Van Ness had his fifth-year option exercised by the Packers on Thursday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports. The move keeps the 24-year-old under contract through 2027 and guarantees him a salary near $13.8 million. The three-year pro missed half of last season with an ankle injury, which caused him to finish with a disappointing 1.5 sacks and 19 tackles (12 solo). The 2024 season wasn't much better as he recorded 33 tackles (22 solo) and six tackles for loss in 17 games, but he at least combined for 7.0 sacks in his first two seasons. Green Bay's switch to a 3-4 defensive scheme could impact Van Ness' playing time, but with Micah Parsons still rehabbing back from a December ACL tear and pass-rush depth lost this season in the form of Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare, the new scheme won't be a reason the 2023 first-round pick would be kept off the field.
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Van Ness had his fifth-year option exercised by the Packers on Thursday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports. The move keeps the 24-year-old under contract through 2027 and guarantees him a salary near $13.8 million. The three-year pro missed half of last season with an ankle injury, which caused him to finish with a disappointing 1.5 sacks and 19 tackles (12 solo). The 2024 season wasn't much better as he recorded 33 tackles (22 solo) and six tackles for loss in 17 games, but he at least combined for 7.0 sacks in his first two seasons. Green Bay's switch to a 3-4 defensive scheme could impact Van Ness' playing time, but with Micah Parsons still rehabbing back from a December ACL tear and pass-rush depth lost this season in the form of Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare, the new scheme won't be a reason the 2023 first-round pick would be kept off the field.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday that Kittle (Achilles) is aiming to be ready for the 49ers' Week 1 game against the Rams, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports. This has been the sentiment all offseason after Kittle suffered a "clean" tear near the soleus muscle higher up on the Achilles in the 49ers' wild-card win over Philadelphia back in January, which typically results in a quicker rehab process. Working against Kittle, however, is his advanced age (32 years old) and just eight months between the injury and Week 1. The 49ers are surely going to be careful with Kittle and not rush him back just to have him at less than 100 percent for the first game of the 2026 season. Jake Tonges (foot) would be next in line at tight end if Kittle isn't ready to face Los Angeles in four months.
Sports Illustrated's John Shipley projects Rodriguez to open the season as the Jaguars' lead running back. "Though I am not sure there will be enough of a difference between [Rodriguez's] workload and Bhayshul Tuten's worth talking about," Shipley wrote Thursday. After Travis Etienne left for the Saints in free agency, Jacksonville signed Rodriguez to a two-year, $10 million deal. Rodriguez played for coach Liam Coen in college at Kentucky, and the Jaguars have pointed out how they like Rodriguez's ability to earn the tough yards after contact after he finished eighth out of 58 qualifying running backs in yards after contact per attempt (3.46) last season. The coaching staff certainly has an affinity for Rodriguez, and Tuten is going to have to show more than he did as a rookie (3.7 yards per carry) to earn more playing time.
Campbell signed a one-year deal with the Ravens on Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Campbell is heading back to the Ravens where he played from 2020 to 2022. The six-time Pro Bowler will be entering his 19th NFL season, and, at the age of 40, he doesn't seem to be slowing down. In 2025, he played all 17 games for the Cardinals and registered 43 tackles (23 solo) to go along 6.5 sacks. The Ravens needed to add more depth along the defensive front with the availability of Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) and Broderick Washington (Achilles) uncertain for 2026. Campbell has a chance to start at defensive end alongside veteran John Jenkins, who signed a one-year deal in early January.
The Bengals are declining Murphy's fifth-year option for 2027, Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Murphy set career-best marks across the board in 2025 with 52 tackles (28 solo), including 5.5 sacks, but that wasn't enough to convince Bengals brass to pick up the 2023 first-round pick's fifth-year option. He remains under contract in 2026 on the fourth year of his rookie deal, and Conway adds that the Bengals are still hoping to work out a long-term extension to keep Murphy in Cincinnati despite choosing not to pick up his fifth-year option.
Slayton (abdomen) recently underwent surgery on a core-muscle injury and will miss spring workouts, but he's expected to be available for training camp in July, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Slayton is expected to face a multi-month recovery timeline, but he would have plenty of time to ramp up ahead of the regular season in September if the veteran wide receiver is indeed cleared by the start of training camp. The Giants lost 2025 target leader Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency but are expected to get top wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) back in 2026 and bolstered their wide receiver room by signing Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin, in addition to drafting Malachi Fields in the third round, providing competition for Slayton's starting job.
Fotu and the Giants agreed on a one-year contract Wednesday, Patricia Traina of SI.com reports. Fotu will head to New York after recording 11 total tackles (three solo), including 1.0 sacks, over eight regular-season contests with the Texans and Raiders last year. The 28-year-old will provide the Giants with an additional veteran option at defensive tackle in 2026.
