HEADLINES

Month: March 2025

Bengals Progressing On Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins Extensions

March 14th, 2025 at 11:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

No longer appearing likely to extend Ja’Marr Chase and split with Tee Higgins, the Bengals have seen their updated plan — one featuring a hopeful long-term Higgins future in Cincinnati — produce notable progress.

After a report earlier this week indicated Higgins and the Bengals were still far apart, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports the team has made “significant progress” on extensions for both Chase and Higgins. As Trey Hendrickson resides in limbo because of the team’s renewed Higgins interest, Cincy could have deals done with its longtime WR pair soon.

[RELATED: Bengals Want First-Round Pick For Trey Hendrickson]

Nothing is developing on the Hendrickson trade front, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who adds no contract adjustment appears imminent, either. This may be the cost of doing business for the Bengals, who have set a clear hierarchy that places Higgins above Hendrickson in the contract queue. Hendrickson has been given permission to seek a trade, giving Cincinnati a major hole to fill if a deal comes together.

Meanwhile, however, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini adds the Chase and Higgins contracts should combine to reach or surpass $70MM per year. This seemed like a scenario the Bengals wanted to avoid as recently as January, when Duke Tobin said a Higgins extension would have to come at the “right number.” But Cincy re-tagged Higgins, as Joe Burrow ramped up pressure on the organization to keep the duo together. The Bengals will need to pay their duo more than the Dolphins and Eagles did their impact tandems.

It is worth wondering if this would be the best way for the Bengals to invest, especially considering just about everything had pointed to the team moving on from Higgins in 2025. The Bengals have a history with a quarterback growing frustrated with its lack of aggressiveness, however, as a Carson Palmer–Mike Brown dustup ended with the former franchise QB traded in 2011. Tobin was with the Bengals at that point. The team now appears close to keeping Burrow’s troops together, likely at the cost of keeping Hendrickson.

Chase turned down a Bengals offer this year, but after the team was unable to extend him before the 2024 season, the market has shifted. Tobin said he expected Chase to be the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback, after his triple-crown season upped his value. But another position’s market has affected this aim. After the Raiders eclipsed Justin Jefferson‘s previous non-QB AAV mark by paying Maxx Crosby $35.5MM per year, the Browns gave Myles Garrett a whopping $40MM per annum to back off his trade request. The Bengals are in the crosshairs here, as T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons and Aidan Hutchinson could change that number again this offseason. Acting early would be in Cincy’s best interests now, though that has not exactly been a strength as of late for the team.

Garrett getting to where he did has already changed things for the Bengals, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the leaguewide expectation is a deal that checks in between $40.1MM and $41MM per year. Chase would not have commanded this in 2024, but the Brown had said by training camp the Bengals were unlikely to pay their WR1 before last season. Although Chase’s hold-in applied pressure that did lead to negotiations, nothing commenced. Now recommitted to extending Higgins, the Bengals are set to authorize a monster Chase extension that will change their roster blueprint.

The Bengals sit at barely $26MM in cap space; that number would increase once the wideouts are paid. Higgins is on a $26.2MM tag number, while Chase is tied to a $21.8MM fifth-year option. This could open the door to the Bengals keeping Hendrickson, but with the 30-year-old sack kingpin in a contract year and pursuing an extension, Cincinnati attempting to keep Hendrickson without extending him would not go over well with a player coming off back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons.

The receivers are the priority, however, and Higgins can expect to score a deal north of $30MM per year. D.K. Metcalf having just agreed toa a $33MM-per-year Seahawks payday could pertain to Higgins, and the Bengals are almost definitely going to need to deviate from their policy of not guaranteeing future years to non-quarterbacks in order to move the Chase and Higgins contracts past the finish line. But the extension sagas involving Cincinnati’s receivers look to finally be nearing an end.

Geno Smith Trade Resulted From Failed Extension Talks

March 14th, 2025 at 10:59pm CST by Ely Allen

One of the bigger pieces of information that we didn’t expect to come out during this free agency craziness was the trade of quarterback Geno Smith from Seattle to Las Vegas. The deal seemed to come out of nowhere, as many reports indicated that negotiations on an extension were underway.

After seeing a resurgent past three seasons in Seattle that included two Pro Bowl berths, Smith was hoping for the team to give him some commitment moving forward, though the team was expected to explore their options. After head coach Mike Macdonald delivered his endorsement of a new deal for Smith and new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak cited Smith as a “huge draw” for the job, it began to seem that things were trending in the right direction for an extension to keep Smith in Seattle.

A little over a week after negotiations opened, though, the trade was announced. According to a couple of sources, the trade was a direct result of the Seahawks and Smith failing to come to agreeable terms on the extension. Per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic, general manager John Schneider claimed that it had become “apparent” that the two sides were not going to be able to meet in the middle.

The 34-year-old quarterback still had one year left on his current deal, but he had been public about his desire for a new contract that reflected his status as a “top-tier” passer. Dugar’s report from Schneider says that when Seattle submitted what they thought was a fair offer, it quickly became clear that “there was no back and forth coming.” Schneider said that “it wasn’t a very long negotiation” before it became “pretty evident” that Smith would need to be traded.

