Month: March 2025

49ers, Brock Purdy Zeroing In On Extension?

There’s been growing optimism that the 49ers would eventually sign Brock Purdy to a new deal. GM John Lynch all but confirmed that sentiment today.

[RELATED: 49ers, Brock Purdy “Actively Negotiating” New Contract]

When asked if Purdy could play the 2025 campaign on his expiring rookie contract, Lynch dismissed the notion and expressed belief that the two sides will “get the deal done” (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner). In fact, the executive even hinted that a contract could be completed before the offseason program begins in a few weeks.

“I don’t think it’s too optimistic,” Lynch said (via Matt Barrows of The Athletic). “I understand why Brock wants that. We’d like that very much so. We’ve just got to find that right place for both sides. I would love nothing more for that to be the case.”

Since the 2024 campaign ended, both sides have publicly expressed interest in completing a long-term pact, and the organization’s money-cutting efforts have certainly signaled that a massive investment was coming. Lynch acknowledged as much when discussing the negotiations, but he also left the door open to Purdy playing out next season on an expiring contract.

“Brock wants to be with us,” Lynch said. “We want Brock to be with us. When that’s the case, these things typically get done. And does it happen this offseason? I don’t know. Hopefully, it happens real soon this offseason.”

Thanks to being Mr. Irrelevant during the 2022 draft, Purdy is owed only $5MM in 2025. A recent report indicated that the QB should easily surpass the $50MM AAV mark. There were even rumblings that Purdy could take a slight discount to help San Francisco’s front office, and the seemingly speedy negotiations signal that there isn’t a massive divide between the two sides.

Ravens Discussing Lamar Jackson Extension, Eyeing Second Derrick Henry Contract

Lamar Jackson‘s 2023 Ravens extension helped set the market at the time, and as less accomplished quarterbacks have surpassed him in terms of average annual value, it has not been difficult to see the leverage even capable QB1s possess presently. Much more than merely a capable starter, Jackson has three seasons remaining on the deal he signed in April 2023.

That contract took the Ravens and Jackson more than two years to finalize, but it helped a few inferior quarterbacks receive higher AAVs. Jackson exited the 2024 season as the NFL’s ninth-highest-paid QB, and the Ravens saw the Bills take care of Josh Allen despite the reigning MVP’s previous deal running well into the late 2020s. It appears Baltimore is fine following suit.

Teams rarely add years to a player’s deal when three are remaining on it, but Jackson is certainly one of the NFL’s top players. It appears the Ravens are ready to update his contract, as head coach John Harbaugh confirmed internal conversations about a new deal have taken place this offseason (video link). Jackson, 28, still has guaranteed money remaining on his extension. Those guarantees stretch into 2026, but being proactive would benefit the Ravens.

As things stand, Jackson is due to carry a cap charge of $43.5MM next season, keeping in line with the incremental jumps it has seen since his deal was signed. For the 2026 and ’27 campaigns, however, he is scheduled to count for $74.5MM on the Ravens’ cap sheet. Lowering those totals – while, in all likelihood, creating immediate breathing room as well – could be achieved via another extension. Harbaugh did not provide specifics on a timeline, but added a deal will likely get done at some point this offseason.

Extension candidates on Baltimore’s roster include former first-rounders Odafe OwehKyle Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum. Oweh’s 2025 fifth-year option was picked up last year, and it would come as no surprise if the team took the same route with Hamilton and Linderbaum. Extensions with one or more members of that tandem could very well be in store, and ascending tight end Isaiah Likely is also entering the final year of his rookie contract. Working out a third Jackson accord would help create cost certainty over the short-term future as Ravens aim to keep as many members of their young core in place as possible.

Harbaugh also said on Monday (via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec) he would welcome a Derrick Henry extension. The All-Pro running back joined Baltimore on a two-year deal last offseason, and his debut campaign produced 2,114 scrimmage yards (the second-highest figure of his career) and 18 total touchdowns (which matched his personal high). An extension was raised as a possibility in the wake of the team’s divisional round loss, and Henry has since publicly stated his desire to finish his career in Baltimore.

