Good morning! We’ve got two big WR moves, Tom Brady’s return to the field (kind of), and more.
💰 Record deal for JSN
Seahawks star Jaxon Smith-Njigba is signing a four-year, $168.6 million extension—passing Ja’Marr Chase as the highest-paid WR in NFL history in terms of annual salary.
JSN gets $120 million guaranteed, which is also a record at his position.
Over the past year Smith-Njigba won a Super Bowl, Offensive Player of the Year, was a First-team All-Pro, and led the league with 1,793 receiving yards.
The former first-round pick turned just 24 years old last month and was clearly a steal for Seattle at No. 20 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Locking the core up: Look for fellow 2023 first-rounder CB Devon Witherspoon to get his own extension soon. However, as would have been the case for JSN, the Seahawks can use the fifth-year option to keep Witherspoon under contract through 2027.
Furthermore, the Seahawks matched the Jaguars’ offer to RFA WR Jake Bobo to keep him with the team on a two-year deal.
🐧 Broncos get Waddle
The Broncos added a playmaker, acquiring star WR Jaylen Waddle from the Dolphins for essentially a first-round pick and a third-round pick.
Denver was by far the quietest team during the start of free agency, literally not signing any outside free agents.
But they were highly aggressive for Waddle, sending Miami their first-round pick (No. 30 overall), a third-rounder, and a fourth-rounder for the speedy WR and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
Waddle is great friends with former Alabama teammate and All-Pro CB Patrick Surtain II on the other side of the ball, and he already went to dinner with some of his new teammates after arriving with the Broncos.
The new QB-WR duo of Bo Nix and Waddle once combined for six TDs in the Iron Bowl.
Zoom out: The Broncos clearly felt Waddle was a fit for the offense and culture, and they paid for it. The price tag makes an A.J. Brown trade appear more unlikely—with the Eagles understandably reportedly asking for a first- and a second-rounder—but anything can happen.
✍️ Additional transactions
Two more trades were made last week aside from the Waddle deal, both involving the Eagles:
The Falcons traded for S Sydney Brown, with the Eagles moving up in the fourth and sixth rounds in a pick swap and then signing DBs Marcus Epps and J.T. Gray.
Philadelphia acquired veteran QB Andy Dalton from Carolina for a 2027 seventh-round pick.
The Eagles also signed WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and RB Dameon Pierce.
The Texans continued their offensive line revamp, signing three-time Pro Bowl OL Wyatt Teller; the 49ers boosted their group with G Robert Jones.
Reunions: The Colts added CB Cam Taylor-Britt and LB Akeem Davis-Gaither (both back with former Bengals DC Lou Anarumo), along with WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Plus, Indy signed former Notre Dame basketball player Carson Towt to play TE.
Edge defender moves: The Lions added D.J. Wonnum and former first-round pick Payton Turner, while former Bills second-rounder A.J. Epenesa is signing with Cleveland.
More signings: RB AJ Dillon (Panthers), LB Christian Rozeboom (Buccaneers), WR Greg Dortch (Lions), CB Darnay Holmes (Falcons), OL James Hudson III and CB Kindle Vildor (Patriots), DL James Lynch (Bears), OT Ryan Van Demark (Vikings).
Quarterback moves: The Vikings re-signed QB Carson Wentz, to join Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy in the room; while the Pats are releasing QB Josh Dobbs.
📰 More NFL news and notes
We had a few more official retirements in the past week: WR T.Y. Hilton, LB Logan Wilson (he didn’t hold in the Super Bowl), WR D.J. Chark, and RB Boston Scott.
Bucs GM Jason Licht says the team made a bigger offer to longtime WR Mike Evans during free agency, but that Evans wanted to go to the 49ers.
Giants second-year EDGE Abdul Carter—the No. 3 overall pick in the draft—is now switching to jersey No. 3.
Saints DB Beanie Bishop was suspended for the first three games of the 2026 NFL season.
The NFLPA brought back JC Tretter to be their Executive Director.
🏈 Tom Brady’s flag football return
The professional flag football Team USA squad handled the squads with NFLers in the Fanatics flag football event on Saturday—but the highlight for NFL fans was watching Tom Brady play in a competitive game—with his first two passes in particular looking like he can still play. Brady avoided a free rusher (which is harder than you think in flag football) before setting his feet and throwing a TD dart to Stefon Diggs—following it up with a total strike to his great buddy Rob Gronkowski on the two-point conversion.
Brady can’t legally make a comeback as a part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders… but the 48-year-old could still be a top QB if he wanted to.
As for the flag football results, it’s a totally different game—with a narrow field, a ton of quick-hitters, tricks, and laterals by Team USA. It creates questions about whether NFL players will indeed represent the United States in the Olympics en masse in 2028.
Other Sports Updates
🙏 Rest in Peace: Martial arts legend Chuck Norris passed away at 86.
🏀 March Madness: The Sweet 16 is set after the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
⚾️ World Baseball Classic: Team Venezuela defeated Team USA to win its first WBC.
🏆 Legendary milestones: Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin hit 1,000 career goals (including postseason) to join Wayne Gretzky as the only players to do so; while Lionel Messi joined Cristiano Ronaldo as the only soccer players to reach 900 career goals.
🔒 MLB extensions for Cubs OF Pete Crow-Armstrong and Phillies SP Christopher Sanchez.
🏒 Oilers star Leon Draisaitl (lower-body) is out for the regular season but has the “hope” of returning during the postseason.