The Vikings signed Johnson on Wednesday, Lindsey Young of the team's official site reports. The details of the contract are unknown at this point, but Johnson will be linking up with his third team in as many years. He played a depth role on the interior of Indianapolis' defensive line in 2025, logging 131 defensive snaps over 12 games. He joins rookie first-rounder Caleb Banks (foot) and rookie third-rounder Domonique Orange as recent acquisitions meant to beef up Minnesota's defensive front.
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Van Ness had his fifth-year option exercised by the Packers on Thursday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports. The move keeps the 24-year-old under contract through 2027 and guarantees him a salary near $13.8 million. The three-year pro missed half of last season with an ankle injury, which caused him to finish with a disappointing 1.5 sacks and 19 tackles (12 solo). The 2024 season wasn't much better as he recorded 33 tackles (22 solo) and six tackles for loss in 17 games, but he at least combined for 7.0 sacks in his first two seasons. Green Bay's switch to a 3-4 defensive scheme could impact Van Ness' playing time, but with Micah Parsons still rehabbing back from a December ACL tear and pass-rush depth lost this season in the form of Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare, the new scheme won't be a reason the 2023 first-round pick would be kept off the field.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday that Kittle (Achilles) is aiming to be ready for the 49ers' Week 1 game against the Rams, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports. This has been the sentiment all offseason after Kittle suffered a "clean" tear near the soleus muscle higher up on the Achilles in the 49ers' wild-card win over Philadelphia back in January, which typically results in a quicker rehab process. Working against Kittle, however, is his advanced age (32 years old) and just eight months between the injury and Week 1. The 49ers are surely going to be careful with Kittle and not rush him back just to have him at less than 100 percent for the first game of the 2026 season. Jake Tonges (foot) would be next in line at tight end if Kittle isn't ready to face Los Angeles in four months.
Sports Illustrated's John Shipley projects Rodriguez to open the season as the Jaguars' lead running back. "Though I am not sure there will be enough of a difference between [Rodriguez's] workload and Bhayshul Tuten's worth talking about," Shipley wrote Thursday. After Travis Etienne left for the Saints in free agency, Jacksonville signed Rodriguez to a two-year, $10 million deal. Rodriguez played for coach Liam Coen in college at Kentucky, and the Jaguars have pointed out how they like Rodriguez's ability to earn the tough yards after contact after he finished eighth out of 58 qualifying running backs in yards after contact per attempt (3.46) last season. The coaching staff certainly has an affinity for Rodriguez, and Tuten is going to have to show more than he did as a rookie (3.7 yards per carry) to earn more playing time.
Campbell signed a one-year deal with the Ravens on Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Campbell is heading back to the Ravens where he played from 2020 to 2022. The six-time Pro Bowler will be entering his 19th NFL season, and, at the age of 40, he doesn't seem to be slowing down. In 2025, he played all 17 games for the Cardinals and registered 43 tackles (23 solo) to go along 6.5 sacks. The Ravens needed to add more depth along the defensive front with the availability of Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) and Broderick Washington (Achilles) uncertain for 2026. Campbell has a chance to start at defensive end alongside veteran John Jenkins, who signed a one-year deal in early January.
The Bengals are declining Murphy's fifth-year option for 2027, Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Murphy set career-best marks across the board in 2025 with 52 tackles (28 solo), including 5.5 sacks, but that wasn't enough to convince Bengals brass to pick up the 2023 first-round pick's fifth-year option. He remains under contract in 2026 on the fourth year of his rookie deal, and Conway adds that the Bengals are still hoping to work out a long-term extension to keep Murphy in Cincinnati despite choosing not to pick up his fifth-year option.
Slayton (abdomen) recently underwent surgery on a core-muscle injury and will miss spring workouts, but he's expected to be available for training camp in July, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Slayton is expected to face a multi-month recovery timeline, but he would have plenty of time to ramp up ahead of the regular season in September if the veteran wide receiver is indeed cleared by the start of training camp. The Giants lost 2025 target leader Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency but are expected to get top wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) back in 2026 and bolstered their wide receiver room by signing Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin, in addition to drafting Malachi Fields in the third round, providing competition for Slayton's starting job.
Fotu and the Giants agreed on a one-year contract Wednesday, Patricia Traina of SI.com reports. Fotu will head to New York after recording 11 total tackles (three solo), including 1.0 sacks, over eight regular-season contests with the Texans and Raiders last year. The 28-year-old will provide the Giants with an additional veteran option at defensive tackle in 2026.
The Vikings signed Johnson on Wednesday, Lindsey Young of the team's official site reports. The details of the contract are unknown at this point, but Johnson will be linking up with his third team in as many years. He played a depth role on the interior of Indianapolis' defensive line in 2025, logging 131 defensive snaps over 12 games. He joins rookie first-rounder Caleb Banks (foot) and rookie third-rounder Domonique Orange as recent acquisitions meant to beef up Minnesota's defensive front.