The 31-year-old has already been paid out a $1MM roster bonus, and he is due a $6MM base salary for 2025. Henry’s scheduled cap charge of just under $12.9MM is more than double what it was last year, and it could be lowered by an extension. Baltimore entered Monday with nearly $12MM in cap space, but the team’s financial breathing space could increase in the relatively near future if new agreements on the Jackson and/or Henry fronts were to be reached.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Colts To Begin QB Competition During Spring Practices

Daniel Jones elected to depart the Vikings in free agency by taking a deal with the Colts. The former Giants first-rounder did so because he felt the move gave him a better chance at operating as a starter.

Jones will collect a base value of $14MM on his one-year Indianapolis contract, a sign of his opportunity to handle QB1 duties. If that is to take place, he will need to outperform incumbent Anthony Richardson. The latter has not developed as hoped during his two seasons in the NFL, creating the need for veteran competition. Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed on Monday the evaluation of both Jones and Richardson will begin during upcoming offseason workouts.

“It’ll start in the spring,” Steichen said of the competition (via Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star). “They’re going to split the [first-team] reps through practice and going into training camp, and really, it’s going to come down to who’s the most consistent, who’s the most productive, will be the starter.”

Selected fourth overall in 2023, Richardson faced questions upon arrival in the NFL based on his lack of starts in college and issues related injuries and accuracy. He won the starting position right away as a rookie, but a shoulder injury limited him to only four contests. The 22-year-old made 11 starts last season, one in which he found himself benched in favor of Joe Flacco at one point.

Steichen added the decision to bring in a veteran capable of earning the starting gig was made immediately after the season ended. Consistency will be a requirement in Richardson’s case if he is to operate atop the depth chart in 2025 and beyond. The Florida product completed only 47.7% of his pass attempts last season, and matching improved accuracy with his high rushing upside, will be necessary this offseason.

Jones’ Giants tenure ended when he was waived midway through the 2024 campaign. He did not see any game action with the Vikings, but he will have the opportunity to change that situation with the Colts starting in the near future.

NFL Competition Committee ‘Split’ On Tush Push Ban

MARCH 31: Although McDermott’s team has increasingly turned to using a version of this play, the competition committee member confirmed Monday (via 94WIP.com’s Eliot Shorr-Parks) he would support banning it. This sets up a rather significant vote Tuesday.

MARCH 30: In 2022, the Eagles introduced the “tush push,” an extremely effective quarterback sneak with players pushing Jalen Hurts from behind to secure first downs in short-yardage situations. Three years later, the NFL is considering banning the play based on a proposal submitted by the Packers.

The proposed rule change would “prohibit an offensive player from pushing a teammate who was lined up directly behind the snapper and receives the snap, immediately at the snap,” per ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler. Green Bay’s proposal is expected to be “hotly contested” during league meetings in Florida this week and will likely be voted on by team owners Tuesday. This comes shortly after The Athletic’s Dianna Russini indicated some momentum has emerged for banning the play.

There is support for the rule change on the NFL’s competition committee, comprised of 10 coaches and executives. Among them are Rams head coach Sean McVay and Bills head coach Sean McDermott, who had an “animated side conversation” with Eagles executives Howie Roseman and Jon Ferrari on Sunday afternoon, according to Kahler. That was after a football operations meeting produced a “heated” discussion when the proposed language was introduced.

The competition committee is “split” on the tush push ban, per Mark Maske of The Washington Post. The same is true of the league’s 32-team voting body, 24 of whom would need to vote in favor of the ban for it to be implemented.

Resistance from within the committee is likely led by McDermott, whose Bills have adopted the play from the Eagles. Combined, they have run the play more times than the other 30 teams combined over the last three years, leading to accusations that the Packers’ proposal is unfairly targeting the two teams.

Falcons CEO Rich McKay, who chairs the competition committee, acknowledged that belief on Sunday.

“The thing that nobody likes about the discussion we are having…is that the rule is directed towards two teams,” said McKay (via Kahler). “I don’t think any of us like the fact that there are teams associated with this rule proposal.” 

The Packers listed player safety and pace of play as the reason for their proposal, though little evidence exists (or can exist) of either claim. Other teams believe that Green Bay wants to ban the play because they can neither replicate it on offense nor stop it on defense.

