The well-traveled Josh Johnson is traveling back to Cincinnati.
The Bengals announced on Saturday that Johnson has signed a one-year deal.
Johnson, who turns 40 in May, was a fifth-round pick of the Buccaneers in 2008. He has spent time with the Bucs, 49ers, Sacramento Mountain Lions of the original UFL, Browns, Bengals, 49ers (second stint), Bengals (second stint), Jets, Colts, Bills, Ravens, Giants, Texans, Raiders, San Diego Fleet of the AAF, Washington, Lions, L.A. Wildcats of the XFL, 49ers (third stint), Jets (second stint), Ravens (second stint), Broncos, 49ers (fourth stint), Ravens (third stint), Commanders (second stint), and now the Bengals for a third time.
He has appeared in 50 regular-season games with 11 starts. His starts have happened with only three teams: the Buccaneers, Commanders, and Ravens. His two most recent starts came in Weeks 17 and 18 of the 2025 season, for Washington.
Johnson also has appeared in one playoff game — the 2023 NFC Championship, after 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy made an early exit with an elbow injury. Johnson completed seven of 13 passes before suffering a concussion.
Johnson joins Joe Burrow and Sean Clifford on Cincinnati’s roster. Joe Flacco arrived via trade in 2025, appearing in nine games with six starts. He’s currently a free agent.
Ravens Clips
The aftermath of the failed Maxx Crosby trade became the overwhelming storyline involving the Ravens this week. Another important wrinkle merits much more attention.
During his Wednesday press conference, G.M. Eric DeCosta addressed the team’s decision to exercise the right to restructure quarterback Lamar Jackson’s existing contract. It happened because, as DeCosta said, the two sides “kind of ran out of time” in their discussions on an extension.
On the surface, it’s no surprise. The last time the Ravens and Jackson were trying to do a new deal, it took far too long to get it done. The hidden (by both the NFL and the NFL Players Association) collusion grievance ruling that came to light in June 2025 included fresh details about the negotiations that finally resulted in a new deal in 2023. During the grievance hearing, DeCosta testified that direct negotiations with Jackson (who does not have an agent) were complicated by a claim from Jackson that the microphone on his phone was broken.
That specific example speaks to the chronic communications issues arising from Jackson not having an NFLPA-certified agent who can serve as the buffer between player and team. Given the team’s desire to get a new deal done before the start of free agency, it’s fair to wonder whether the communications problems continue to bog down the ability to make progress.
An extension for the franchise quarterback was clearly a priority for the franchise. Said DeCosta in January, at the press conference following the firing of coach John Harbaugh: “We do have a nice little nest egg; it’s not as much as we’d like. A deal with Lamar would give us the ability to be more active to re-sign, probably more players on the team, and potentially go after a couple big-ticket items.”
In the same press conference, owner Steve Bisciotti echoed the importance of extending Jackson’s contract. “The urgency of that matters to me because we’ve got free agents, and I don’t want to go into free agency with that hanging over our head,” Bisciotti said. “I made that clear to Lamar, and I think he was very appreciative of my stance, and hopefully, willing to work with Eric and not get this thing dragged out into April like it was the last time.”
DeCosta reiterated this week that he won’t talk publicly about his negotiation with Jackson. There’s no way of knowing why the deal didn’t get done. But it’s clear the Ravens wanted to do it.
It should be easy. Bisciotti acknowledged that in January. “I think [Jackson] is amenable to doing something that mirrors the last deal that he did, although the annual number will be a little higher,” Bisciotti said. “But I’m hoping that it’s ‘plug in your number’ in the same contract he signed [in 2023] and move on.”
Jackson’s current deal has an annual average of $52.5 million. At the time he signed it, he was the highest-paid player in the league. He has since won another MVP award, finished second for what would have been his third MVP and has slipped all the way to No. 10 on the quarterback APY list.
The top of the market (if we suspend disbelief — as everyone has — and ignore the astronomical new-money APY of Josh Allen’s replacement contract from 2025) belongs to Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, at $60 million. As we hear it, Jackson hopes to get to $62 million per year.
Bisciotti’s instincts are correct. It’s just a matter of plugging a new number into the existing deal. Jackson’s contract over the next two years pays out a base amount of $104 million. A three-year, $186 million extension would result in a five-year, $290 million deal. The new-money average would be $62 million. The total average from signing would be $58 million.
