NFL Player News

The Saints are releasing Williams on Tuesday, John Hendrix of AthlonSports.com reports.

Williams, who is now heading into his age-30 season as a free agent, gained just 164 yards (3.4 YPC) and one touchdown on 48 carries across 14 regular-season appearances with the Saints in 2024. He also caught nine of 11 targets for 57 yards, while racking up a career-high 288 yards as a kick returner. With 2024 having marked the least productive season of Williams' career by a notable margin, teams around the league don't figure to view the veteran running back as a hot option on the open market.

The Eagles and Barkley agreed to terms Tuesday on a two-year, $41.2 million contract extension, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Barkley's new deal reportedly includes $36 million fully guaranteed at signing, plus incentives worth up to an additional $15 million, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Barkley's arrival in Philadelphia transformed the team's identity, resulting in a season which ultimately culminated in a Super Bowl LIX victory over Kansas City. Barkley will warrant consideration for the No. 1 overall pick in 2025 fantasy drafts, with the Eagles set to return a top-end offensive line to open holes for one of the most explosive and versatile threats from scrimmage in the league.

The Panthers aren't planning to tender Blackshear this offseason, which will make him an unrestricted free agent, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Blackshear entered the offseason as a restricted free agent, so the Panthers could ensure they keep him by tendering him and matching any offer from another club. However, Carolina doesn't appear as if it will that direction, which will instead allow Blackshear to enter unrestricted free agency. The 26-year-old saw limited work on offense in 2024 (his third NFL campaign), compiling 15 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown over 16 contests without getting any looks in the passing game. However, he served as Carolina's top kickoff and punt returner, so the Panthers will need to find a replacement for those roles if they indeed elect to part ways with Blackshear.

Swift is unlikely to be released this offseason, but the Bears may prioritize adding another running back, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano.

Swift is scheduled to make $8 million in 2025, with more than three-fourths of the money guaranteed. His 2024 performance was disappointing relative to the three-year, $24 million contract he signed last offseason, although it could be argued he was a victim of circumstance more so than a major part of the problem during a horrible season for Chicago's offense. The scheme should improve under new head coach Ben Johnson, but it's uncertain how much Swift will benefit if that happens, as the Bears don't lack for draft capital and cap space to pursue backfield upgrades.

Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said Monday that the team hopes to re-sign Dowdle, David Moore of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Dowdle is scheduled for free agency at the beginning of the league year, with Dallas being the only team that can attempt to sign him before then. His breakout in 2024 figures to lead to a contract with considerable guarantees this offseason, but it's hard to say if teams will view Dowdle as a viable starter or more of a high-end backup. Having spent most of his pro career at the back of the Cowboys' roster or on their practice squad, Dowdle is unlikely to give a hometown discount, as this may be his only shot at a sizable contract. He'll turn 27 in June.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry said Tuesday that he expects Chubb (foot) to test free agency this offseason, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Chubb is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year March 12, and it sounds as though Cleveland won't expend significant effort to re-sign the veteran running back. A four-time Pro Bowler, Chubb missed the first six games of the 2024 campaign while recovering from a serious knee injury, then managed only eight appearances before suffering a season-ending foot issue. In that span, he rushed 102 times for 332 yards and three scores, with a career-low 3.3 YPC. Chubb's foot injury won't require surgery to heal, but it's unclear whether the 29-year-old veteran will draw significant interest after playing just 10 combined games over the past two seasons. He may need to settle for a one-year prove-it deal to demonstrate he can still rediscover his old form.

Steelers GM Omar Khan said Tuesday that Warren will receive a restricted free agent tender and likely stay with the team in 2025, Dale Lolley of the Steelers' official site reports.

The real question is whether Warren gets a second-round tender ($5.2 million) or an original-round tag ($3.19 million). He went undrafted back in 2022, which means the latter wouldn't involve any draft compensation if he signed with another team and the Steelers declined to match the contract offer. A second-round tender, on the other hand, would ensure that Warren stays in Pittsburgh unless he's traded, as no team is going to give up a top-64 pick for the right to hand him a large contract. There's less clarity regarding the future of Najee Harris, who is scheduled for unrestricted free agency after starting his career with four straight seasons of more than 1,000 rushing yards but less than 4.2 yards per carry.

Cook is seeking a contract extension and said he'd like to get more playing time as well, Ryan Talbot of newyorkupstate.com reports.

Cook scored 18 touchdowns during the 2024 regular season despite playing just 48 percent of snaps in his 16 appearances. He got a carry or target on 50.5 percent of his snaps, which helped make up for the modest playing time and allowed for a second straight 1,000-yard rushing season. He's perhaps the most obvious TD regression candidate in the league for 2025, but he can make up for any losses in per-touch productivity if the Bills give him a larger workload. That's far from guaranteed, of course, considering Cook is one of the league's smaller lead backs (listed at 190 pounds) and has 2024 fourth-round pick Ray Davis behind him on the depth chart. Ty Johnson also got a lot of playing time in 2024, mostly in clear passing situations, but he's scheduled for unrestricted free agency, whereas Cook has one year remaining on his rookie contract.

Miller-Hines (knee) was released by the Browns on Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston Reports.

Miller-Hines was expected to return from an ACL tear at some point during the 2024 campaign, but that never came to fruition. The former Colt and Bill hasn't seen action in an NFL game since 2022, and he'll need to prove he's healthy to get a look from another team.

Kelley appeared in three regular-season games for the Titans in 2024, getting one carry for two yards.

Kelley latched on with Tennessee in mid-October after being unable to make the Giants' 53-man roster out of training camp. The former Charger started on the practice squad but spent much of the campaign as a healthy scratch after being signed to the Titans' active roster in November. Headed for free agency this spring, Kelley will likely latch on somewhere as a camp body, but he'll struggle to find a regular role in an NFL backfield.