NFL Player News

Elliott's agent is meeting with the Cowboys in Dallas on Wednesday, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reports.

This isn't the first time the two sides have been connected this offseason, as ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported last month that there was mutual interest in a reunion. The Cowboys lost Tony Pollard to the Titans in free agency and only added end-of-roster types Royce Freeman and Snoop Conner to a depth chart that includes Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis. Elliott played in all 17 games for the Patriots last season, turning in a 184-642-3 rushing line while adding 51-313-2 as a receiver on 65 targets. Dallas will likely draft a running back this week.

Hendrickson has requested that the Bengals trade him, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Per Schefter, Hendrickson -- who is in line to make $15 million this coming season -- is looking for more long-term security than the team has been willing to offer to this point. The 29-year-old is coming of a 2023 campaign in which he recorded 43 tackles and made a major impact as a pass rusher by racking up a career-high 17.5 sacks in 17 regular-season games.

The Cowboys have picked up Parsons' fifth-year contract option, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The move keeps the 2021 first-rounder -- who played the majority of his snaps at defensive end in 2023 -- under contract with Dallas through the 2025 campaign. Per Gehlken, the star defender's salary in his fifth NFL season will be $21.32 million. The 24-year-old is coming off another productive effort with the Cowboys, in which he racked up 64 tackles and a career high 14 sacks in 17 regular-season outings.

Hurst announced his retirement from the NFL after 10 seasons on Wednesday, Katherine Teller of ESPN reports.

Hurst has started 51 games between guard and tackle for the Saints since joining the team as a free agent after the 2020 season. He began his career as an UDFA with Baltimore. Hurst's official retirement just one day prior to the start of the 2024 NFL Draft leaves the team with a glaring need at left guard, though the team did reportedly have advanced warning of the decision. With former left tackle/guard Andrus Peat still a free agent, O-line could be a target with pick No. 14 overall.

Sewell and the Lions agreed to terms Wednesday on a four-year, $112 million contract extension, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Sewell's deal, which reportedly includes $85 million guaranteed, makes him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL. The tackle has played at a high level since joining Detroit as the No. 7 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, but he took a step forward in 2023 while earning first-team All-Pro honors. In addition to the elite RT, the Lions extended top wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown to a four-year extension Wednesday, both one day in advance of the 2024 NFL Draft kicking off.

Bateman signed a two-year contract extension Wednesday.

Bateman was already under contract through the upcoming season in the final year of his rookie deal, but the Ravens had until May 2 to decide whether to exercise the receiver's $14.44 million team option for 2025. By reaching an extension with Bateman, the Ravens will no longer have to decide on whether to exercise or decline the option, as he's now on the team's books through 2026. The 24-year-old appeared in 16 of the Ravens' 17 regular-season games this past season, catching 32 of 56 targets for 367 yards and one touchdown. Despite Bateman's underwhelming production during his third NFL season, head coach John Harbaugh noted earlier in the offseason that he views the wideout as a candidate to "take a big step" forward in 2024, per Ryan Mink of the Ravens' official site. The Ravens' pass-catching corps should look mostly similar in 2024 as it did in 2023, as No. 1 wideout Zay Flowers is entering his second season and standout tight end Mark Andrews is back in the fold, though Odell Beckham is currently a free agent and may not be brought back.

Highsmith and the Steelers agreed Wednesday to restructure his contract and create roughly $7 million in cap space, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Highsmith is likely converting a portion of his base salary into a signing bonus, with Rapaport calling the move a "simple" restructure. The 2020 third-round pick notched a solid 7.0 sacks across 17 regular-season appearances in 2023, a far cry from his career-high 14.5 sacks in 2022, but he remains an integral part of Pittsburgh's defense for the foreseeable future.

The Bengals have elected to pick up Chase's fifth-year contract option.

With the expected move, Chase will remain under contract with Cincinnati through the 2025 campaign. This past season, the 2021 first-rounder recorded a career-high 100 catches (on 145 targets) for 1,216 yards and seven TDs in 16 regular-season games. The 24-year-old is thus poised to remain QB Joe Burrow's top pass-catching option for the next couple of years, and in that context Chase remains a top tier fantasy option at the wide receiver position.

Howard (foot) was fully cleared for football activities earlier this month, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.

This news, which was relayed by Howard's doctor in a letter, should help pave the way for the free agent cornerback, who dealt with a foot issue late last season, to catch on with another team. Prior to missing Miami's last two contests (Week 18 and the team's wild-card loss to Kansas City), Howard -- a four-time Pro Bowler -- had recorded 45 tackles and an interception in 13 games.

St. Brown and the Lions reached agreement Tuesday on a four-year extension, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The initial report has it as a $120 million deal, including $77 million guaranteed. If those numbers hold up when more details come out, St. Brown will tie Tyreek Hill's WR record for average annual value ($30 million) and have the stand-alone record for money guaranteed. Of course, he probably won't hold those records for long, as the list of star WRs nearing the end of their rookie contracts includes Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb and Ja'Marr Chase. In any case, St. Brown has improved his receiving volume and fantasy production with each passing season in the NFL, and he should have another big year in 2024 while catching passes from QB Jared Goff in an offense that will be coordinated by Ben Johnson for at least one more season.