign with Denver soon, so barring any additional moves, Williams could have an elevated role in 2023. Williams was selected by the Bengals in the sixth round of the 2019 Draft and has totaled 47 rushing attempts for 238 yards and secured eight of 10 targets for 64 receiving yards over the past three seasons (23 appearances).

The Cowboys informed Elliott that he'll be released Wednesday, Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Elliott's release isn't official yet, but the running back is already expected to begin exploring his options elsewhere. The two-time NFL rushing leader will likely be designated as a post-June 1 cut, with his release leaving Tony Pollard (ankle) as the unquestioned No. 1 option in the Dallas backfield. Across his seven-year career with Dallas, Elliott earned three Pro Bowl nods, but he fell short of 1,000 scrimmage yards for the first time in his career during the 2022 season.