NFL Player News

Cleveland intends to tender Johnson at the right of first refusal number, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

The Browns will have the ability to match any offer Johnson receives from another team, setting him up for a one-year contract around $2.43 million unless more offers enter the mix. Johnson showed out well last season, recording three contests with over 100 scrimmage yards, and Cleveland appears to be prioritizing an intact backfield. Considering that Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt (ankle) combined to miss 12 games due to injury last year, Johnson's depth role could prove a vital one.

Hasty signed a one-year contract extension with the 49ers on Thursday.

Hasty appeared in 11 games for the 49ers last year and rushed 16 times for 68 yards and a touchdown while securing 23 of 29 targets for 157 yards. He'll compete for touches as a reserve once again heading into the 2022 campaign.

The Titans waived Evans on Thursday, Jim Wyatt of the team's official site reports.

The 2020 third-rounder saw action in just one regular-season game last year before landing on IR with a knee issue. The 5-foot-10, 203-pounder will now look to catch on elsewhere as a depth running back. Meanwhile, the Titans will need to restock their backfield options behind Derrick Henry, with both D'Onta Foreman and Dontrell Hilliard poised to become unrestricted free agents.

The Ravens have extended a one-year contract tender to Williams, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

Through 13 appearances last season, Williams logged 35 carries for 185 yards and a TD to go along with nine catches for 84 yards on 12 targets. Now that he's slated to remain with the Ravens for the 2022 campaign, the 25-year-old figures to compete for the team's No. 3 running back role behind Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, who are both bouncing back from knee injuries that landed them on IR last season.

Drake (ankle) restructured his contract with the Raiders on Thursday, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Drake compiled just 545 scrimmage yards across 12 appearances in his inaugural season in Las Vegas, and he's currently recovering from season-ending right ankle surgery. Agreeing to restructure his deal helps the Raiders free up cap space for some potential splashes in free agency, and keeps the the 28-year-old on track to operate as the No. 2 backfield option behind Josh Jacobs in new coach Josh McDaniels' scheme. Drake could have a shot at making it back on the field in time for spring OTAs.

The Cardinals have extended a one-year contract tender to Ward.

With that, Ward, who was poised to become an exclusive rights free agent, is now on track to remain a depth piece in the team's 2022 backfield. Who the 24-year-old will be working behind, however, remains to be seen, with both James Conner and Chase Edmonds both pending unrestricted free agents.

The Dolphins tendered Ahmed, who was an exclusive rights free agent, Tuesday, Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald reports.

Given his status as an exclusive rights free agent, Ahmed won't be able to negotiate with other teams after being tendered. The 23-year-old running back appeared in 12 contests for the Dolphins in 2021. He totaled 54 carries for 149 yards and added 12 catches on 19 targets for 117 yards. However, he was a healthy scratch for the final four games of the campaign, so it's unclear where he would stand on the depth chart heading into the new league year.

Head coach Pete Carroll wants to re-sign Penny for the 2022 season, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.

Penny's situation is unique and possibly unprecedented. After sitting behind Chris Carson (neck) to start his career before suffering a torn ACL in 2019, the 2018 first-round pick finally looked healthy down the stretch in 2022. The 26-year-old recorded 671 yards (7.3 YPC) and six rushing touchdowns over the final five games. Now, he'll be an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins March 16. Gregg Bell of The News Tribune believes the Seahawks will prioritize re-signing safety Quandre Diggs and cornerback D.J. Reed before Penny given their clear weakness at defense. The Seahawks have nearly $35 million in salary-cap space heading into 2022, so there is room for all three of them, but it's unclear what type of contract Penny will command given his age. It's worth noting that Carson -- who is on the final year of a two-year, $10.43 million contract -- may be back from a neck injury for training camp, too.

The Giants aren't expected to trade Barkley, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

GM Joe Schoen noted earlier this week that he's at least willing to entertain calls from other teams regarding any player on the team's roster, fueling speculation that Barkley could potentially be dealt. At this stage, it doesn't look like such a move is in the works, with Rapoport reporting Friday that it "doesn't seem like teams have called, doesn't seem like [Schoen] has listened if they have. I don't believe Saquon's going anywhere." Barkley -- the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft -- is in line to earn $7.2 million in 2022 after the Giants exercised the fifth-year option of his rookie contract last April.

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said Wednesday that he's "very confident" that Dobbins (knee) will make a healthy return in 2022.

It's unclear at what point Dobbins -- who tore his ACL last August -- will be cleared for full activity, but DeCosta intimated the Ravens have confidence the 2020 second-round pick will eventually re-emerge as the dual-threat running back he was as a rookie. Once Dobbins completes his rehab program, he'll look to reclaim his role in a Baltimore backfield that also has Gus Edwards (knee) and Justice Hill (Achilles) currently under contract for the coming season.