LSU, Louisiana movement through first week of NFL free agency

Record-setting contracts, key veteran signings and a couple trades have kept former LSU standouts in the headlines during an active first week of NFL free agency.

Here’s a look, so far, at which former Tigers are heading (or staying) where and — in cases in which the information is available — for how much.

Extensions/Re-signings

WR Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati: The former Archbishop Rummel star and member of the Tigers’ 2019 national championship team is set to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history with a reported four-year, $161 million extension with the Bengals that should keep him and quarterback Joe Burrow together through 2027. After not receiving a new extension last summer, Chase only further upped his stock this season with a historic, triple-crown performance.

CB Derek Stingley Jr., Houston: The former Dunham star and member of LSU’s 2019 national title team is set to become the highest-paid cornerback in league history with his reported three-year, $90 million extension with the Texans following his All-Pro third season.

LS Reid Ferguson, Buffalo: The veteran long-snapper didn’t break the bank to quite the same degree as his fellow former Tigers, but the Bill prioritized re-signing their longest-tenured player to a four-year deal last week to avoid him hitting free agency. Ferguson signed with Buffalo as an undrafted rookie in 2016 and has spent all nine seasons of his career there, including the past eight steadily on the active roster.

Free Agent Movement

CB Kristian Fulton, Kansas City: After one season with the Chargers, the former Archbishop Rummel star and member of LSU’s 2019 national championship team is heading elsewhere in the AFC West. Fulton agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal with the Chiefs to bring veteran depth to the secondary of the perennial title contenders who fell short in last month’s Super Bowl. of a historic three-peat.

CB Donte Jackson, L.A. Chargers: Los Angeles pivoted to another former Tigers standout to help fill Fulton’s shoes in their secondary. Jackson, the former multisport standout for Riverdale, snatched a career-high five interceptions last season in Pittsburgh after spending his first six years in the league with the Carolina Panthers. His deal with the Chargers has been reported as two years for $13 million.

EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson, New England: The No. 18 jersey wearer for the Tigers for the 2019 title team will join his fourth franchise in three years after enjoying a resurgence with the Las Vegas Raiders this season. Chaisson spent four years in Jacksonville, the third of which was derailed by a knee injury. He signed with Carolina last March, but was released in September. And after initially joining the Raiders’ practice squad, he was elevated in October and went on to a career-high six sacks.

OL Will Clapp, New Orleans: The versatile offensive lineman is returning to the hometown Saints, who drafted him in the seventh round in 2018. Clapp, a former Brother Martin standout in high school, spent his first four professional seasons in New Orleans before two with the Los Angeles Chargers — including a year in new Saints coach Kellen Moore’s offense — and one with the Buffalo Bills. Terms of the deal have not been reported.

Trades

DT Davon Godchaux, New Orleans: The former Plaquemine High star will return to Louisiana in a trade agreement the Patriots and Saints were able to reach last week. The big, run-stuffing defensive tackle spent four seasons with Miami, which drafted him in the fifth round in 2017, and the past four with New England.

OL Ed Ingram, Houston: The member of the Tigers’ 2019 national championship team returns to his home state as part of the Texans’ new-look offensive line the franchise is in the process of overhauling this offseason. Ingram started 42 games in Minnesota during his first three seasons, but fell out of the lineup down the stretch this season.

Other Louisiana Notables

OL Cody Ford, Cincinnati: The former Pineville standout will remain with the Bengals on a two-year, $6 million deal.

OL Cornelius Lucas, Cleveland: The veteran offensive lineman out of Edna Karr signed a two-year, $10 million deal with the Browns after spending this past season helping protect Washington rookie Jayden Daniels, the 2023 Heisman winner at LSU.

S Justin Reid, New Orleans: The Saints will pair the former Dutchtown star alongside Tyrann Mathieu at safety with a three-year, $37.5 million deal. Reid, the younger brother of former LSU star Eric Reid, most spent the past three seasons with the Chiefs.

OL Cam Robinson, Houston: The former Ouachita Parish and West Monroe star reached a one-year deal Wednesday that could reportedly max out at $14.5 million, according to ESPN. The former second-round pick in 2017 spent his first seven and a half season in Jacksonville before being traded to Minnesota in October to finish his previous deal.

EDGE Cameron Sample, Cincinnati: The former Tulane leader agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the Bengals.

OL Trent Scott, Washington: The former Grambling State lineman, who caught Daniels’ first career touchdown pass this fall, reached a one-year deal to remain with the Commanders and continue helping protect LSU’s 2023 Heisman quarterback.

DL Jerry Tillery, Kansas City: The former Evangel Christian star, who played collegiately for Brian Kelly at Notre Dame, will join the Chiefs on a one-year deal after spending this past season, his sixth in the league, in Minnesota.

WR/RET KaVontae Turpin, Dallas: The Cowboys retained their electric return man, the former Neville star, for $18 million over the next three years.

DL Tyrus Wheat, Dallas: The former Amite star, heading into his third season in the league out of Mississippi State, will stick with the Cowboys on a one-year, $1.03 million deal.

DL Milton Williams, New England: The Patriots signed the former Louisiana Tech standout away from the Super Bowl champion Eagles with a four-year, $104 million deal.

S Xavier Woods, Tennessee: The former West Monroe and Louisiana Tech standout reportedly reached a two-year, $10 million deal to join the Titans after spending his past three seasons in Carolina. The former sixth-round pick by the Cowboys in 2017 snatched three interceptions for the Panthers in 2024, tying his career-high.

P Ryan Wright, Minnesota: The Vikings will keep the former Tulane punter for another year at $1.75 million.