NFL Player News

The Commanders are declining the fifth-year option on Davis' (shoulder) rookie contract, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.

Washington took Davis with the 19th pick in the 2021 Draft, and while he's started 36 of 45 games through three seasons, his elite athleticism (4.47 40, 42-inch vertical) hasn't translated to elite performance. The 25-year-old likely will be a starter again in 2024 under new coach Dan Quinn, but it won't come as any surprise if this ends up being Davis' final year in Washington. He had season-ending shoulder surgery in December, potentially impacting his participation in spring practices.

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

The two sides have been connected throughout the offseason, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported last month that Elliott and the Cowboys had 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 running back room that includes Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis. Elliott played in all 17 games for the Patriots last season, carrying 184 times for 642 yards and three touchdowns while adding a 51-313-2 receiving line on 65 targets.

Hendrickson recently requested to be traded from Cincinnati, a league source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Per Schefter, Hendrickson -- who is under contract for $15 million in 2024 and is on the books through 2025 -- is looking for more long-term security than the Bengals have 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 over 17 games.

The Cowboys exercised the fifth-year team option on Parsons' rookie contract Wednesday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Per Gehlken, the star edge rusher will earn $21.32 million in 2025, but that salary may only serve as a placeholder before Parsons and the Cowboys are able to work out what's expected to be a lavish long-term deal. The 24-year-old is coming off another productive effort with the Cowboys in 2023, as 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.com reports.

Hurst started 51 games between guard and tackle for the Saints since joining the team as a free agent after the 2020 season. Prior to his stint with the Saints, Hurst began his career with the Ravens in 2014 after going undrafted out of North Carolina. His retirement comes just one day prior to the start of the 2024 NFL Draft and leaves the Saints with a glaring need at left guard, though the team did reportedly have advanced warning of Hurst's decision.

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 23-year-old right 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 Sewell, the Lions extended top wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown to a four-year extension Wednesday, one day in advance of the 2024 NFL Draft.

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 seven sacks across 17 regular-season appearances in 2023, a far cry from his career-high 14.5 sacks in 2022. Nonetheless, he remains an integral part of Pittsburgh's defense for the foreseeable future.

The Bengals exercised Chase's $21.82 million team option for 2025 on Wednesday.

Cincinnati's decision to exercise the fifth-year option on Chase's rookie contract comes as little surprise with the 24-year-old having emerged as one of the NFL's top receivers since getting drafted with the No. 5 overall pick in 2021. During this past season, Chase recorded a career-high 100 catches (on 145 targets) for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns over 16 games.

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.