NFL Player News

The Chiefs are re-signing Hunt to a one-year, $1.5 million contract Friday, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.

Hunt joined Kansas City last September in the wake of an early-season IR stint for Isiah Pacheco due to a fractured fibula. He served as the team's starter for a stretch and then split backfield reps with Pacheco once the latter returned to the lineup, up through the Chiefs' loss to Philadelphia in Super Bowl LIX. Hunt concluded the regular season with 200 carries for 728 yards and seven scores across 13 appearances, plus 23 catches for 176 yards through the air (32 targets). A full offseason to get back to 100 percent form may allow Pacheco to reclaim a firm grasp on the lead role of the Chiefs' backfield, which also added speedster Elijah Mitchell in free agency, but Hunt's solid showing in 2024 figures to leave him in position for a solid amount of complementary snaps. The exact pecking order of Kansas City's rushing attack may not gain clarity until training camp and/or the preseason.

Sanders is slated to sign a one-year deal with the Cowboys, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

The Panthers released Sanders on Tuesday after he had a pair of disappointing seasons with the team. He'll now join the Cowboys looking to revitalize his career, and he should have the chance to capture a decent workload as the roster is currently constructed. Javonte Williams is the only other back on the depth chart capable of carrying a traditional workload, though Sanders' fantasy potential won't become clear until after the NFL Draft in late April.

Mattison is signing with the Dolphins, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.

Mattison is swapping teams with Raheem Mostert, whose deal with the Raiders was reported about two hours earlier. While Mostert perhaps has a chance to rebound from a disappointing 2024 and earn a key role, Mattison will merely be competing for a backup job behind De'Von Achane. The Dolphins presumably hope 2024 fourth-round pick Jaylen Wright secures the second spot on the depth chart, with Mattison essentially being a backup plan for the backup. It's a tough situation for earning playing time, albeit with the outside chance of a handsome payoff if injuries eventually thrust him into a starting role in Mike McDaniel's offense.

Mostert is signing a one-year contract with the Raiders, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.

The soon-to-be 33-year-old will join a new-look Vegas offense with Geno Smith at quarterback and Chip Kelly calling plays. It's about the best landing spot possible in terms of opportunity to earn snaps and touches, as the Raiders had arguably the worst backfield in the league last year and haven't signed any other free agents so far this offseason. Of course, more help likely is on the way, be it in the coming weeks via free agency or at the end of April during the NFL Draft. Mostert and Kelly briefly worked together in Philadelphia (2015) and San Francisco (2016), but at a point in Mostert's career when he was struggling to stick around the league and mostly playing special teams.

The Panthers are signing Rico Dowdle to replace Miles Sanders (free agent) as Hubbard's backup, ESPN.com reports.

Hubbard and Dowdle both were lead backs last year, but there doesn't seem to be any doubt about whose show it will be in 2025, considering the former signed a four-year, $33.2 million extension. Dowdle settled for a one-year deal with a reported base value of $3 million, which suggests NFL teams view him as a backup-caliber player even after he ran for 1,079 yards in Dallas last year. Hubbard is the better pure runner, and generally a superior player, but it is possible he cedes more of the backfield work in 2025 (compared to last season) if Carolina's coaches like Dowdle more than they liked Sanders. There's no indication Hubbard's calf and knee injuries from the end of 2024 will be a problem for the upcoming season, whereas 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks figures to miss significant time after tearing his right ACL for the second time in two years.

The Lions re-signed Reynolds to a one-year contract Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Reynolds wasn't tendered by the Lions as a restricted free agent, and he's instead returning to the team at a reduced rate. The 28-year-old appeared in all 17 regular-season games for Detroit last season, rushing 31 times for 139 scoreless yards (4.5 YPC), while adding three catches for 40 yards on five targets in the passing game. He played a career-high 272 special-teams snaps. Reynolds will continue to provide quality depth behind Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.

McNichols agreed to a one-year deal with Washington on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

McNichols mostly served as the No. 3 running back for the Commanders in 2024 behind Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler, and he'll likely do the same in 2025. McNichols finished the 2024 regular season with 55 carries for 261 yards and four touchdowns while adding nine catches (on 12 targets) for 27 yards and 164 kick return yards.

Dowdle agreed to a one-year, $2.7 million contract with the Panthers on Wednesday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Dowdle emerged as the Cowboys' top running back last season and rushed for a career-high 1,079 yards on 235 carries (4.6 YPC) with two touchdowns while adding 249 yards on 39 catches and three touchdowns. In Carolina, he'll be joining a backfield headlined by Chuba Hubbard (calf/knee), who had his own breakout last season with a career-best 1,195 rushing yards on 250 carries and 10 touchdowns. Dowdle's fantasy stock may take a hit as a result of being part of a timeshare with Hubbard in a best-case scenario, but the signing gives the up-and-coming Panthers a potentially formidable 1-2 punch out of the backfield. Jonathon Brooks, whom the Panthers selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, is expected to miss most of next season while recovering from his second torn ACL.

Wright became an unrestricted free agent Wednesday after the Ravens opted not to tender his contract, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

Wright missed the entire 2024 season after suffering a hairline fracture in his foot during the Ravens' preseason finale in August. He underwent a procedure to fix the injury, but he is not in the Ravens' plans for the 2025 campaign. Wright appeared in just one regular-season game for the Ravens in 2023 and played eight snaps on special teams against the Cardinals in Week 8. Wright will explore his options and look to catch on with a team in need of backfield depth and help on special teams.

The Eagles and Dillon (neck) agreed to terms on a one-year contract Wednesday, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.

Dillon sustained stingers in Week 17 of the 2023 campaign and also during the 2024 preseason, which kept him on injured reserve this past season. Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Dillon has received clearance from a top neck specialist, allowing him a new opportunity in Philadelphia, where he'll compete with 2024 fourth-round selection Will Shipley as the top backup behind workhorse running back Saquon Barkley.