The play was only run 101 times in 2024, 0.28% of the league’s total plays, according to Kahler, so there is not enough data to support player safety concerns. The same goes for pace of play, though the Commanders’ repeated penalties in January’s NFC championship game could be a blueprint for how teams may approach defending the tush push in the future.

Rather than give up an easy touchdown at the goal line, Washington tried to jump Philadelphia’s snaps, leading to four penalties in the span of six plays. Each flag only advanced the ball half the distance to the end zone, and the Eagles couldn’t score. Eventually, referee Shawn Hochuli stepped in and warned the Commanders that another penalty would result in the officials awarding a touchdown to the Eagles, relying on a little-used rule prohibiting a “palpably unfair act.”

The NFL has a multitude of reasons to want to avoid a recurrence of the Commanders’ strategy. Other teams may try to force referees into the difficult position of uniformly enforcing an obscure rule to award a touchdown to a team that never actually reached the end zone. That would complicate league efforts to keep officiating consistent and take considerable time and excitement out of the game.

There are other arguments to ban the tush push. One is consistency with league rules that prohibit pushing in other situations.

“We don’t allow the linebackers to push the defensive linemen on extra points and we’re just trying to be consistent,” said Stephen Jones, the co-owner of the Cowboys and a member of the competition committee, before offering a counterargument against concerns about targeting the Bills and the Eagles. “These quarterbacks, I’m sure they would be wildly successful whether you’re pushed or not,” continued Jones (via Kahler). “I’m sure [Hurts will] make first downs at a high rate, whether someone’s pushing him or not, because he’s an inordinately strong special athlete.”

While a tush push ban would have a disproportionate effect on the Eagles and the Bills, both teams would still retain the core advantage that makes them so successful: extremely powerful quarterbacks. Kahler also described more general criticism about the tush push for the nature of the play: “Coaches, executives and players have argued it’s not a football play, with some comparing it to a rugby play.”

If the rule is approved, the NFL will then have to figure out how to enforce it. That uncertainty is another reason that teams may hesitate to vote for the Packers’ proposal. The Eagles believe they have some support to stop the rule change given that three of their former assistant coaches were hired as head coaches in the last two years.

“We’ll see how it goes,” said Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. “All I will say about it is (Jonathan) Gannon, (Shane) Steichen and (Kellen) Moore better vote for it. They are in the position right now because of that play. So all three, I better have those three votes right there and the Eagles’ vote. I at least know we have four.”

Based on comments by Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles, Texans GM Nick Caserio, and Ravens HC John Harbaugh, those three teams are unlikely to support the tush push ban either, according to Rob Maaddi of The Associated Press. Bowles and Caserio believe that teams should have to figure out how to stop the play. Harbaugh offered a different take on Stephen Jones’ consistency argument, saying that officiating is already inconsistent in regards to pushing.

If Gannon’s Cardinals, Steichen’s Colts, and Moore’s Saints also vote no, only two more teams would be needed to shoot down the Packers’ proposal. That would preserve the tush push for the 2025 season, though teams could certainly renew efforts to ban it next offseason.

Giants Re-Sign LB Ty Summers

Ty Summers is sticking in New York. The Giants announced today that they’ve re-signed the free agent linebacker.

After getting cut by the Lions at the end of the 2024 preseason, Summers quickly caught on with the Giants practice squad. He ended up having one of the most productive seasons of his career, compiling 29 tackles in 16 games (two starts). While the majority of his playing time came on special teams, Summers still garnered more than 100 defensive snaps over the final three weeks of the campaign.

The 29-year-old has traditionally been a special teams piece throughout his career. A former seventh-round pick, Summers spent the first three-plus seasons with the Packers. Since getting waived by Green Bay in 2022, the linebacker has spent time with the Jaguars (two stints), Saints, Lions, and Giants. He’s appeared in 83 games with 89 career tackles.

Summers will likely have a tougher path to defensive playing time in 2025. The team returns their same ILB corps from 2024 (Bobby Okereke, Micah McFadden, Darius Muasau), and they added veteran Chris Board on a two-year deal.

Packers’ Elgton Jenkins Expected To Play Center In 2025

As expected, Aaron Banks‘ arrival in Green Bay will displace one of the team’s incumbent offensive guards. Packers GM Brian Gutekunst told reporters that left guard Elgton Jenkins will be switching to center in 2025 (via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic).

