Carolina Panthers DE Jadeveon Clowney told reporters at a press conference on Friday, March 29, that he has already spoke to free-agent CB Stephon Gilmore and will try to 'influence an agreement' between the Panthers and his former high school teammate in the coming days or weeks.

From TheHuddle

Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Mazi Smith (shoulder) carried a four- to six-month timetable after having shoulder surgery shortly after last season, but he is expected to be ready for training camp this summer. As long as Smith doesn't encounter any setbacks as he rehabs his shoulder this offseason, the 22-year-old should be ready for training camp at the end of the July and for the start of the 2024 season. After being taken 26th overall in the first round last year out of Michigan, Smith played in all 17 regular-season games (three starts) and recorded only 13 tackles (nine solo) and one sack in a depth role. He could carve out a bigger role on the interior of Dallas' defensive line in Year 2, but Smith isn't going to be on the fantasy radar in IDP leagues.

From RotoBaller

Free-agent CB Stephon Gilmore (Cowboys) is receiving interest from the Carolina Panthers, according to a source.

From TheHuddle

Free-agent CB Stephon Gilmore (Cowboys) prefers to re-sign with the Dallas Cowboys this offseason, according to a source.

From TheHuddle

Free-agent CB Stephon Gilmore (Cowboys) is believed to be open to signing with the New England Patriots this offseason, according to a source.

From TheHuddle

Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (neck) has decided to medically retire, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The 2018 first-round pick by Dallas spent six seasons with the organization, racking up 469 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three interceptions, 13 passes defended, and 25 run stuffs in 72 career games. He was named to the Pro Bowl and received All-Pro honors in his rookie season, but he battled injuries for the rest of his career. Vander Esch played in all of the team's games just twice in his six years in the NFL. In Week 5 of last season, he suffered a major neck injury, effectively ending his 2023 campaign. That appears to be the final straw for the 28-year-old as he heads into life after football.

From RotoBaller

Free-agent LB Leighton Vander Esch (Cowboys) is retiring from the NFL after six seasons, according to sources Monday, March 18.

From TheHuddle

The Los Angeles Chargers and free-agent veteran linebacker Denzel Perryman agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal on Sunday, according to a source. Perryman was the Chargers' second-round pick in 2015 out of Miami of Florida and was with the team in San Diego and LA from 2015-2020. In his six seasons with the Bolts to begin his NFL career, the 31-year-old had 250 solo tackles, five sacks, 26 tackles for loss, eight QB hits three interceptions, six passes defended, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 69 games (51 starts). His best season came in 2021 with the Las Vegas Raiders, though, when he had a career-high 154 combined tackles in 15 starts to earn his first Pro Bowl nod. Perryman hasn't been as good the last two years with the Raiders and Houston Texans, although he'll be providing a veteran presence for the Chargers after Eric Kendricks moved on in free agency.

From RotoBaller

Free-agent linebacker Denzel Perryman is eyeing a potential return to the Los Angeles Chargers, the team that drafted him in the second round in 2015 out of Miami of Florida. The two sides have been talking about a reunion after Perryman spent the first six years of his NFL career playing for the Bolts. He was a Pro Bowler for the first time in 2021 with the Las Vegas Raiders and spent the 2023 campaign recording 76 tackles (45 solo), half a sack and six tackles for loss in 12 regular season games (11 starts) for the Houston Texans. The 31-year-old veteran was suspended for two games due to illegal hits. While Perryman isn't really much of an option in IDP fantasy leagues at this stage of his career, he would be a nice linebacker addition for a Chargers team that lost Pro Bowler Eric Kendricks in free agency this offseason.

From RotoBaller

Updating a previous report, free-agent LB Eric Kendricks (Chargers) agree to terms on a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys worth as much as $3.5 million.

From TheHuddle

The Dallas Cowboys are releasing linebacker Leighton Vander Esch after six seasons with the organization, according to Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team. Vander Esch racked up 469 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three interceptions, 13 passes defended, and 25 run stuffs in 72 games after being selected by America's Team with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was named to the Pro Bowl and earned a second-team All-Pro selection in his rookie season, but he has struggled with injury issues since. Last year, Vander Esch played in just six games before suffering a season-ending neck injury. He will likely draw interest on the open market, but he'll probably be limited to a cheap, one-year contract.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch (neck) was released with a failed physical designation on Friday, March 15.

From TheHuddle

The Dallas Cowboys are re-signing cornerback Jourdan Lewis to a one-year, fully guaranteed deal, according to Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team. Lewis played the third-most snaps at cornerback for Dallas last season, behind DaRon Bland and Stephon Gilmore. Over seven seasons with the organization, Lewis has posted 315 tackles, 8.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries, nine interceptions, and 36 passes defended in 99 games. With Gilmore likely headed elsewhere in free agency and Trevon Diggs (knee) recovering from a torn ACL, new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer will need Lewis at his best early on in the 2024 season.

From RotoBaller

Free-agent CB Jourdan Lewis (Cowboys) reportedly agreed to a one-year fully guaranteed contract to return to the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, March 14. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.

From TheHuddle

After agreeing to a deal with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency on Wednesday, former Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks has decided to sign with the Dallas Cowboys, according to sources. New Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer wanted Kendricks to help run his defense, and Kendricks preferred to play in Dallas under his former head coach in Minnesota. The 32-year-old former second-rounder of the Vikings in 2015 out of UCLA is a tackling machine and has reached 100 tackles in eight of his nine NFL seasons. In 15 games for the Chargers in 2023, Kendricks had 117 tackles (79 solo), 3.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, seven QB hits, six passes defensed and a forced fumble. The veteran linebacker should once again be fantasy relevant in IPD leagues as Dallas' likely starting middle linebacker.

From RotoBaller

Updating a previous report, free-agent LB Eric Kendricks (Chargers) has decided to agree to terms with the Dallas Cowboys Wednesday, March 13, after initially reaching an agreement with the San Francisco 49ers, according to sources.

From TheHuddle

The San Francisco 49ers signed former Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Eric Kendricks to an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday, according to a source. Kendricks was a Chargers captain in 2023, when he started 14 games and finished second on the team with 117 tackles (79 solo). He also added 3.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, seven QB hits, six passes defended and one forced fumble in his lone season in LA. The 32-year-old former second-round selection of the Minnesota Vikings in 2015 from UCLA was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro in 2019 and has had 100-plus combined tackles in eight of his nine NFL campaigns, with the outlier being his rookie season in 2015. Kendricks will be a solid replacement for Dre Greenlaw, who tore his Achilles in the Super Bowl.

From RotoBaller

Free-agent LB Eric Kendricks (Chargers) agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers Wednesday, March 13. Financial terms weren't disclosed.

From TheHuddle

The Chicago Bears and star cornerback Jaylon Johnson are finalizing a four-year, $76 million contract extension that will make him one of the league's highest-paid corners. The Bears placed the franchise tag on Johnson last week but they had their sights set on getting Johnson locked up long-term all along, a plan that came to fruition on Thursday. Johnson will average $19 million per season on his new deal, putting him behind only Trevon Diggs in average annual salary. Johnson had 36 total tackles and four interceptions in 14 games in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Free-agent DT Carl Davis (Cowboys) signed with the Dallas Cowboys Wednesday, March 6. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

From TheHuddle