Former Penn State DE Yetur Gross-Matos signing with 49ers

Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos is reportedly signing with the 49ers this free agent season.

The start of the NFL free agency season was headlined by former Penn State running back Saquon Barkley making his way to the Philadelphia Eagles. But Barkley was not the only former Nittany Lion making a move.

[autotag]Yetur Gross-Matos[/autotag] is reportedly heading to the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers on a two-year contract. According to a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, via X (formerly known as Twitter), Gross-Matos is signing a contract valued at $18 million.

Gross-Matos was a second-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in the 2020 NFL draft. He was sidelined for a chunk of the 2023 season with a hamstring injury. He is coming off a 2023 season with a career-best 4.5 sacks and was regarded as one of the most improved players on the Panthers this past season. But the Panthers appear to be making some moves to reshuffle the roster in a rebuilding process.

Gross-Matos is tied for 10th all-time at Penn State with 19.0 career sacks and ranks 11th all-time at Penn State with 37.0 career tackles for loss. Gross-Matos was a two-time all-Big Ten player for Penn State in 2018 and 2019. He opted out early and skipped his 2020 season to declare for the NFL draft. After a few years with the Panthers, Gross-Matos joins a legitimate Super Bowl contender in San Francisco.

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Saquon Barkley agrees to three-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, per multiple reports

Former Penn Stater Saquon Barkley agrees to a deal with the Eagles to come back to Pennslyvannia

We felt this was headed this way last week, but [autotag]Saquon Barkley[/autotag] himself has now confirmed that he is indeed heading back to Pennsylvania.

The PA native and former Penn State Nittany Lion is returning home to the New York Giants‘ NFC East rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Barkley is signing a three-year deal worth up to $46.75 million, including $26 million, fully guaranteed at signing.

As Schefter notes, Barkley’s maximum average-per-year salary of $15.833M would make him the second-highest-paid RB in NFL History. According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, Barkley’s suitors and the Eagles were the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears.

After former Eagle De’Andre Swift signed with the Bears just as free agency opened Monday afternoon, Barkley seemed destined for Philly.

 

In 14 games last season, Barkley logged 962 yards and six rushing touchdowns, 41 receptions for 280 yards, and four touchdowns for the 6-11 Giants.

Barkley will now face his former team twice every year and partner with new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to unlock the Eagles’ offense.

A star three-down back now joins forces with an offense that made the Super Bowl two years ago and a talented offensive line.

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Saquon Barkley seen as top NFL free agent according to USA TODAY

Is Saquon Barkley the No. 1 NFL free agent this offseason?

Experts are releasing their lists of top free agents with the NFL’s legal tampering period beginning tomorrow at noon ET and lasting until Wednesday. Deals for players will happen quickly when noon on Monday passes through, and the announcement Penn State fans will be waiting for is Saquon Barkley.

There are many rumors about possible destinations for the former Nittany Lion, but in a stacked free agency class, especially at the running back position, where does Saquon rank among other NFL free agents?

According to USA TODAY’s Tyler Dragon, Saquon Barkley leads the pack. Dragon slots Barkley in pole position ahead of Justin Simmons, whom the Denver Broncos recently released, and other running backs like Derrick Henry and Josh Jacobs.

Here’s what Dragon writes about the star running back:

Barkley has topped 1,200 yards from scrimmage in four of his six seasons. The running back position has been devalued in recent years, but Barkley can be a game-changer in the backfield.

He is a game-changer indeed, and we have seen how a star running back like Barkley can be that difference-maker in an already good offense. Can Saquon finally land that lucrative long-term contract, or will he have to settle for less? In all likelihood, we should find out in the next three days.

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Fly, Saquon, fly? Is Saquon Barkley eyeing a return to Pennsylvania?

Will Saquon Barkley be heading back to Pennsylvania? Reports say there is interest from both parties.

Reports emerged Thursday morning that former Penn State running back [autotag]Saquon Barkley[/autotag], hitting free agency for the first time in his career, has mutual interest in joining the Philadelphia Eagles.

Of course, the Eagles the NFC East rival of Barkley’s former team, the New York Giants, but they can offer him a chance to play in front of more family and friends. Barkley would also get to run behind the most talented offensive line of his career even following this week’s retirement of center Jason Kelce. That would likely be something that would greatly interest an oft-injured player like Barkley.

Howard Eskin of 94.1 WIP Philadelphia suggests the Eagles are looking for a complete back who can be dynamic in both the running and receiving game. Barkley would fit that bill quite well.

