The New York Giants and tackle Andrew Thomas have agreed to a five-year extension that reportedly contains the largest amount of guaranteed money for an offensive lineman in NFL history.

NFL.com reports that Thomas' new deal, which runs through the 2029 season, has a maximum value of $117.5 million and includes $67 million in guarantees. The previous high in guaranteed money for an offensive lineman was the $64 million the Baltimore Ravens granted left tackle Ronnie Stanley in his 2020 extension.

Thomas becomes the second highest paid offensive lineman in terms of average annual value at $23.5 million, surpassed only by the three-year, $75 million extension the Houston Texans gave tackle Laremy Tunsil in March.

"Ecstatic about that," Giants general manager Joe Schoen told reporters Wednesday about locking up Thomas. "He played at a high level. He's our type of guy."

Thomas has emerged as one of the NFL's premier left tackles since being selected by the Giants with the fourth overall pick of the 2020 draft. The 24-year-old has started 44 games over his three seasons and was named a second team All-Pro in 2022.

He's also the latest core player the Giants have signed to a multi-year contract this offseason. The team retained starting quarterback Daniel Jones with a four-year, $160 million deal and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence on a four-year, $90 million extension.

The Giants were unable to reach a long-term agreement with star running back Saquon Barkley, who instead received the franchise tag and signed his one-year, $10.1 million tender offer Tuesday.

Thomas is one of two offensive linemen that agreed to an extension Wednesday. The Houston Texans reached a three-year, $56 million deal with right tackle Tytus Howard that contains $36.5 million guaranteed, according to NFL.com. 

A first-round pick of Houston in 2019, Howard has started 54 games over his four seasons and was entering the final year of his rookie contract. 

The Dallas Cowboys checked off one major task on their offseason to-do list, while another looms large as the team opens training camp.

The Cowboys signed star cornerback Trevon Diggs to a five-year, $97million contract extension Tuesday, multiple media outlets reported, while six-time All-Pro guard Zack Martin officially began his holdout for a new deal.

Diggs, who led the NFL and tied a franchise record with 11 interceptions in 2021, is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is now signed through the 2028 season.

Martin has been one of the league’s top offensive linemen since the Cowboys drafted him in the first round in 2014 but was absent when players reported for training camp Tuesday.

Martin, 32, has two seasons remaining on a six-year, $84million deal that represents the ninth-highest average annual value among interior offensive linemen in the NFL.

Dallas owner and general manager Jerry Jones declined to give much detail about Martin’s contract situation.

 “I don’t want to get into what we are doing here or not doing,” Jones told reporters Tuesday. “I just want to say that he is in our plans.”

Diggs was a second-round draft pick in 2020 and has 17 interceptions in 45 career games.

Diggs, who said in May that he “loves” Dallas and hoped to remain with the Cowboys long-term, will reportedly receive half of the deal’s $42.3million in guaranteed money up-front as a signing bonus.

The contract extension reportedly contains an additional $7million in incentives, pushing its maximum possible value to $104million.

With Diggs’ money on the books, the Cowboys could struggle to reach a new long-term deal with Martin, especially with massive extensions for wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and pass-rusher Micah Parsons looming in the coming years.

“We've got everything, as we start camp today where we are, there [is] nothing to concern me about anything to do with what we're doing with contractual situations,” Jones said.

Martin will be fined $50,000 for each day of training camp missed.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has been medically cleared to participate in training camp after undergoing offseason surgery on his throwing elbow, general manager John Lynch said Tuesday.  

“Brock’s cleared and ready to go,” Lynch said. “He’s been cleared. He’s going to be without restrictions. Having said that, we’re sticking to and adhering to a plan. He got after it the last couple days and we upped his pitch count. We believe in that plan.”

Lynch said the club will continue to work Purdy back in gradually, not allowing the second-year quarterback to throw more than two days in a row.

After throwing Monday and Tuesday, Purdy will not participate when the 49ers hold their first practice Wednesday.

After going 5-0 as the starter down the stretch last season, Purdy projects to open this year under center for the 49ers. Trey Lance – who has recovered from two surgeries to repair a broken right ankle – and Sam Darnold will also take snaps at quarterback.