[RELATED: Packers Expected To Sign Aaron Banks]

“We feel he’s got a chance to be an All-Pro center,” Gutekunst said today. “We’ve talked about it a lot, how versatility plays into our offensive line and having guys that can move to different spots, and Elgton’s one of those guys who can play all five spots, so he’s a luxury. But I’m excited to see what he can do at center, as well.”

Since being selected in the second round of the 2019 draft, Jenkins has earned a pair of Pro Bowl nods for his work at left guard. Fortunately for the Packers, the lineman has also shown plenty of versatility throughout his career. He got an extended look at center during his sophomore campaign, and he even filled in at both tackle positions between 2021 and 2022.

As Schneidman notes, Jenkins still has two years remaining on a contract that pays him $17MM per season. That AAV currently ranks fifth among left guards, but it would land second among centers. While the veteran will temporarily be among the highest-paid players at the position, Schneidman warns that a permanent move could end up having a negative financial impact on Jenkins’ next deal.

Banks represented the Packers’ priciest offseason acquisition, as the former 49ers lineman inked a four-year, $77MM contract to join Green Bay. Jenkins (32nd) and Banks (33rd) were back-to-back in Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings in 2024, with the incumbent earning the nod for pass-blocking vs. the new addition’s advantage in run blocking.

Elsewhere on the offensive line, it sounds like the Packers will have an open competition for the starting LT role. Former seventh-round pick Rasheed Walker started all 17 games at the position in 2024, but Gutekunst told reporters that former first-round pick Jordan Morgan will get a chance at the gig in 2025.

“I think Rasheed’s done a lot of really, really good things for us,” the GM said (via Schneidman). “We’re going to have a lot of competition there. Not just at his spot, but all across the offensive line. We’ve got guys like Jordan Morgan, who I think is going to really emerge. It will be good to see that competition and we’ll be better for it.”

Morgan was limited to only six games (one start) as a rookie, with a right shoulder injury ending his season in November. When he was on the field, the lineman mostly saw time as a guard.

John Harbaugh: Ravens Expect To Retain TE Mark Andrews

Mark Andrews‘ Ravens future has been a talking point this offseason. The All-Pro tight end has one year remaining on his current deal, and a $4MM roster bonus was recently paid out.

Baltimore is not looking to trade Andrews, although the possibility looms at this point. The 29-year-old has spent his entire career with the Ravens, developing a strong rapport with fellow 2018 draftee Lamar Jackson. That tenure could come to an end, but the latest update on the matter points to Andrews remaining in place for 2025.

“Mark’s in a good place. He’s working really hard,” head coach John Harbaugh said on Monday (via the team’s website). “I do fully expect him to be playing for us next year. He’s just too good a player.”

[RELATED: Ravens Interested In Extensions For Jackson, Derrick Henry]

Andrews has missed considerable time only once during his career, and he has consistently operated as an effective red zone target. The former third-rounder has amassed 51 touchdowns, the most in franchise history. His $14MM-per-year extension was welcomed when it was signed in 2021, but it remains to be seen if another financial commitment will be made on the team’s part. As things stand, Andrews is due to carry a cap charge of $16.91MM next year.

Duplicating that figure (more or less) on a new deal could prove to be challenging as the Ravens plan for second contacts at a number of positions. The team’s list of extension-eligible players includes fellow tight end Isaiah Likely, who has shown strong signs of development over the course of his young career. One year remains on Likely’s rookie deal, and the same is true of tight end/special teamer Charlie Kolar.

Andrews’ postseason struggles – which include but are not limited to his fumble and dropped two-point conversion in the fourth quarter of the Ravens’ divisional round loss – have been cited as a reason a trade could be in store. Based on Harbaugh’s remarks, though, he remains on track to again handle a key role on offense in 2025.

Lions Likely To Exercise WR Jameson Williams’ Fifth-Year Option

Jameson Williams‘ time with the Lions has seen a number of ups and downs to date. A decision will need to made regarding his 2026 fifth-year option this spring, and the team is leaning toward picking it up.

“Look, it’s heading that way that we are most likely gonna be doing that,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes said Monday at the league meetings (via ESPN’s Eric Woodyard). “He was a tremendous player for us last year.”

