NFL Player News

The Seahawks exercised Witherspoon's fifth-year option for 2027 on Friday.

The No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 Draft, Witherspoon has been named to the Pro Bowl all three seasons in the NFL and was a second-team All-Pro selection last season. Witherspoon started all 12 games in which he appeared in 2025, producing 72 tackles (48 solo), including 0.5 sacks, seven pass breakups, including one interception, and one fumble recovery. With the option exercised, Witherspoon is set to earn $21.1 million in 2027.

The Seahawks exercised Smith-Njigba's fifth-year option for 2027 on Friday.

An obvious no-brainer for Seattle after Smith-Njigba was named Offensive Player of the Year in 2025 after securing 119 of 163 targets for an NFL-high 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns across 17 regular-season appearances. JSN then added another 17 catches for 199 yards and two touchdowns on 26 targets across three playoff contests. Through three seasons, Smith-Njigba is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and was a first-team All-Pro last season. With the optioned picked up, Smith-Njigba is set to earn $23.8 million in 2027.

The Browns signed Thomas on Friday.

The 27-year-old safety has appeared in 83 career regular-season games, including six starts, but has mainly worked on special teams. Thomas logged 23 tackles (10 solo) and one pass breakup across 12 appearances with the Lions last season.

The Cardinals signed Udoh on Friday.

Udoh appeared in all 17 regular-season games with the Titans last season, making three starts. The 29-year-old offensive tackle has made 74 career regular-season appearances across seven seasons, including 22 starts.

The 49ers declined Williams' $10 million option bonus Friday, instead adding it to his base salary for the 2026 season, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.

If it would have been exercised, the 49ers would've been able to prorate the $10 million across the next four years. Williams' cap number for 2026 is now a whopping $46.3 million, though the sides are expected to continue to work on a new contract.

The Bills declined to match Minnesota's offer sheet on Van Demark on Friday.

Van Demark officially is a member of the Vikings on a one-year, $4.2 million deal after signing the offer sheet as a restricted free agent earlier in the week. Van Demark appeared in all 17 regular-season games last season, making four starts, seeing snaps at both left tackle and right tackle.

The Panthers signed Franks on Friday, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports.

It's a homecoming for Franks after he spent the 2024 season with Carolina before spending the 2025 campaign with the Falcons. A special-teams stalwart, Franks appeared in all 17 regular-season contests last season, recording 11 tackles (eight solo) on 299 snaps in kick coverage.

Burton visited the Browns on Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Burton spent the 2025 season on injured reserve and is now 34 years old. With new coach Todd Monken likely implementing a fullback into his offense with the Browns, Burton could be a candidate for a job at some point.

Chark announced his retirement from the NFL after seven seasons Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

A second-round pick by the Jaguars in 2018, Chark had the best season of his career in 2019, catching 73 of 118 targets for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns. All were career highs for Chark, who was a Pro Bowl selection that season. After four seasons with the Jaguars, Chark bounced around the NFL the following four years, spending time with the Lions, Panthers, Chargers and Falcons. Chark failed to make the Atlanta roster out of training camp last summer and never latched on elsewhere. He finishes his career with 216 catches for 3,100 yards and 24 touchdowns.

The Eagles signed Gray to a one-year contract Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Gray spent his first seven seasons with the Saints and was selected to the Pro Bowl and named a first-team All-Pro as a special-teams ace in 2021. He was a second-team All-Pro twice. Gray was released ahead of Week 1 last summer and spent the 2025 campaign bouncing around the league with the Ravens, Broncos and Bucs, appearing in just five regular-season contests.