Purdy was a seventh-round draft pick in 2022 out of Iowa State and was unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight last season after injuries to Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo.

Purdy took the reins in the first quarter of a Week 13 game against the Miami Dolphins, guiding the 49ers to a 33-17 win before ending the regular season with five straight wins as a starter.

After playoff victories over the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys, Purdy threw just four pass attempts in the NFC Championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles before being knocked out of the game with a right elbow injury.

With journeyman Josh Johnson and running back Christian McCaffrey taking snaps, the 49ers’ 2022 season ended a game short of the Super Bowl.

Purdy completed 67.1 percent of his passes in his rookie campaign, finishing with 1,374 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. He added three touchdown passes and no interceptions during the postseason.

Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants reportedly settled on a one-year contract worth up to $11million, ending the star running back's brief holdout.

The deal was agreed upon on Tuesday, one day before the Giants open training camp for the 2023 NFL season.

Barkley's new contract is worth $10.1million fully guaranteed and includes a $2million signing bonus.

The deal also adds $900,000 in incentives, which can be earned if he reportedly reaches 1,300 yards rushing, 11 touchdowns and 65 receptions.

The 26-year-old Barkley ranked fourth in the NFL with a career-high 1,312 rushing yards in 2022, while scoring 10 touchdowns and sharing the team lead with 57 receptions in 16 games.

Just last week, Barkley had said sitting out the 2023 season was an option after he and the Giants failed to reach a long-term deal by the NFL deadline of Aug. 17.

He'll now be back on the field for the Giants as they prepare for their Week 1 game against the Dallas Cowboys on September 10.

Barkley is coming off a bounce-back season following injury-marred years in 2020 and 2021.

He finished seventh in the NFL in scrimmage yards with 1,650 and earned a Pro Bowl selection - his first since 2018, when he was also named the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

In 60 career games, the former No. 2 overall pick has 4,249 rushing yards, 1,820 receiving yards and 37 total touchdowns.

The Seattle Seahawks have locked up a key defender just before the start of training camp by agreeing to a three-year extension with edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu through the 2026 season.

Nwosu's agency, Rosenhaus Sports, told multiple outlets Monday the new deal is worth up to $59 million and contains $32 million guaranteed.

Signed to a two-year, $19 million contract by Seattle in March 2022, Nwosu had a breakout first season with the Seahawks in which the five-year veteran set career highs with 9.5 sacks and 67 tackles while starting all 17 regular-season games. The Seahawks were 7-0 in games in which he recorded at least a half-sack.

Nwosu spent his first four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers after being selected in the second round of the 2018 draft. After being used mainly as a backup and special-teams player his first three years, the 26-year-old started 15 games in 2021 and compiled 40 tackles, five sacks and one interception.

In 79 career games, Nwosu has registered 182 total tackles, 24.5 sacks and six forced fumbles while making 42 starts.

The Los Angeles native returns to a Seattle defence that made two notable additions this offseason, signing former Denver Broncos tackle Dre'Mont Jones to a three-year, $51 milliion contract and bringing back six-time All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner on a one-year deal.

Wagner spent his first 10 NFL seasons with the Seahawks before playing for the NFC West-rival Los Angeles Rams in 2022. 

The Buffalo Bills' Nyheim Hines will miss the 2023 NFL season after he injured his knee when he was struck by a jet ski.

Hines was sitting on an idle jet ski and was struck by another rider, sustaining a serious knee injury, according to a report from NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero on Monday.

His injury is non-life threatening but will require surgery.

It was not immediately reported when and where the accident occurred.

Acquired by the Bills in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts last November, the 26-yard-old Hines was expected to be the Bills' primary kick and punt returner and serve as their third-down running back this season.

In nine games for Buffalo in 2022, Hines returned 16 punts for an average of 9.6 yards and brought back 19 kicks for an average of 29.2 yards and two touchdowns - both against the New England Patriots in the emotional season finale in what was the Bills' first game since Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16.

A fourth-round pick by the Colts in 2018, Hines has 22 career touchdowns in 81 games - 10 TDs via rushing, eight from receiving and two each from punt and kick returns.

