Three pumps for three rivers. (We know, we know. It was only two.)
Panthers running back Rico Dowdle, who signed a one-year deal in Carolina a year ago, has agreed to terms with the Steelers, per Jordan Schultz.
Terms have not yet been reported.
Earlier today, Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell, the team’s MVP in 2025, agreed on a two-year, $14 million contract with the Buccaneers.
In 2025, Dowdle had 1,076 rushing yards and 297 receiving yards in 17 regular-season games. In Week 5 and Week 6, he had back-to-back games with more than 200 yards from scrimmage.
Dowdle signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Panthers a year ago, after spending his first four seasons with the Cowboys. During his final year in Dallas, Dowdle had 1,079 rushing yards.
Bryce Young has a new backup.
The Panthers have signed quarterback Kenny Pickett to a one-year deal with $4 million guaranteed, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Pickett will give the Panthers depth in case Young gets hurt.
Andy Dalton is still under contract with the Panthers for 2026, but Pickett’s arrival could signal that the departure of Dalton is coming.
A 2022 first-round pick of the Steelers, Pickett played two years in Pittsburgh and one in Philadelphia before signing with the Browns last year, then getting dealt to the Raiders a few months later. Now Pickett is on his fifth NFL team.
As the Lions look to re-tool their offensive line this offseason, they have found a new center.
According to multiple reports, Detroit has agreed to sign Cade Mays to a three-year contract.
Initial reports indicate Mays’ deal is worth $25 million with $14 million guaranteed.
Mays, 26, started 12 games for the Panthers in 2025. He was a Carolina sixth-round pick in 2022, appearing in 11 game with two starts as a rookie and 16 games with five starts in 2023.
While Mays was waived during roster cuts in 2024 and spent some time with the Giants, he returned to the Panthers in October of that season. He ended up appearing in 11 games with eight starts for Carolina before sticking with the team as a restricted free agent last offseason.
Mays will now head to the Lions, who are looking for a more permanent replacement for former center Frank Ragnow, who retired last offseason. The club will also need to replace Taylor Decker at left tackle.
During the 2025 season, the Eagles gave up a third-round pick to the Dolphins to get edge rusher Jaelan Phillips. They ended up getting eight regular-season games from him.
The Panthers have reached an agreement with Phillips. Per multiple reports, it’s a four-year, $120 million deal.
The $30 million annual average puts him at seventh, for now, among edge rushers.
A first-round pick of the Dolphins in 2021, Pittman has 28.0 career sacks. The Eagles had wanted to keep him, but despite their ability to keep plenty of key players, the salary cap at some point becomes an issue.
The Panthers have tendered contracts to a pair of their exclusive rights free agents.
Wide receivers Jalen Coker and Brycen Tremayne received the tenders. The move keeps both players from negotiating with other teams when free agency opens next week and sets them up to remain in Carolina for the 2026 season.
Coker missed the first six games of the 2025 season before returning to post 33 catches for 394 yards for three touchdowns in the final 11 contests. He had nine catches for 134 yards and a touchdown in the team’s playoff loss to the Rams.
Tremayne played in 16 games last season. He had 14 catches for 160 yards in those appearances.