Eskin notes that a Barkley and Eagles contract might benefit both sides. A shorter contract where the Eagles get an explosive ball carrier who can change the dynamic of their offense that sputtered through the second half of the season while Barkley, if agreeable to a shorter deal, will get the chance to reset his value if he can put up big numbers in Philly.

Barkley may also enjoy the opportunity to make the Giants pay for a relationship that did not end smoothly over the last two years. Whatever happens on Monday when the NFL’s free agency negotiation window opens, Barkley and Eagles will be a storyline to watch.

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Dallas Cowboys pick up fifth-year extension on Micah Parsons, with a twist

The Dallas Cowboys made a somewhat savvy move with Micah Parsons and his contract.

While some may be focusing on former Penn State running back Saquon Barkley and his upcoming free agency, the Dallas Cowboys made some news this week by picking up the extension for a fifth-year on former Penn State linebacker [autotag]Micah Parsons[/autotag]. Securing Parsons, easily one of the best defensive players in the NFL, was a bit of a no-brainer, but the Cowboys managed to do so in a unique way.

Officially speaking, Parsons has been a linebacker since being drafted in the first round by the Cowboys in 2021. But Parsons has been lining up more frequently on the defensive line for the Cowboys recently, and the fifth-year option will designate him as a defensive end according to a report from The Dallas Morning News.

Interestingly enough, this classification for Parsons’ position will lead to the Pro Bowl defensive star making less than he would have at the linebacker position in 2025. According to the Dallas Morning News report, Parsons will make a reported $21.32 million in 2025 as a defensive end instead of $24 million at the linebacker position.

This is clearly a move that benefits the Cowboys front office and allows a little more flexibility with the salary cap to build the roster moving forward.

As for the position classification, that choice is influenced by the on-field usage of a particular player. With Parsons being used more on the line than at the traditional linebacker spot, the fifth-year option and position designation by the Cowboys makes sense.

The Cowboys were able to tack on the fifth-year option for Parsons now that he has played three seasons (NFL teams may do that with first-round draft picks). That keeps Parsons in a Cowboys uniform for two more seasons on his five-year contract before Parsons will be eligible to be an unrestricted free agent in 2026.

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Saquon Barkley is officially hitting the NFL free agent market

Former Penn State RB Saquon Barkley is set to be one of the biggest NFL free agents this offseason.

What was once perceived to be the inevitable has become the reality. [autotag]Saquon Barkley[/autotag] is now officially a free agent in the NFL after the New York Giants opted not to use a franchise tag for the 2024 season on the former Penn State running back.

Adam Schefter of ESPN was among the first to share the news regarding the latest contract situation for Barkley, who was placed on a franchise tag by the Giants last offseason. Barkley was not seemingly happy with having the franchise tag placed on him last year, but now he will get a chance to see if he can cash in on a free agent contract with an NFL teams in need of a boost at the running back position.

Barkley will be considered one of the top free agent players on the market this offseason, especially among the available running backs this year. And he should have some good options to consider as he looks for a new NFL team. There is even a chance he may not leave the NFC East as the Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly a team with early interest in adding Barkley to the roster.

Joining the Eagles among early potential suitors in NFL free agency could be the Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, and Houston Texans.

Barkley has been in the NFL for six seasons and has had some noted injury issues from time to time. And given the average lifespan of a running back in the NFL, Barkley is in a tough spot for a veteran running back entering free agency knowing how NFL teams view the position and age of a running back. This is especially true for a running back who has already had one torn ACL. But if you give Barkley a solid offensive line to block for him and have an offense with more ingredients to cook, Barkley can be just the right spice to add to the pot.

NFL free agency officially begins on March 11 at noon ET with the legal tampering period. Free agent contracts can officially be signed starting March 13. Expect Barkley to be gobbled up by a new team fairly early in the process despite the widespread views on running backs.

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Five destinations for Saquon Barkley as he enters NFL free agency

Five possible destinations for Saquon Barkley in NFL free agency

The NFL is a twelve-month soap opera that capitalizes on every event, even during the offseason. Kudos to them because we all eat it up.

The Super Bowl is over, but just like that, it is about to be the NFL combine next week, and then before we know it, free agency will be here. For Penn State fans, free agency this year will include one of its best players in recent memory in [autotag]Saquon Barkley[/autotag]. Barkley hits the open market for the first time after signing the one-year franchise tag with the New York Giants during the last offseason.

Barkley won’t play under the tag a second year in a row, so a reunion with the Giants without a long-term contract is extremely unlikely. Barkley only just turned 27 but is coming off a season where he only averaged 3.9  yards per carry and missed three games due to injuries. His best season in terms of yardage came in 2022 when he rushed for 1,312 yards and ten touchdowns.

