HEADLINES

Month: February 2025

Penn State’s Abdul Carter, Colorado’s Travis Hunter Top Prospects?

February 7th, 2025 at 9:19pm CST by Ely Allen

The college football season is officially over; the playoffs have concluded, and the all-star games showed off a number of talented under-the-radar prospects. While those games are important for fringe first-round prospects looking to solidify their draft stock or players who will end up filling out the middle rounds, NFL scouts have been asserting some opinions at the top of the board. Namely, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports rumors he’s been hearing that Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter and Colorado athlete Travis Hunter have been distancing themselves as the top two prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Carter has been shooting up draft boards recently. The Nittany Lions pass rusher has long been seen as a likely first-round pick, but as of late, Carter has seen his odds to be selected in the first three picks escalate gradually. At this point, Carter is being considered as an option for the No. 1 overall pick. This surge from Carter comes on the heels of a breakout, unanimous All-American season. After combining for 11.0 sacks and 17 tackles for loss in his first two seasons in Happy Valley, Carter reached career highs in his junior season with 12.0 sacks and 24 tackles for loss last year alone.

As for the Heisman Trophy winner, Hunter, there’s not much question as to why he’s shot up draft boards. After playing both cornerback and wide receiver for the Buffaloes at an elite level in 2024, Hunter doesn’t enter the draft as either the top wide receiver or cornerback prospect on many boards. His ability to contribute at both positions, though, has the potential to elevate him over the top prospects at each position.

Hunter likely won’t be playing both positions full-time in the NFL, though. As impressive as it was to watch Hunter often play every snap on both sides of the ball in Boulder, doing that at the NFL-level is a whole different monster. Many scouts will be evaluating Hunter at both positions, as Lance Zierlein of NFL.com plans to do, but Zierlein also mentions that most teams have been looking at him as a cornerback who can take some snaps at wide receiver, which confirms rumors we’ve heard in the past.

It’s not uncommon to see a pass rusher trending at the top of draft boards, and Hunter’s versatility makes him an intriguing prospect that could provide value at multiple positions. While the two may have established themselves as the top two talents on the board, they will still have to compete with the overwhelming push for quarterbacks at No. 1 overall. Miami’s Cam Ward has been trending with the best odds to be the first overall pick, and Hunter’s teammate Shedeur Sanders has made a strong case of his own for a high draft slot.

Carter and Hunter may be distancing themselves as the top two overall prospects, but position need may push them down a pick or two. In addition, there’s still plenty of time for other first-round talents to close the gap and make their own cases for a spot in the top five.

Cowboys Making Coaching Hires

February 7th, 2025 at 8:11pm CST by Ely Allen

The Mike McCarthy-era is over in Dallas, and the time has arrived for Brian Schottenheimer to lead the Cowboys. Despite hiring his new head coach from within, the lack of urgency from owner Jerry Jones allowed for the contracts of all of his assistants to expire along with that of McCarthy.

Schottenheimer has already made the two most important hires in his first career head coaching gig, bringing on Klayton Adams as offensive coordinator and Matt Eberflus as defensive coordinator. Now, both coordinators have begun building their new staffs.

On offense, the team has hired Derrick Foster as their new running backs coach, per Nick Harris of the Star Telegram. Foster first came to the NFL after three years as a running backs coach at Iowa. He began in Los Angeles, where he coached Austin Ekeler through his two best seasons as a Charger, before spending last year in New Orleans coaching Alvin Kamara. He’ll inherit a running backs group that returns Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, and Malik Davis, though his position has certainly been bookmarked as one needing improvements in the offseason, potentially through the draft.

We saw the Cowboys interview one of its former running backs, Tashard Choice, for the position, as well. According to Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS, Choice will be staying in his current role with the Longhorns. Though he was also in consideration for roles with the Raiders and Saints, a raise in excess of $800K will keep Choice in Austin.

While Adams brings plenty of offensive line experience to the offense, the Cowboys have brought in Kansas State co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Conor Riley as their new offensive line coach, per Hill. Riley has been an extremely well-respected position coach in the college coaching ranks with his other stop being at North Dakota State. He’ll make his NFL coaching debut in 2025.

Also on offense, we saw wide receivers coach Robert Prince depart for Miami. While his replacement has not yet been hired, Tiquan Underwood will be on hand after getting hired as assistant wide receivers coach, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. He takes over the position after holding the same job with the Patriots last year.