The three-time defending AFC East-champion Bills begin training camp on Wednesday and will open the regular season on Monday Night Football visiting the New York Jets on September 11.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will be ready for the start of training camp after passing his physical on Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.

The Raiders signed Garoppolo to a three-year, $67.5 million contract in March, including $34 million guaranteed.

He is taking over for Derek Carr, who was released in February and went on to sign with the New Orleans Saints after serving as the Raiders’ starting quarterback since 2014.

Garoppolo began the 2022 season with the San Francisco 49ers as Trey Lance’s backup but found himself back in the starter’s role after Lance sustained a season-ending broken ankle in Week 2.

Garoppolo then led San Francisco to a 7-3 record before his season ended due to a fractured foot sustained in Week 13.

Garoppolo, 31, has appeared in 74 games since being selected by the New England Patriots in the second round (62nd overall pick) of the 2014 NFL Draft.

In 57 starts for New England and San Francisco, Garoppolo posted a 40-17 record while throwing for 13,923 yards with 84 touchdowns and 42 interceptions.

The Baltimore Ravens added further depth to the running back position Friday by reaching an agreement with veteran Melvin Gordon on a one-year contract.

NFL.com reports that Gordon, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, can earn up to $3.1 million. The deal is pending a physical.

Gordon has rushed for 900 or more yards four times in an eight-year career spent with the Chargers and Denver Broncos, though he managed a career-low 318 with two touchdowns in 2022 and was released by the Broncos in November after fumbling five times in 10 games.

The 30-year-old finished last season on the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad but was not elevated to the active roster.

Gordon's 69 total touchdowns are the third-most among active running backs, and he recorded nine or more in six straight seasons before having that streak end in 2022.

The 2015 first-round pick will face plenty of competition to earn a roster spot with the Ravens, who bring back three running backs who rushed for over 250 yards last season in J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill.

Gordon has accumulated 6,462 rushing yards in 108 career regular-season games, along with 309 receptions totalling 2,467 yards. He spent the last three seasons with the Broncos after a five-year tenure with the Chargers from 2015-19. 

Outgoing Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder has agreed to pay the NFL $60 million following an independent investigation into allegations of workplace and financial improprieties, the league announced Thursday.

The investigation, led by former U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White, found that Snyder sexually harassed a former team employee and withheld around $11 million in revenue from other owners by deliberately omitting ticket sales revenue on reports sent to the league.

The NFL released the findings of the year-long investigation shortly after the owners unanimously approved Snyder's agreement to sell the Commanders to a group led by Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris for $6.05 billion, the highest purchase price ever for a North American professional sports franchise.

The investigation was prompted by testimony given by Tiffani Johnston, a former cheerleader and marketing employee, to a Congressional hearing looking into allegations of workplace misconduct within the organisation in February 2022.

Johnston stated that Snyder placed his hand on her thigh during a work-related dinner and pushed her towards his limousine after the function in an unsuccessful attempt to have her ride with him.

White's investigative team conducted several interviews with Johnston on the matter and found her to be "highly credible," and her account of the events was corroborated by other witnesses, according to the report.

“The conduct substantiated in Ms. White’s findings has no place in the NFL," Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "We strive for workplaces that are safe, respectful and professional. What Ms. Johnston experienced is inappropriate and contrary to the NFL’s values."

Another former employee, Jason Friedman, testified that the team knowingly withheld ticket revenue that was to be shared with other teams according to NFL bylaws. Friedman also said the Commanders retained security deposits from customers purchasing leases for stadium suites for more than a decade.

The report said it was unable to determine the exact amount of money withheld due to Snyder and the Commanders not fully cooperating with the investigation.

Harris' group, which includes NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, agreed to purchase the Commanders for the record sum in May pending owners' approval, which was granted in a special meeting held Thursday in Minnesota. In addition to the 76ers, Harris' holding company is also the majority owner of the NHL's New Jersey Devils.

Snyder purchased the then-Washington Redskins in 1999 for $800 million and had a tumultuous reign of more than two decades. He and his wife, Tanya, agreed to put the franchise up for sale in November amid pressure from the NFL and corporate sponsors. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers' Alex Highsmith was one of the NFL's top pass rushers in 2022, and now he's getting paid like one.

