HENDERSON, Nev. — Tight end Darren Waller is being traded to the New York Giants, who will send the Las Vegas Raiders a 2023 third-round draft pick, two people familiar with the deal said Tuesday.
They spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity because the trade has not been announced. One person said the Giants will send the Raiders their No. 100 overall selection, which was acquired from the Kansas City Chiefs in the deal for wide receiver Kadarius Toney.
Waller, who made the Pro Bowl in 2020 gives Giants quarterback Daniel Jones a major playmaker and an upgrade at tight end. Last year’s starter, Daniel Bellinger, caught 30 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns.
Waller twice has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards, in 2019 and 2020, before injuries cut into his production the past two seasons. In 2022, Waller caught 28 passes for 388 yards and three TDs, missing eight games because of a hamstring injury.
• The Giants have re-signed running back Matt Breida, who was the backup to Saquon Barkley.
COLTS: The Indianapolis Colts will release longtime NFL quarterback Matt Ryan in a cost-cutting move Wednesday, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.
By releasing the 37-year-old quarterback, it will save Indy about $17.2 million in salary cap charges next season and allowing it to open free agency with about $30 million of cap space.
Indy holds the No. 4 overall pick in next month’s NFL draft and most analysts expect it to select one of four quarterbacks — 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, two-time Big Ten offensive player of the year C.J. Stroud, strong-armed Will Levis or Anthony Richardson.
PANTHERS: The Carolina Panthers have found their stop-gap quarterback, agreeing to a two-year, $10 million contract with unrestricted free agent Andy Dalton, according to two people familiar with the situation.
The deal includes $8 million in guaranteed money.
The Panthers traded up last week to get the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft and are almost certain to use it on a quarterback — a position that has seen repeated turnover over the past five seasons in Carolina.
SAINTS: Receiver Michael Thomas has agreed to a new one-year, incentive-laden contract worth between $10 million and $15 million for the 2023 season, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
Thomas already was under contract, but the Saints would have been virtually certain to release him into free agency by the end of this week if the two-time All-Pro had not agreed to scrap his previous deal.
SEAHAWKS: The Seattle Seahawks released veteran defensive linemen Shelby Harris and Quinton Jefferson, clearing more than $13 million in salary cap space before the start of the new league year.
Seattle brought back a familiar face, agreeing to a two-year deal with defensive tackle Jarran Reed, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.
Reed, 30, is reuniting with the team he spent the first five seasons with after being drafted in the second round in 2016 by the Seahawks. Reed was released by Seattle after the 2020 season and spent 2021 with Kansas City and last season in Green Bay. Reed had a career-high 52 tackles with the Packers starting 14 of 17 games last season.
DOLPHINS: The Miami Dolphins are bringing back running backs Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr., agreeing on two-year contracts for both players.
COMMANDERS: The Washington Commanders fired offensive line coach John Matsko, according to a person with knowledge of the decision.
It’s the latest shakeup for Coach Ron Rivera’s staff since bringing in Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach.
Matsko, 72, worked under Rivera the past three seasons in Washington and all nine years Rivera coached in Carolina.
It was not immediately clear who Matsko’s replacement will be. Assistant offensive line coach Travelle Wharton remains on staff.
VIKINGS: The Minnesota Vikings reached an agreement with quarterback Kirk Cousins to change bonus language in his existing contract that cleared $16 million from their salary cap for 2023, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiation.
49ERS: The San Francisco 49ers agreed to a contract extension with starting center Jake Brendel before he could hit the open market.
A person familiar with the deal said on condition of anonymity that Brendel will sign a four-year contract with the Niners instead of becoming an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday.
NFL Network first reported the agreement and said it had a maximum value of $20 million and includes $8 million in guarantees.
COWBOYS: The Dallas Cowboys are keeping two of their own in free agency by agreeing to contracts with safety and leading tackler Donovan Wilson and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch.
Wilson and the Cowboys agreed to a $24 million, three-year deal, a person with knowledge of the agreement said. Another person says Vander Esch is returning for $11 million over two years.
• The Dallas Cowboys acquired cornerback Stephon Gilmore from the Indianapolis Colts for a fifth-round draft pick, a person with knowledge of the trade said.
The Cowboys will give up a compensatory fifth-round pick in this year’s draft, the person told The Associated Press.
It will be the third team in three seasons for Gilmore, the 2019 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year when he was with New England.
CHARGERS: Running back Austin Ekeler could be on his way out.
Ekeler’s agent, Cameron Weiss, said the team has given Ekeler permission to seek a trade after both sides could not agree on a contract extension.
Ekeler, who has scored an NFL-high 38 touchdowns over the past two seasons, is entering the final season of a four-year, $24.5 million extension. He is scheduled to earn $6.25 million in the 2023 season.
• Offensive tackle Trey Pipkins agreed to terms on a three-year contract to return to the Los Angeles Chargers, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.
BEARS: The Chicago Bears have added help on the defensive line, agreeing to a deal with former Tennessee Titans defensive end DeMarcus Walker.
Walker tweeted that he has an agreement in place with Chicago.
The Bears agreed to a two-year contract extension with fullback Khari Blasingame through the 2025 season and a one-year extension with long snapper Patrick Scales.
FALCONS: Setting up a competition at quarterback, the Atlanta Falcons have agreed to terms with Taylor Heinicke on a two-year contract worth up to $20 million, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.
For Heinicke, it’s a homecoming. He was born in Lawrenceville and played at Collins Hills High School in suburban Atlanta.
Now, after starting 24 games over the last two seasons with the Washington Commanders, he is headed to the Falcons to compete for a starting job with Desmond Ridder.
JAGUARS: A person familiar with negotiations says backup safety Andrew Wingard has agreed to return to Jacksonville on a three-year, $9.6 million contract.
TEXANS: The Houston Texans have agreed to send the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a sixth-round draft pick for guard Shaq Mason and a seventh-round pick, a person familiar with the trade told The Associated Press.
LIONS: The Detroit Lions and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley have agreed on a $6 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.
Moseley started 33 games in five years with the San Francisco 49ers. He missed the final 12 games last season after tearing his ACL.
EAGLES: James Bradberry is returning to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bradberry, a second-team All-Pro cornerback, agreed to a $38 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person said $20 million is guaranteed.
Earlier, the Eagles and running back Rashaad Penny agreed on a contract, a person familiar with the deal told the AP.
BROWNS: The Cleveland Browns are bringing back linebacker Sione Takitaki after his solid 2022 season was ended early by a knee injury, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Takitaki is getting a one-year, $2.5 million deal, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity.
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