On the defensive side of the ball, ESPN’s Todd Archer reports that a slew of former Bears assistants have followed Eberflus to Dallas. We already saw reports on the arrival of defensive pass-game coordinator Andre Curtis and linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi with Eberflus, but Archer adds that David Overstreet will follow as assistant defensive backs coach and Bryan Bing will join as assistant defensive line coach. Both Overstreet and Bing held those same positions on Eberflus’ defense in Chicago.

There are still some vacant positions on the Cowboys staff to fill out, but Dallas is working quickly to make some big hires after getting a late start to the market. With Schottenheimer’s inexperience as an NFL head coach, the supplemental ability of his coaching staff will be crucial.

Coaching Notes: Faulk, Del Rio, Ryan, Bucs

February 7th, 2025 at 5:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

His Cowboys and Raiders connections in the past, Deion Sanders is still at the controls at Colorado following his son’s exit for the draft. The Hall of Fame cornerback is hiring one of his Canton brethren to coach running backs. Buffaloes backs will be taking instruction from Marshall Faulk next season, the school announced. This will be Faulk’s first foray into college coaching. A superstar at San Diego State in the early 1990s, Faulk enjoyed a Hall of Fame run with the Colts and Rams, winning a Super Bowl and an MVP award in successive seasons. He had enjoyed a lengthy tenure on the media side following his career, but the 51-year-old RB legend will join Sanders’ staff. Faulk’s addition makes Colorado a three-Hall of Famer staff, as Warren Sapp remains as a quality control analyst.

Here is the latest from the coaching ranks:

  • After being fired from his Commanders post late in the 2023 season, Jack Del Rio was not in the NFL this past season. The veteran DC and two-time HC will resurface in an unexpected place. He is taking over as head coach of the Paris Musketeers of the European League of Football. The league has been in existence since fall 2020, and the Paris franchise has played two seasons. Del Rio had coached in the NFL from 1997-2017 but took two seasons off before Ron Rivera hired him in Washington. The team did sport two top-seven defenses under Del Rio, but his last Commanders unit fell to 32nd at the time of his firing. Del Rio, 61, spent last season as an advisor to Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell.
  • Staying with well-known NFL staffers leaving the league, USC has hired Rob Ryan as linebackers coach. Ryan had been onboard as a senior defensive assistant for the Raiders since 2022. Ryan, 62, enjoyed two tours with the Raiders, having been their DC from 2004-08. The four-time NFL DC has not coached at the college level since being Oklahoma State’s DC in the late 1990s.
  • Out of the NFL since a two-year Texans stay ended in January 2023, Pep Hamilton will return to coaching in a prominent role. Maryland has hired the veteran assistant as its OC, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. An NFL Network contributor, Hamilton had other options, per Rapoport, but will join his son Jackson with the Terrapins. A high school QB, Jackson Hamilton signed with Maryland in December. Coaching Justin Herbert and Andrew Luck in the pros, Pep Hamilton previously coached in college under Jim Harbaugh at Stanford and Michigan.
  • Moving back to current NFL staffs, the Buccaneers have given title bumps to the two coaches they blocked from Jaguars interviews. Kevin Carberry added an assistant HC title to go with his O-line duties, while the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud adds assistant O-line coach Brian Picucci is now in position as O-line coach. The Bucs’ setup seemingly remains the same, but as they have long been reported not to be open to allowing Liam Coen to poach anyone under contract, his two initial targets will be taken care of.
  • The Giants are adding ex-NFL cornerback Jeff Burris to work as their CBs coach, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz tweets. The former NFL starter has been a college assistant in recent years, working at both Louisiana and Louisiana Tech since 2018. He previously spent three seasons as the Dolphins’ assistant DBs coach, being a Joe Philbin hire in 2013.

Tyreek Hill Wants To Stay With Dolphins

February 7th, 2025 at 1:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tyreek Hill‘s odd ending to the 2024 season involved checking himself out of the Dolphins’ Week 18 game and indicating soon after he was eager to move on from the team. This came despite Hill refusing to request a trade as he angled for an updated contract last year. The Dolphins gave him that revised deal, adding to the confusion at season’s end.