The deeper issue would be the guarantees. How many years would be fully guaranteed at signing? Two? Three? At one point, Jackson wanted a Deshaun Watson-style fully-guaranteed contract the last time around. Does he want one this time around?
With the preferred window for a new deal slammed shut — and with players like Isaiah Likely, Tyler Linderbaum, and Patrick Ricard gone for new teams — the Ravens’ urgency may seem to be diminished. But here’s the reality. With Jackson representing himself, he’ll eventually return his focus to football. The can may get kicked to 2027. And if a new deal isn’t done before the start of the next league year, the final countdown toward Jackson’s first shot at unrestricted free agency will begin. (He has a no-tag clause in his current deal.)
“Certainly hopeful that we’ll get an extension done,” DeCosta said Wednesday regarding Jackson. “I think it’s important to both parties. But we remain to see what’s gonna take place in the future.”
He’s right about that. There are two outcomes for the Ravens: They get a new deal done with Jackson, or he makes $104 million ($102.5 million if he doesn’t show up for enough of the offseason program in 2026 and 2027) or he hits the open market in less than 24 months.
Ravens head coach Jesse Minter says his new pass rusher, Trey Hendrickson, is going to fit perfectly with the defense being built in Baltimore.
Minter, who was the Chargers’ defensive coordinator the last two years before being hired by the Ravens this year, said his defense is going to put Hendrickson in a position to make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks.
“He’s certainly a weapon,” Minter said of Hendrickson. “He’s proven that. The sack numbers speak for themselves. There’s a lot of different things that he can do for the defense. He’s going to draw attention, so sometimes you have guys that draw attention and then other guys have the opportunity to make plays. Then you have other guys start making plays, then less attention goes toward that. And then you want to get to the point where you can create as many one-on-one matchups for people as possible. Being creative in how we operate, how we set our fronts, and we’ll try to do as as many things as possible to create opportunities for Trey to wreck the game.”
Hendrickson has 81 career sacks, and the Ravens are confident he has a whole lot more in his future.
Edge rusher David Ojabo is moving on to the Dolphins.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that Ojabo has agreed to sign with Miami as a free agent. No terms of the deal have been reported.
Ojabo was a Ravens second-round pick in 2022 and missed most of his rookie season while recovering from a torn Achilles that he suffered at his Michigan Pro Day workout. A torn ACL ended his 2023 season after three games, but Ojabo returned to play in 27 games the last two seasons.
Ojabo had 25 tackles and 2.5 sacks in those appearances to go with seven tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles in his first two years. The Dolphins will be hoping that a change of scenery can boost Ojabo’s productivity in 2026.
New Ravens defensive end Trey Hendrickson is making no secret of how lofty his goals are in Baltimore.
At his introductory press conference, Hendrickson talked about winning the Super Bowl as a goal, and said the Ravens franchise has those kinds of standards.
“The standard is high here and I’m excited for that challenge,” Hendrickson said. “Incredible defense, incredible people, and looking forward to this season.”
Hendrickson noted that he has had opportunities to win before, playing with Drew Brees on the Saints and with Joe Burrow on the Bengals, but said that Baltimore is where he thinks he can achieve his goal of a Super Bowl ring.
“I’m in a win-now window,” Hendrickson said. “My career has been phenomenal and I’ve been so blessed to meet great people and win a lot of games with Drew Brees and Joe Burrow. But this opportunity to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, get into the win column and build something from the ground up is an amazing opportunity.”
The Ravens think adding a pass rusher could be the missing piece in building a Super Bowl winner, and after their trade for Maxx Crosby fell apart, they’re now hoping that Hendrickson can help them win the Super Bowl. Hendrickson isn’t shy about saying that’s what he’s aiming for.
The relocated flag football tournament, which has moved from Saudi Arabia to L.A. due to the war in the Middle East, has added more participants.
Via Sports Business Journal, Fanatics announced the full roster of players earlier this week.
In addition to the active NFL players previously named (Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley), more current pro football players will take part: Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith, Saints running back Alvin Kamara, Rams receiver Davante Adams, 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, Chargers safety Derwin James Jr., and Steelers safety Jalen Ramsey.
Several current free agents also will play: Von Miller, DeAndre Hopkins, Deebo Samuel, and Stefon Diggs.
