NFL Player News

Williams is in line to sign a one-year contract with the Cowboys, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

The deal has a base salary of $3 million with the potential to earn $3.5 million overall via incentives. This move appears to be the first step in moving on from Rico Dowdle, Dallas' starting running back last year, as Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis are the other players at the position under contract in 2025. There's still time for the Cowboys to add via free agency and especially the draft, but as the backfield stands, Williams is the clear No. 1 option at the moment. In four campaigns with the Broncos, the 2021 second-round pick averaged 4.0 yards per carry and 62.2 yards from scrimmage per game while scoring 16 total touchdowns in 54 regular-season contests.

The 49ers re-signed Taylor to a one-year deal Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

The 26-year-old running back will remain with the 49ers after spending most of last season on the team's active roster. He saw increased offensive action in 2024 due to injuries to Christian McCaffrey (knee), Jordan Mason (ankle) and Isaac Guerendo (knee), appearing in 13 games and taking 39 carries for 183 yards and one touchdown. Additionally, Taylor hauled in three of his 11 targets for 25 yards and accumulated 104 kick-return yards. Expect Taylor to serve as one of San Francisco's top reserve backs again in 2025.

The Bengals are slated to sign Perine to a two-year contract worth up to $3.8 million, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Perine gets a chance to return to Cincinnati, where he played from 2020-22. The veteran pass-catching specialist figures to operate primarily as a change-of-pace option with the Bengals, with Chase Brown (ankle) standing atop the depth chart after a breakout 2024 campaign, and Zack Moss (neck) under contract for one more season. Across 17 regular-season games with the Chiefs in 2024, Perine rushed 20 times for 92 yards and a touchdown, while also securing 28 catches of 35 targets for 322 yards and a touchdown.

The Chiefs are in line to sign Mitchell (hamstring) to a one-year contract worth up to $3.5 million, Tommy Call III of USA Today reports.

Mitchell missed his entire 2024 campaign with San Francisco after undergoing hamstring surgery last August, but he projects to be ready for the start of offseason activities with his new club. Across four years with the 49ers, the oft-injured Mitchell managed to suit up for only 27 of a possible 68 regular-season games, but he now finds an intriguing landing spot with a solid potential ceiling, should he manage to stay healthy and put his trademark speed to use. Kareem Hunt is a pending unrestricted free agent for the Chiefs, but Isiah Pacheco has one year remaining on his rookie deal, leaving Mitchell in likely position to handle a depth role.

The Steelers placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on Warren on Monday, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.

The Steelers make Warren's second-round RFA tender official, a move that GM Omar Khan foreshadowed in late February. Pittsburgh had the option to place an original-round tender on Warren, which would have given him a $3.19 million salary for 2025 but made it more feasible for teams to offer him a competitive contract. By issuing Warren a second-round tender, the Steelers effectively guarantee he'll remain with the team this season at the cost of a $5.2 million salary, as any team he signed with would have to surrender second-round draft compensation. Najee Harris is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent, and his departure would thrust Warren into the No. 1 backfield spot for at least the time being.

The Vikings signed Jones to a two-year, $20 million contract Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Schefter adds that this contract includes $13 million in guaranteed salary, and his $10 million average annual salary will make Jones the sixth-highest-paid running back in the NFL by this metric. Jones signed a one-year, $7 million deal with the Vikings after being let go by Green Bay last offseason and put up a career-best 1,138 rushing yards across 17 regular-season games in 2024. The 29-year-old dealt with numerous injuries throughout the year, including a lingering quad issue that carried into the playoffs. However, he logged a career-high 255 rushing attempts and was an integral piece of Minnesota's offense all year. The Vikings appear set to begin their transition to J.J. McCarthy (knee) as the team's long-term starting quarterback moving forward, as last year's starter Sam Darnold likely will get a significant payday elsewhere with numerous teams looking for immediate help at starting quarterback. Jones' return will provide some significant stability to the Vikings offense whether or not McCarthy is ready to step in under center by Week 1. With Cam Akers also currently slated to hit free agency, it's likely Minnesota will look to add a new No. 2 running back this offseason who can help share the load with Jones moving forward.

The Chargers have informed Edwards that he will be released, which will make him a free agent, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Edwards has one year remaining on the two-year deal he signed with Los Angeles last March, but it doesn't look like he'll be with the Chargers next season. The veteran tailback averaged a meager 3.6 yards per carry on 101 totes over 11 regular-season games last year, and he didn't contribute much in the passing game with just three catches for six yards. J.K. Dobbins instead emerged as the team's top back, and the Chargers could look to bring Dobbins back with Edwards expected to be out of the picture. By releasing Edwards, the Chargers will clear $3.13 million in cap space.

Rodriguez was tendered a contract by the Commanders on Friday.

Rodriguez will remain with the Commanders after entering the offseason as an exclusive-rights free agent. The running back compiled 173 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries while also reeling in his only target for 12 yards over nine regular-season games in 2024.

Mason (ankle) is drawing trade interest, David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard reports.

Mason is set to hit restricted free agency this offseason, so the 49ers have contractual control over the running back for at least one more season. Lombardi believes San Francisco could tender Mason and then entertain trading him. With Christian McCaffrey battling an Achilles issue much of the year, Mason had a breakout 2024 season, rushing 153 times for 789 yards (5.2 YPC) and three touchdowns. He missed the final five games of the season with an ankle injury, and the 49ers have Isaac Guerendo as a younger and cheaper backup option behind McCaffrey.

Shipley rushed 30 times for 82 yards (2.7 YPC) across 16 regular-season appearances with the Eagles in 2024. He also secured all four of his targets for 35 yards and compiled 173 yards as a kick returner.

Shipley, a 2024 fourth-round pick, handled a depth role behind Saquon Barkley and Kenneth Gainwell out of the backfield for Philadelphia, ultimately logging an unremarkable rookie campaign. He did, however, go off for 77 yards and a score, the first of his career, on just four carries versus Washington in the NFC Championship Game. With Gainwell set to become an unrestricted free agent, Shipley could climb the depth chart behind Barkley in Year 2.