Hill’s agent pointed to his client being prepared to circle back to the Dolphins in January, and GM Chris Grier had indicated no trade request had come out even after the future Hall of Famer’s actions in New Jersey. A month later, Hill is indeed ready to move forward with the Dolphins.

During an appearance on Up & Adams, Hill told Kay Adams he wants to stay in Miami (video links). The nine-year veteran, when asked if he was apologizing to teammates for his behavior in Week 18, said they “already know” he is not that type of player. Hill certainly has enjoyed a complicated career, complete with significant off-field trouble in college and then in Kansas City — before the 2023 marina incident while with the Dolphins — but he has proven to be one of his era’s best wide receivers.

As it stands, it looks like the Dolphins can plan on another Hill-centered passing attack taking shape in 2025. That said, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson notes Hill’s January actions were aimed more at wanting the team to make roster augmentations, to avoid another playoff absence, rather than him wanting out. Though, Hill specifically saying, “I’m out,” does contradict that. On a separate Super Bowl-week appearance (via Pro Football Talk), Hill said he takes full accountability for what happened last month.

Although three seasons remained on Hill’s four-year, $120MM extension, the Dolphins gave into the WR talent’s wishes for an infusion of guaranteed money on his deal. No years were added, but Hill saw $54MM of his current contract become fully guaranteed via the reworking. Hill spent two years as the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver, and although Justin Jefferson and others surpassed him in 2024, the decorated speedster is still doing quite well in Miami. The Dolphins also paid Jaylen Waddle, giving the younger player more in total guarantees, but saw both starters take major steps back this past season.

Hill failed to reach 1,000 yards for the first time since 2019, an injury-shortened season, totaling 959 in a year Tua Tagovailoa missed six games. Hill also sustained a significant wrist injury during a joint practice in August but opted to play through it; no surgery is on tap. As the Dolphins are presently pot-committed with Hill and Waddle, they will hope for better Tagovailoa health restoring order in a high-end passing attack.

Gus Bradley To Join 49ers’ Coaching Staff

February 7th, 2025 at 11:59am CST by Adam La Rose

Gus Bradley was among the coordinators fired at the end of the 2024 season, but he has not needed to wait long to find his next opportunity. The veteran coach will return to the West Coast for the 2025 campaign.

Bradley is joining the 49ers’ coaching staff, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. This will not represent the fifth coordinator gig of his career, but it will give him the opportunity to reunite with Robert Saleh. The two previously worked together in Seattle and Jacksonville.

An NFL staffer since 2006, Bradley parlayed his Seahawks DC position into a head coaching opportunity with the Jaguars. The 58-year-old went just 14-48 before being fired during the 2016 campaign, but he had managed to remain a coordinator in each stop around the league since then. Bradley worked as the Chargers’ DC for four years prior to a one-year stint in that role with the Raiders.

From 2022-24, Bradley was at the helm of the Colts’ defense. That unit finished 28th or 24th in points allowed during each year of his tenure, which helps explain Shane Steichen‘s decision to make a change this offseason after keeping Bradley in place upon arrival one year earlier. Shortly after that move was made, Bradley’s name was mentioned as a potential 49ers target.

San Francisco moved on from Nick Sorensen after a one-and-done campaign, leaving the team in need of a new DC once again. Robert Saleh was ultimately tapped for his old gig, and expectations will be high upon his return to the organization. Saleh led the 49ers’ defense from 2017-20, and his success in that time earned him the Jets’ head coaching gig he was fired from midway through this season. If Saleh manages to rebuild his HC stock with another strong San Francisco tenure, Bradley could be in place as a coordinator successor.

RB Derrick Henry Hopes To Finish Career With Ravens

February 7th, 2025 at 10:29am CST by Adam La Rose

Derrick Henry‘s debut season with the Ravens exceeded expectations and demonstrated his decorated career is likely to continue for many years. Whenever the All-Pro running back hangs up his cleats, though, he hopes to do so in Baltimore.

When speaking with The Athletic’s Dianna Russini at last night’s NFL Honors ceremony, Henry stated he hopes to retire as a Raven. That comes as little surprise, considering the 31-year-old had one of his best seasons in 2024. Henry’s rushing (1,921) and scrimmage yards (2,114) from the 2025 campaign were the second-highest of his career, and his 18 total touchdowns matched a personal best.