The Steelers and Highsmith agreed on Wednesday to a four-year extension for a reported $68million.

"This means everything," Highsmith said to the Steelers' official website just moments after signing his contract. "I know I am a Pittsburgh Steeler through and through, and just to be a part of this amazing organization for four more years means the world to me, to my wife, to my whole family. This is where I want to be. This is where I want to play ball. I am unbelievably grateful. I am super thankful to be here and can't wait to get to work. I am excited."

A third-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft, the 25-year-old Highsmith was entering the final year of his rookie contract - a four-year, $4.5million deal.

His new contract now makes him one of the highest-paid pass rushers in the league.

The big payday comes after a breakout season in 2022 for Highsmith, who racked up 14 1/2 sacks while tying for the NFL lead with five forced fumbles. He also registered 20 quarterback hits and 12 tackles for loss.

"It was a good year, but I'm far from satisfied," said Highsmith in the offseason. "I never get complacent or comfortable, but I am grateful for a better year and being injury free for a year. I never want to get complacent, but I always want to be grateful."

Highsmith, who became a full-time starter in 2021, has 22 1/2 sacks and 32 tackles for loss in 49 career games.

The simplest helmet in the NFL is getting even simpler.

For three games in the 2023 regular season, the Cleveland Browns are trading their classic orange, logo-less helmets for white ones.

The Browns will don an all-white look - white helmets, jerseys and pants - for their Week 2 Monday Night game on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers, at home against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6 and in their final home game of the season against the New York Jets on Thursday Night in Week 17.

The white helmet features an orange stripe down the middle sandwiched around two brown stripes, similarly to their orange helmet with a white stripe down the middle flanked by two brown ones.

This will mark the first time the Browns will wear white helmets since 1951.

Cleveland began wearing its familiar orange, logo-less helmets in 1952 after sporting white ones for its first six seasons as a franchise.

A change to the classic look could be just what the team needs to end its championship drought.

The Browns are one of 12 NFL teams to have never won a Super Bowl and are one of just four franchises never to have even played in one, along with the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans.

Their last NFL title came in 1964 – two years prior to the advent of the Super Bowl.

The Browns finished in fourth place in the AFC North last season with a 7-10 record to miss the playoffs for the 19th time in the last 20 years - the 2020 season being the lone outlier - but open this season with raised expectations with quarterback Deshaun Watson set to play a full season after being suspended for 11 games in 2022.

Monday’s deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign long-term contracts passed without three of the NFL’s top running backs unable to work out such deals.

The New York Giants’ Saquon Barkley, Las Vegas Raiders’ Josh Jacobs and Dallas Cowboys’ Tony Pollard will all play the 2023 season under the franchise tag.

With no long-term deals reached prior to the deadline, the three must wait until after the 2023 regular season in January to reach a new agreement.

Barkley never signed the tag he received by the Giants earlier this offseason in hopes of negotiating a long-term contract.

It was reported last week by ESPN that the 26-year-old Barkley would consider sitting out the Giants’ Week 1 Sunday Night opener against the Cowboys if he didn’t have a new deal.

Negotiations reportedly went down to the wire, but he ended up settling to the franchise tag and will be paid $10.091million for the 2023 season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media.

The former No. 2 overall pick ranked fourth in the NFL with a career-high 1,312 rushing yards in 2022, while scoring 10 touchdowns to earn a Pro Bowl selection - his first since 2018, when he was also named the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

His 57 receptions were tied for the team lead last season and his 1,650 scrimmage yards were seventh most in the league.

Jacobs and Pollard were both tagged by their respective teams back in March.

Jacobs became the first Raider to lead the NFL in rushing yards since Hall of Famer Marcus Allen in 1985 when he compiled 1,653 this past season. The 25-year-old added 12 touchdowns and 400 receiving yards on 53 catches to earn first team All-Pro honours.

The 26-year-old Pollard emerged as the Cowboys’ best running back ahead of three-time Pro Bowler Ezekiel Elliott, who was subsequently released in May in a move to save cap space.

Pollard earned his first Pro Bowl nod with an outstanding 2022 campaign in which he rushed for 1,007 yards and scored 12 total touchdowns. His 5.22 yards per rush attempt ranked second in the NFL among players with at least 175 carries.