The recent pivot to the inclusion of the U.S. men’s national flag football team as one of the three teams in the tournament likely will make the tournament more competitive. The flag players will hope to show they are better suited to represent the United States in the Olympics in 2028.
That will do nothing to reduce the risk of injury associated with the event. If the free agents haven’t signed by March 21, any sort of injury could complicate their effort to find a new NFL team.
And, yes, the risk of injury is lower than the risk they assume when suiting up and playing full-contact tackle football. There’s still risk, as promising young NFL running back Robert Edwards once learned the very hard way.
The two teams of current and former NFL players and various non-football players will be picked from the pool of players on March 19.
Tom Brady is the ringleader of the tournament. And, as one team executive recently opined, there’s no way Tom Brady would be playing in a flag football tournament if he was still playing in the NFL.
Regardless, the flag football tournament, which will be televised by Fox, could be interesting extra-screen viewing during the second round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
The following are PFT’s top 100 free agents for the start of the 2026 league year. The rankings include prospective unrestricted free agents and released players. The list will be updated as events warrant, with signings, tags and re-signings denoted when announced and/or reported. Players released after initial publication may be added and all 100 players initially on the list will still be listed after any additions.
1. Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens. (Placed the franchise tag on him on February 27.)
2. Colts quarterback Daniel Jones. (Placed the transition tag on him on March 3.)
3. Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Raiders on March 9.)
4. Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Panthers on March 9.)
5. Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. (Agreed to a four-year deal with the Ravens on March 11.)
6. Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts. (Placed the franchise tag on him on February 24.)
7. Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce. (Agreed to four-year deal with Colts on March 9.)
8. Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Rams on March 9.)
9. Jets running back Breece Hall. (Placed the franchise tag on him on March 3.)
10. Packers quarterback Malik Willis. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Dolphins on March 9.)
11. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. (Signed a one-year deal with the Vikings on March 12.)
12. Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Steelers on March 9.)
13. Seahawks WR/KR/PR Rashid Shaheed. (Agreed to re-sign with Seahawks on a three-year deal on March 9.)
14. Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker. (Agreed to one-year deal with Panthers on March 13.)
15. Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker. (Agreed to sign with the Chiefs on March 9.)
16. Colts offensive tackle Braden Smith. (Agreed to two-year deal with Texans on March 10.)
17. Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Raiders on March 9.)
18. Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Bengals on March 9.)
19. Packers linebacker Quay Walker. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Raiders on March 9.)
20. Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Commanders on March 10.)
21. Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the 49ers on March 9.)
22. Seahawks defensive back Coby Bryant. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Bears on March 9.)
23. 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings.
24. Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs. (Agreed to four-year deal with Patriots on March 10.)
25. Jaguars running back Travis Etienne. (Agreed to four-year deal with Saints on March 9.)
26. Broncos edge rusher John Franklin-Myers. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Titans on March 9).
27. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
28. Eagles edge rusher Jaelen Phillips. (Agreed to a four-year deal with the Panthers on March 9.)
29. Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
30. Bills center Connor McGovern. (Re-signed on March 7.)
31. Jets guard Alijah Vera-Tucker. (Agreed to a deal with the Patriots on March 9.)
32. Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Eagles on March 10.)
33. Chiefs safety Bryan Cook. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Bengals on March 9.)
34. Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright. (Agreed to one-year deal with Jets on March 10.)
35. Bills edge rusher Joey Bosa.
36. Dolphins edge rusher Bradley Chubb. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Bills on March 11.)
37. Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely. (Agreed to three-year deal with Giants on March 9.)
38. Chargers edge rusher Odafe Oweh. (Agreed to a four-year deal with the Commanders on March 9.)
39. Steelers offensive guard Isaac Seumalo. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Cardinals on March 9.)
40. Lions defensive tackle D.J. Reader.
41. Browns linebacker Devin Bush. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Bears on March 9.)
42. Bears safety Jaquan Brisker. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Steelers on March 12.)
43. Rams safety Kamren Curl. (Agreed to three-year deal with Rams on March 6.)
44. Bills offensive guard David Edwards. (Agreed to four-year deal with Saints on March 9.)
45. Patriots edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Commanders on March 11.)
46. Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
47. Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor. (Agreed to three-year deal with Titans on March 9.)
48. Chargers offensive guard Zion Johnson. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Browns on March 9).
49. Browns offensive guard Joel Bitonio.
50. Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert.
51. Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone. (Agreed to a two-year deal with the Buccaneers on March 9.)
52. Panthers center Cade Mays. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Lions on March 9.)
53. Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack. (Agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Chargers on March 7.)
54. Bears safety Kevin Byard. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Patriots on March 11.)
55. Colts edge rusher Kwity Paye. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Raiders on March 9.)
56. Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Eagles on March 10.)
57. Ravens edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones. (Agreed to three-year deal with Patriots on March 9.)
58. Browns offensive guard Wyatt Teller.
59. Lions edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad. (Agreed to a one-year deal with Bucs on March 12.)
60. Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner.
61. Giants wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson. (Agreed to a four-year deal with the Titans on March 9.)
62. Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins. (Agreed to a two-year deal with the Ravens on March 11.)
63. Cowboys edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney.
64. Saints linebacker Demario Davis. (Agreed to two-year deal with the Jets on March 9.)
65. Panthers running back Rico Dowdle. (Agreed to a two-year deal with the Steelers on March 9.)
66. Falcons edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Eagles on March 12.)
67. Titans offensive guard Kevin Zeitler.
68. Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Broncos on March 9.)
69. Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Cowboys on March 9.)
70. Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton. (Agreed to three-year deal with Buccaneers on March 9.)
71. Saints edge rusher Cameron Jordan.
72. Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Seahawks on March 9.)
73. Giants offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor. (Agree to three-year deal with the Giants on March 9.)
74. Commanders center Tyler Biadasz. (Agreed to three-year deal with Chargers on March 6.)
75. Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk.
76. Browns tight end David Njoku.
77. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. (Agreed to return to Chiefs on March 9.)
78. Giants offensive guard Greg Van Roten.
79. Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota. (Re-signed with the Commanders on March 9.)
80. Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown. (Agreed to three-year deal with Jaguars on March 9.)
81. Falcons defensive tackle David Onyemata. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Jets on March 9.)
82. Bucs linebacker Lavonte David.
83. Bengals guard Dalton Risner. (Re-signed with Bengals on March 2.)
84. Vikings safety Harrison Smith.
85. Giants quarterback Russell Wilson.
86. Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
87. Jets safety Andre Cisco. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Jets on March 13.)
88. Buccaneers running back Rachaad White. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Commanders on March 12.)
89. Packers edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Jets on March 9.)
90. Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen.
91. Dolphins cornerback Rasul Douglas.
92. Texans defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins. (Agreed to re-sign with Texans on March 9.)
93. Titans tight end Chig Okonwko. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Commanders on March 11.)
94. Eagles safety Reed Blankenship. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Texans on March 9.)
95. Raiders offensive guard Dylan Parham. (Agreed to a two-year deal with the Jets on March 11.)
96. Browns safety Rayshawn Jenkins.
97. Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton. (Re-signed with the Broncos on March 9.)
98. Broncos outside linebacker Justin Strnad. (Re-signed with the Broncos on March 8.)
99. Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco.
100. Colts cornerback Mike Hilton.
101. Bills defensive tackle DaQuan Jones.
102. Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier. (Agreed to two-year deal with Cardinals on March 9.)
The Raiders negotiated the contract on Monday. It’s now been officially signed.
The team announced the transaction on Thursday morning.
The Raiders will pay Linderbaum $81 million over three years. The structure of the deal makes every penny fully guaranteed as a practical matter. (The only way to avoid a $21 million salary for 2028 is to cut him after one season and $30 million paid, with the next $30 million fully guaranteed.)
The last hurdle was the physical. He could have failed it. He didn’t.
The 50-percent increase in the center market makes the Linderbaum contract the most stunning of the current cycle. The Raiders grossly overpaid; we’ve yet to identify any team that was willing to go above $22 million per year.
Whatever the reason (a “dysfunction tax” is the most obvious) they still undoubtedly and unquestionably overpaid. And they agreed to a three-year deal that puts him back on the open market in 2029, ditching a fourth or a fifth year that would have been non-guaranteed and that would have given the Raiders the ability to keep him around without having to potentially give him another raise.
The Raiders agreed to the Linderbaum contract before knowing Maxx Crosby’s contract would end up back on the books. There could have been a temptation to find something, anything, to help them avoid (or at least to rework) the deal, like they did with Jimmy Garoppolo in 2023 and Rodger Saffold in 2014.