Duplicating that production in 2025 and beyond will be challenging for the longtime Titans star, but he should be able to land a new commitment from the Ravens as early as this offseason. Henry is on the books for next year, but none of his scheduled $6MM base salary is guaranteed (although he does have $1MM in locked in compensation coming in the form of a March roster bonus). The five-time Pro Bowler is currently set to carry a cap hit of $12.9MM in 2025, so an extension could lower that figure while ensuring his Baltimore tenure continues for the foreseeable future.

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said after the team’s season came to an end a Henry extension will receive consideration. The team has other offseason priorities on offense – including, most notably, the decision to re-sign or replace left tackle Ronnie Stanley – but making a new commitment in Henry would be feasible from a roster-building and financial perspective. The top of the running back market includes five players averaging at least $12MM per year on their current deals, but a modest raise from the Alabama product’s $8MM AAV could be enough to work out a multi-year accord.

Baltimore’s running back depth chart includes pass-catching specialist Justice Hill (who signed an extension through 2026 in September and totaled a career-high 611 scrimmage yards this season), former UDFA Keaton Mitchell and 2024 fifth-rounder Rasheen Ali. Without a clear-cut RB1 successor in place, Henry should be expected to remain a workhorse back for his new team in 2025 and beyond. His chances of finishing his career with the Ravens – and thus avoiding a second trip to free agency – will of course increase if a new deal can be worked out over the coming months.

Dublin To Host 2025 NFL Game

February 7th, 2025 at 9:00am CST by Adam La Rose

The landscape of the NFL’s international games for next season continues to take shape. The league announced on Friday that Dublin will host a contest in 2025.

To little surprise, the Steelers will serve as the designated home team for the NFL’s first regular season game in Ireland. Croke Park – which hosted a preseason contest between the Steelers and Bears in 1997 – will be the venue. Dublin was known to be a strong contender to host a game in 2025 with the league having done extensive background work to explore staging games there.

“We are very excited to be the designated team in the first regular season game to be played in Ireland this upcoming season,” a statement from Steelers owner Art Rooney II reads in part. “The opportunity for the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in Ireland is truly special, not only because of the Rooney family history there, but also to play in front of the growing number of Steelers fans in Ireland.”

The Rooney family’s ties to Ireland include the fact that Rooney’s father Dan served as the U.S. Ambassador to the country from 2009-12. The Steelers are among the teams with international marketing rights in Ireland and Northern Ireland; they also have a formal partnership with the Gaelic Athletic Association. As a result, the Steelers represent an obvious choice to take part in the 2025 contest, their opponent in which will be unveiled at a later date.

Next season will see three London games on the international schedule, with the Jets, Browns and Jaguars known to be participating. 2025 will also see the league’s first game in Berlin (featuring the Colts) and Madrid (featuring the Dolphins). It was announced yesterday that Melbourne will begin hosting games in 2026, while a long-term arrangement with Sao Paulo is being considered. Paris is known to be on the NFL’s radar, and it will be interesting to see if games are scheduled there in the near future. In any case, Dublin will look to join the growing list of regular host cities for NFL games.

2025 Hall Of Fame Class Unveiled

February 6th, 2025 at 10:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

As part of tonight’s NFL Honors program, the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class has been revealed. It consists of just four players this year. Here is the full breakdown of the 2025 class:

Eric Allen, cornerback (1988-2001)

Playing long enough to be part of the Reggie White–Jerome Brown Eagles defenses to Jon Gruden‘s Raiders teams, Allen excelled well into his 30s and is one of the great playmaking cornerbacks in NFL history. Allen is responsible for eight pick-sixes, cramming seven of them between the 1993 and 2001 seasons. Allen finished his 14-year career with 54 INTs, which is tied for 21st in NFL history.

The Eagles drafted Allen in the 1988 second round and installed him as a starter on Buddy Ryan‘s defense in Week 1 of his rookie season. Allen intercepted 13 passes over his first two years, helping the Eagles — with White at the wheel — form a dominant defensive nucleus. The Eagles won the NFC East in Allen’s rookie season, ending a five-year playoff drought. As Randall Cunningham soared on offense, Allen patrolled the back line of a defense geared around one of the NFL’s all-time greats. Allen joins White as the Hall of Famers from that unit.