Can Barkley repeat and gain his 2022 form back? That will be the big question for teams looking to sign the former second-overall pick.

Running backs have been devalued around the league, but as we have seen before, a true top-tier back can make a good offense that must be more dynamic.

Add the wrinkle that this year’s running back class could be loaded with talent depending on who becomes a free agent; there might be fewer running back openings for the top-tier guys. Austin Ekeler, Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry, and Tony Pollard could join Barkley as some of the biggest names on the market.

There have been rumblings that Barkley could be headed to an AFC South team, so the rumor mill is already swirling.

That said, let us dive into some possible teams that seem like natural fits for the former Penn State running back.

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Is Saquon Barkley eyeing move to AFC playoff team in 2024?

Are we reading too much into Saquon Barkley’s social media activity?

A year ago the NFL world watched as former Penn State running back [autotag]Saquon Barkley[/autotag] had a drawn-out contract issue with the New York Giants. The drama came to an eventual close when the Giants used a franchise tag on the running back, but the Giants appear unlikely to go through that same process again this year. That leaves Barkley as a possible prize free agent signing for any NFL team in need of a running back. And Barkley’s recent social media activity is suggesting to some that he may have a destination picked out.

Eagle-eyed observers who pay attention to stuff like this noticed Barkley followed a few members of the Houston Texans on Instagram, including quarterback CJ Stroud and wide receiver Nico Collins. Naturally, the speculation quickly shifted to the idea that Barkley would like to join the Texans, who made a surprise run to the NFL postseason this past season and even advanced past the wild card round.

The Texans are a team that may be in need of a running back this offseason, and the team should have plenty of money available in the budget to sign Barkley.  Of course, this could all be reading too far between the lines for Barkley and his free agency path.

Assuming Barkley does hit free agency, as it appears he will, there will be no shortage of teams that will have interest in him. Barkley rushed for 962 yards and 6 touchdowns in 14 games last season for the Giants, which was down from his 2022 season with 16 games played. But he also played for the Giants, which was a trainwreck on offense all season long.

Barkley has been in the NFL for six years and he has battled some injuries during his time in the pros, which are reasons why the Giants are likely to move in a new direction, but Barkley shines when he is healthy and he could be a tremendous addition to a number of offenses around the league as a featured back or a key piece in a system.

Barkley in an offense led by Stroud, who is coming off a remarkable rookie of the year season, would be seemingly unfair against most teams in the NFL.

Helmet sticker to CBS Sports.

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Social media reacts to Micah Parsons’ MVP performance during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

Social media reacts to Micah Parsons’ dominant performance at NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

It was a night to remember for former Penn State linebacker [autotag]Micah Parsons[/autotag], but it wasn’t for the sport that pays him millions of dollars. Instead, it was on a court lit up by 25 million LEDs at the 2024 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in Indianapolis.

Parsons dominated the game for Shannon Sharpe, scoring 37 points and grabbing 16 rebounds to beat Stephen A. Smith’s team 100-91. Ironically, the Dallas Cowboys All-Pro linebacker’s performance did come in a football stadium as the game was played in Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts.

It seemed like Parsons was geared up to show out and even predicted he’d score 40 points during halftime. He showed off his skills with multiple dunks, powerful drives to the rim, and some nifty moves. Not to mention his brute strength and athleticism that we have all seen play out on the gridiron were on full display tonight.

Parsons teamed up with Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nucua to take down Texans quarterback CJ Stroud and Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr.

Social media couldn’t get enough of Parsons’ performance, so here are some of the best reactions to his MVP performance at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.

Donovan Smith celebrates second Super Bowl ring on social media

Donovan Smith is looking forward to getting his second Super Bowl ring.

Former Penn State offensive lineman [autotag]Donovan Smith[/autotag] picked up his second Super Bowl championship when the Kansas City Chiefs topped the San Franciso 49ers in overtime of Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday. Smith earned the 63rd Super Bowl ring in Penn State history, and he took to social media to celebrate the fact he now has a second Super Bowl ring.

“I get to HOLD 2 fingers up with rings,” Smith said on his X, formerly known as Twitter, account on Monday afternoon as the Chiefs continued to celebrate their latest world championship.

Smith won his first Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. Smith was drafted by the Bucs in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft. Smith spent eight seasons with the Bucs, winning a Super Bowl with Tom Brady, but was released by the franchise in March 2023.

Smith was only on a one-year contract with Kansas City, so it remains to be seen if he will have a chance to help the Chiefs go for the first threepeat in Super Bowl history in 2024.

Penn State has been represented by at least one Super Bowl participant in 53 out of 58 Super Bowl games in NFL history.

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