That’s not the case. Linderbaum will cash in — and he has raised the bar with a deal that will help all other high-end centers who will be in line for new contracts.
Sure, the rest of the league may not like it. Owner Mark Davis could get a cold shoulder and/or a side eye or two at the annual meeting later this month. Regardless, the market is the market. And the market for centers has now skyrocketed from $18 million per year to $27 million per year.
While it can be argued (and Simms and I definitely argued about it this morning on PFT Live) that the Raiders and Ravens should have handled various aspects of the failed Maxx Crosby trade differently, the outcome presents an opportunity to make changes aimed at preventing such outcomes in the future.
Simms had a good idea. Before a major trade in the offseason, all potentially interested teams get a chance to perform a physical on the player before proceeding. Then, the trade agreement (if there is one) happens without the condition that the player must pass a physical. Once the deal is done, it’s done. (Obviously, it would be difficult to use that approach for in-season trades.)
Throughout the morning, I’ve been running the idea by folks around the league. And here’s our official proposal, not only as to players who may be traded at the start of the league year but also as to impending free agents.
They all go to Indianapolis during the Scouting Combine. They go through the same medical review process that every incoming player experiences. And because it’s a collective process, no one will have to declare themselves as being interested in any player before getting the medical information.
Then, after the Combine, a trade can be negotiated without the requirement that the player must pass a physical. The new team takes the player as is, with the benefit of the information freshly gathered in Indianapolis.
It would avoid glitches, like the one that happened with Crosby and the Ravens. It also would prevent situations in which a free agent agrees to terms during the negotiating period, shows up to sign the contract, takes a physical, and something unexpected turns up.
That happened in 2023, with the Raiders and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. He had a foot injury that prompted the Raiders to re-do the contract in order to secure protections against the foot not healing properly. It also happened in 2014, also with the Raiders. Former Rams offensive lineman Rodger Saffold agreed to terms. The Raiders then determined that he failed the physical. (Saffold re-signed with the Rams, for less than what he had been offered by the Raiders.)
All of this can be avoided, if the teams interested in an impending free agent have access to a physical conducted at the same place and at the same time the league at large is poking and prodding the incoming players.
The doctors are already in Indianapolis. And the player will have to take a physical at some point, anyway. Given that 32 different teams could have 32 different opinions about a given player’s overall condition, it makes sense for all of them to have the relevant medical information before any of them negotiate a contract with him.
It’s the most obvious solution to a problem that was highlighted by the Crosby situation. He could have done a physical in Indianapolis two weeks ago, with a trade deal being reached after the medical information was obtained. Any/every other player who agreed to terms this week could have done the same thing, eliminating the possibility of finding out too late that the team isn’t comfortable with something about his overall health.
The fix is simple. The Crosby fiasco cries out for it. There’s no reason to not adopt it by the start of the next new league year.
Maxx is back. And he’s apparently not leaving again.
Per a league source, the Raiders are currently telling teams that defensive end Maxx Crosby won’t be traded, in the aftermath of the failed effort to ship him to the Ravens for a pair of first-round picks.
The Raiders, we’re told, never wanted to trade him. He wanted out. Now that he’s back and has publicly recommitted to the Raiders, he’s staying put.
Obviously, the question of whether Crosby would pass a physical with another team looms over the possibility of a new trade. And, at a minimum, it cries out for a better way to review a player’s health before the horse gets out of the barn on a possible trade. (More to come on that.)
The Raiders also have a solid contract with Crosby, in light of the current market. As of last year, the Raiders gave Crosby a new deal that moved him to an annual rate of $35.5 million. It has since moved to $46.5 million.
Currently, the Crosby deal has four years left, at an average of $29 million per year. And it’s highly unlikely he’ll be knocking on anyone’s door for a raise, at least not until he re-establishes himself after a meniscus repair that made the Ravens unwilling to proceed with the trade.
While the Raiders won’t get the 14th overall pick in the 2026 draft or an extra first-round pick in 2027, they’ll keep Crosby. They’ve added several quality players in free agency. Yes, owner Mark Davis will have to re-balance the budget a bit. (He’ll still be able to eat something other than peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.)
But the Raiders are keeping their best player. A player who has rediscovered his passion for the franchise.