Allen notched four pick-sixes during the 1993 season, including this gem against the Jets, but the Eagles fell short of the playoffs that year and dipped a bit as the Cunningham years waned. Allen still made the Pro Bowl each year from 1991-95, following a first-team All-Pro honor in 1989. He signed with the Saints as a free agent in 1995, playing three years in New Orleans, before joining the Raiders in Gruden’s first offseason at the controls.

As the Raiders hoarded aging players who still had plenty left in the tank during Gruden’s first stint as HC, Allen was among the most productive. He nabbed six INTs at age 35 in 2000, returning three for scores. That season snapped a seven-year Raiders playoff skid and produced a run to the AFC championship game — the franchise’s first in 17 years. Allen retired after the ’01 season, starting 214 games. Among pure corners, that ranks third all time. While the turnover counts aided Allen, his longevity will send him to Canton nearly 25 years after his retirement.

Jared Allen, defensive end (2004-15)

One of the best sack artists of his era, Jared Allen will make this a two-Allen class (on a big night for NFL Allens). Jared excelled for the Chiefs and Vikings, being part of a win-win trade in 2008, and then retired after playing in Super Bowl 50 as a Panther. Allen sits 12th in the sack era (1982-present) in QB drops, racking up 136 despite playing only 12 seasons.

The Chiefs drafted Allen in the 2004 fourth round out of Division I-FCS Idaho State. He immediately became an impact edge rusher but joined a team in transition. As Kansas City’s offense-oriented team aged, Allen ascended and became a star for a franchise in decline. After the Chiefs made the playoffs in 2006 under first-year HC Herm Edwards, Allen led the NFL with 15.5 sacks in his fourth season. The 2007 Chiefs went 4-12, losing their final nine games. The Chiefs cashed out on a player who had encountered off-field trouble, in the form of two 2006 DUIs, early in his career. The trade equipped both the Chiefs and Vikings.

During the 2008 draft, Kansas City dealt Allen to Minnesota for first- and third-round picks. A win-win swap sent tackle Branden Albert and running back Jamaal Charles to the Chiefs in the ’08 draft, while Allen landed an extension (six years, $73.26MM) enjoyed his prime in the Twin Cities. Registering 14.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons, the second effort falling just short of a Super Bowl after Minnesota’s Brett Favre-led team lost in overtime in the NFC championship game, Allen then made a run at the NFL record in 2011. Allen tallied 22 sacks during the ’11 season, falling a half-sack short of Michael Strahan‘s official record.

Allen played out his Vikings contract in 2013, signing with the Bears. Chicago then traded him to Carolina for a conditional sixth-round pick during the 2015 season, as he joined fellow former Bear Charles Tillman in going for a championship with the Panthers. Although Carolina went 15-1 and ranked sixth defensively, the team’s high-powered offense fell to a superior Denver defense in Super Bowl 50. Allen needed to wait a bit before his induction, but he has gained entry in this year’s unusually small class.

Antonio Gates, tight end (2003-18)

Gates remains the NFL’s leader among touchdown receptions by a tight end. The longtime Philip Rivers target totaled 116 TD grabs during his 16-year career, bettering Tony Gonzalez‘s mark by five. Gonzalez also played 17 seasons (to Gates’ 16). Gates tied Gonzalez’s then-record in 2016, posting five TDs across his final two seasons. The converted basketball player’s mid-2000s surge helped the Chargers win four straight AFC West titles to close the decade.

The Chargers made Gates an integral part of that climb, which remains the franchise’s best sustained stretch since its Air Coryell years. LaDainian Tomlinson shattered the single-season touchdown record, which still stands nearly 20 years later, and Gates broke through as an impact tight end. The Chargers built their passing attack around Gates for many years, and he helped anchor the team’s skill-position group in between Tomlinson’s exit and Keenan Allen‘s arrival.

Initially playing alongside Drew Brees, the ex-Kent State hooper earned first-team All-Pro honors in his second, third and fourth seasons. Gates only suited up for the Chargers, walking away after his age-38 season. The Bolts and Gates agreed to five contracts, the most lucrative a five-year, $36.2MM extension in 2010.

Although Gates needed to wait a year before being enshrined, he is one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history. His 116 TD receptions rank seventh all time at any position. While his production tailed off as he hit his mid-30s, after making eight consecutive Pro Bowls from 2004-11, the former UDFA remained a solid red zone target for Rivers.