Indeed, Williams set new career highs across the board in 2024. The 24-year-old posted seven touchdowns on 58 receptions, averaging a strong 17.3 yards per catch average. He will be counted on to remain one of the league’s top vertical threats for the next two seasons provided his option is picked up.

Williams was limited to six games during his rookie season as he rehabbed an ACL tear. The Alabama product was then suspended for the beginning of the 2023 campaign, and he made only 12 appearances that year. Given his lack of playing time, Williams thus qualifies for the basic (that is, least lucrative) tier with respect to option compensation. He will be in line for $15.49MM in 2026 presuming the Lions choose to keep him in place for that season.

Detroit traded up in the first round of the 2022 draft to select Williams, and as such he entered the league with high expectations. He delivered to a large extent this past campaign, but his gambling and PED suspensions have represented off-the-field obstacles. The same looked to be true at one point regarding the October gun incident Williams was involved in, but he will not faces charges or a suspension as a result of it.

Detroit already has Amon-Ra St. Brown attached to a deal averaging just over $30MM per season, and the two-time All-Pro is set to remain the focal point of the team’s passing attack moving forward. The Lions’ future extension plans will include the likes of edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson and safety Kerby Joseph, Holmes noted. For that reason, a push for a long-term Williams commitment would come as a surprise at this point. For at least the 2026 campaign, though, he will likely be in the fold.

DL John Cominsky Retires

John Cominsky was unavailable due to injury throughout the 2024 campaign, and he will not be back on the field in the future. The veteran defensive lineman announced his retirement on Monday.

“After six years in the NFL, I am officially medically retiring,” Cominsky’s announcement reads in part. “I am proud of the career I had, but have accumulated a combination of injuries that are overwhelming my desire to continue playing…. I walk away with my family in mind and therefore, have found peace in this difficult decision.”

The 29-year-old began his career with the Falcons, playing with them from 2019-21. Cominsky made 27 appearances over that span, but he only registered one start and was never able to manage a full campaign. Despite having one season left on his rookie deal, the former fourth-rounder was waived in the spring of 2022.

Considerable interest was shown on the waiver wire, and the Lions wound up acquiring him. Cominsky took on a much larger workload during his debut campaign in the Motor City, logging eight starts and a 60% snap share. Having established himself as a first-team contributor, the Charleston product re-signed with the Lions on a two-year, $8.5MM pact that offseason. Cominsky made a career-high 16 appearances in 2023, notching a new personal high with 36 tackles and adding a pair of sacks (after recording four the previous season).

Expectations were high as a result ahead of this past campaign. A summer MCL tear kept Cominsky sidelined, however, and by December it was clear he was one of many Lions defenders who were not seen as a candidate to return later in the campaign. Now, Detroit will move forward knowing Cominsky will not be a 2025 contributor along the D-line.

A veteran of 60 combined regular and postseason games, Cominsky will turn his attention to his post-playing days. He exists the NFL with just over $10MM in career earnings.

Bills To Sign P Brad Robbins

Brad Robbins did not have a long tenure as the Bengals’ punter, but he has landed a new opportunity. A deal is in place with the Bills, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Robbins was drafted in 2023, and during his rookie season he played all 17 games for Cincinnati. The sixth-rounder averaged 44.3 gross yards per punt, along with an average of only 40.1 net yards per attempt. The Bengals brought in Ryan Rehkow as competition last offseason, and he won the job.

In spite of that development, Robbins was retained through roster cutdowns and activated from injured reserve in September this season. The move could have set the stage for an in-season contest for punting duties, but instead he was waived one day later. Rehkow continued as the Bengals’ punter through the rest of his rookie campaign, and he will be expected to do so again in 2025.

The Bills used Sam Martin as their punter from 2022-24, and he missed only one game during that span. Martin took a deal with the Panthers in free agency, however, leaving Buffalo in the market for a replacement. The team already had Jake Camarda attached to a futures deal prior to today’s move.

He and Robbins, 26, will now be set up for an offseason competition in Buffalo. Both punters will look to secure a gig for the 2025 campaign, but teams often only carry one option on their active roster during the season. As a result, the runner-up of the upcoming contest could very well be on the move again this summer.