The Tennessee Titans have upgraded their passing attack by signing free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on Sunday.

Hopkins agreed to a two-year, $26million contract with the Titans, with an additional $6million available in incentives, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media.

The 31-year-old Hopkins becomes the No. 1 receiver for quarterback Ryan Tannehill and a Titans team that is inexperienced at wide out.

Treylon Burks had 33 receptions as a rookie in 2022, and is Tennessee's top returning receiver after the departures of Robert Woods and Austin Hooper.

Tennessee relies on a heavy ground attack behind Derrick Henry, ranking 30th in the NFL in net passing yards last season, averaging 171.4 per game.

Hopkins had 64 catches for 717 yards and three touchdowns for the Arizona Cardinals in nine games in 2022 after missing the season's first six contests while serving a suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy.

He was released by the Cardinals on May 26 after the team failed to work out a trade for the three-time All-Pro receiver.

Arizona was unable to find a trade partner to take on Hopkins' $22.6million salary cap, leaving the rebuilding Cardinals no other choice but to release the 10-year veteran.

Hopkins spent three seasons with the Cardinals after being acquired via trade from the Houston Texans in March 2020.

He had a stellar debut season with Arizona, being voted to his fifth Pro Bowl after tying his personal best with 115 catches totalling 1,407 yards.

In 145 career games, Hopkins has 853 career catches for 11,298 yards and 71 touchdowns.

Hopkins joins a Titans team that finished 7-9 last season after back-to-back AFC South titles.

Evan Engram had previously agreed to be franchise tagged by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

That deal has since been replaced.

The Jaguars agreed to a three-year, $41.25million contract with Engram on Sunday that includes $24million guaranteed.

Engram's agent, Mike McCarney, announced the deal via Twitter.

Engram had agreed to play the 2023 season under the franchise tag and had until Monday to agree to a long-term contract with the Jaguars.

Had he not been able to work out a long-term deal, he would've been made $11.345million in 2023.

A first-round pick by the Giants in 2017, Engram signed a one-year, $9million contract with the Jaguars last March after five seasons in New York.

In his first season in Jacksonville, he ranked third on the Jags in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches with career highs of 73 receptions for 766 yards to go with four touchdowns.

He set a franchise record for receptions by a tight end, breaking Kyle Brady's mark of 64, set back in 2000.

Among all NFL tight ends last season, only Kansas City's Travis Kelce (110) and Minnesota's T.J. Hockenson (86) had more receptions than Engram.

Engram played a big role in Jacksonville's 31-30 comeback win over the Los Angeles Chargers in a wild-card game last season, finishing with seven receptions for a team-high 93 yards with a TD.

In 82 career games, Engram has 335 receptions for 3,594 yards and 20 touchdowns.

The New York Jets and Quinnen Williams agreed Thursday to a four-year, $96 million extension that will make the 2022 All-Pro the NFL's second-highest paid defensive tackle, according to multiple reports.

Williams' new deal, which NFL.com reports contains $66 million in guaranteed money, will run through the 2027 season and is surpassed only by Los Angeles Rams superstar Aaron Donald's six-year, $135 million contract as the largest for an interior defensive linemen.

It's also the largest contract guarantee in Jets history, eclipsing the $51 million the team granted to linebacker C.J. Mosley in 2019.

Williams was entering the final season of his rookie contract and is coming off an outstanding 2022 campaign in which he recorded a career-high 12 sacks along with 55 tackles in 16 games, earning first team All-Pro honours for the first time in his four-year career.

The 25-year-old was selected by the Jets with the third overall pick of the 2019 draft, behind only Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and San Francisco 49ers star pass rusher Nick Bosa. Williams has compiled 191 tackles and 27.5 sacks in 57 career games, including 53 starts.

Williams is the fourth prominent defensive lineman to agree to a big new contract this offseason. The Tennessee Titans signed Jeffrey Simmons to a four-year, $94 million contract in April, while the Washington Commanders' Daron Payne received $90 million over four years and the New York Giants gave Dexter Lawrence $87.5 million over four years.

SImmons' extension also contained $66 million in guarantees.