Sterling Sharpe, wide receiver (1988-94)

If the NFL had a No. 1 contender status to Jerry Rice during his peak, Sharpe would have been the best answer. The star Packers pass catcher was 5-for-7 in Pro Bowl nods, during an era where that meant more, and raced to three All-Pro first teams during a career cut short by a neck injury.

Sharpe was close to doing enough for Hall entry by the time he retired at 29, and he exited just before Favre grew into MVP form. In Favre’s early years, however, Sharpe helped the Green Bay trade acquisition become one of the game’s best.

The No. 7 overall pick in a 1988 draft that also included Hall of Famers Michael Irvin and Tim Brown, Pro Bowler Anthony Miller and single-game receiving yardage king Flipper Anderson, Sharpe was the first wideout off the board. The physical South Carolina product, who entered the league two years before brother Shannon (and with much greater fanfare), posted a 1,400-yard season in 1989, helping QB Don Majkowski finish second in MVP voting. Sharpe added another 1,100-yard year in 1990 and soared back to the All-Pro level when the Pack landed Favre in ’92.

Sharpe’s first year with Favre featured the wideout break Art Monk’s single-season record by catching 108 passes. Becoming the first receiver to post back-to-back seasons with 100 catches, Sharpe broke his own mark with 112 grabs in 1993. Sharpe led the NFL in touchdown receptions in 1992 (13) and ’94 (18), reaching the latter perch despite dealing with the neck injury and other ailments.

The Favre-Sharpe connection played a central role in the Packers snapping a 10-year playoff drought, and in the duo’s first playoff game, they hooked up on a game-winning score to beat the Lions in Detroit. Sharpe scored three touchdowns in Green Bay’s wild-card win. Sharpe never missed a game and retired ranking 13th in career catches (595) and 18th all time in TD receptions (65).

Myles Garrett Trade Could Alter CB Denzel Ward’s Browns Future

February 6th, 2025 at 10:06pm CST by Adam La Rose

As the countdown to the Super Bowl continues, one of the top storylines around the NFL is Myles Garrett‘s future. The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year has requested a trade, something the Browns have no intention of honoring.

Teams will no doubt make contact about a potential deal, though, with suitors prepared to offer at least one first-round pick to acquire Garrett. In the event the four-time All-Pro were to depart Cleveland, he may not be the only impact defender on the move. Cornerback Denzel Ward might reconsider his situation with an eye on following Garrett to his new team.

“[The request] has a huge impact, honestly,” Ward said about the escalation of Garrett’s situation (via Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com). “I want to play with Myles Garrett… So I’ve been talking to him and I know he said he wants out, but you’ve just got to hear where he’s coming from. He wants to win, so we’ll see what the near future holds.”

Those comments leave the door open to Ward, 27, requesting a trade of his own in the event the Browns change their plans and move forward with a Garrett deal. The latter has two years (and no guaranteed salary) remaining on his pact, although his trade request is not considered a means of acquiring more negotiating leverage. Ward, meanwhile, is on the books through 2027, although his only remaining locked in salary covers the 2025 campaign.

“I want to be in Cleveland,” the Ohio State product added. “I want to win. I’m definitely keeping an eye on what Myles has going on and what’s he doing. I’m just interested in seeing how everything plays out.”

Garrett floated the possibility of a trade when making it clear he wanted to see the Browns’ offseason outlook to determine his own future. Cleveland does not plan on embarking on a long-term rebuild, and head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry are under contract for the foreseeable future. The quarterback position is an area of uncertainty, though, and without a notable addition under center (among other moves) the Browns will be hard-pressed to contend in the AFC in 2025.

Selected fourth overall in 2018, Ward has provided strong play for the Browns since his arrival. He has amassed four Pro Bowl selections during his career, one which has included considerable ball production. Ward has racked up 17 interceptions and 95 pass deflections (including a league-leading 19 in 2024) to date. In the build-up to the trade deadline – during which edge rusher Za’Darius Smith and wideout Amari Cooper were dealt – Ward was understandably labeled as an untouchable asset for the Browns despite their seller’s standpoint. Whether or not that changes in the coming days or weeks will be interesting to monitor.

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