Despite the hardball-negotiation-nature that that implies, Schneider told The Athletic that Smith did not ask for a trade. Likewise, the Seahawks did not shop Smith out. The Raiders simply reached out with interest at the right time, and after not getting a counteroffer from the extension they offered to Smith, Seattle felt it was making the right move for all parties involved.

The other report on this situation comes from Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. While Schultz’s rendition aligns with Dugar on much of the developments of the extension discussions, Schultz disagrees with Dugar on two major points. Schultz claims that, after four days of unsuccessful contract negotiations — which doesn’t seem to agree with Schneider’s description of quick negotiations — Smith requested a trade last Thursday night.

Whether or not it was Smith that requested the trade, the Seahawks that shopped Smith out, or the Raiders who intervened on Smith’s behalf ultimately may not end up mattering that much. Seattle was never going to get up to the number Smith desired, and with a “major sign-off from Tom Brady,” new head coach Pete Carroll was able to bring over his former quarterback to the Raiders. Now, we’re seeing reports that Las Vegas is nearing an extension agreement with Smith, indicating that the Raiders may be more willing to reach that number that Smith desired.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/14/25

March 14th, 2025 at 10:25pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s minor NFL moves after a busy week of transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Jaguars Release CB Ronald Darby

March 14th, 2025 at 8:54pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Jaguars released veteran cornerback Ronald Darby, per a team annoucement.

Darby signed a two-year, $8.5MM deal with the Jaguars last offseason after an excellent 2023 season in Baltimore. He held opposing quarterbacks to a completion percentage of 44.2% and a 63.3 passer rating when targeted, but could not replicate those results in Jacksonville. In fact, he surrendered the highest completion percentage and passer rating when targeted of his career, leading the Jaguars to move on from the 31-year-old cornerback this week.

The move saves $2.4MM against the Jaguars’ 2025 salary cap with $2.75MM in dead money. Darby will look for a new team, though his struggles in 2024 may force him to accept a contract close to the veteran minimum.

Before this season, Darby was a solid corner when he could stay healthy. He’s averaged just 11 games per season across his 10-year career, which including starting stints with the Bills, Eagles, Commanders, and Broncos before he arrived in Baltimore. He played slightly more on special teams in the last two years, which could further his chances of earning another opportunity in 2025.

The Jaguars already signed Jourdan Lewis to replace Darby as a starting cornerback alongside Tyson Campbell and Montaric Brown, but the team’s lack of high-end talent in the secondary could leave to heavy investment in the draft.

49ers Release DT Maliek Collins

March 14th, 2025 at 8:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

March 14: Collins’ release did come with a post-June 1 designation, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The 49ers will save $3.4MM against the 2025 cap with the move. $1.4MM of dead money will hit the 2025 cap with another $4.1MM pushed to 2026, per OverTheCap.

March 9: Maliek Collins was acquired via trade by the 49ers last offseason. After only one season in San Francisco, though, the veteran defensive tackle will be on the move this spring.

Collins will be released, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. One year remained on his pact, and he was owed $10MM in 2025. The 29-year-old’s scheduled salary for next season was not guaranteed, but in spite of that fact this move (presuming it does not carry a post-June 1 designation) will not free up funds. Cutting Collins will cost the 49ers $670K while incurring a dead money charge of $5.43MM.

Using a post-June 1 designation would help from a financial standpoint, but the modest savings generated would not be available until after that date. Teams are allowed to use that designation twice per year, and it is already known the 49ers will do so in the case of Javon Hargrave. Moving on from him, along with Collins, will lead to notable changes along the defensive interior in San Francisco.

The 49ers have struggled to field an effective group of complementary options to Nick Bosa in recent years, and as a result many have pointed to the 2025 offseason as a period for several changes to be made. 2024 free agent edge rush additions Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos are potential cut candidates as the team looks to free up the required money for retaining other in-house players and/or working out extensions (such as the looming one for Brock Purdy).

Collins began his career with the Cowboys, and after a one-season run with the Raiders he spent three years in Houston. The former third-rounder recorded five sacks in 2023, and – operating as a full-time starter with the 49ers – matched that feat this past season. To little surprise, then, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports Collins is expected to generate a notable market as an early free agent.

Jonathan Allen recently saw his Commanders tenure come to an end through a cost-shedding move, and he and Collins are in similar positions based on age and track record. Both are free to join their next team at any time, but it would come as little surprise if suitors gauged the availability of other options over the coming days before committing to a deal.

Dolphins To Sign TE Pharaoh Brown

March 14th, 2025 at 8:04pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Dolphins are signing veteran tight end Pharaoh Brown, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

The seven-year veteran will add some depth to a thin tight end room behind 2024 breakout Jonnu Smith. The Dolphins moved on from Durham Smythe last month, leaving Julian Hill as the only other tight end on the roster with any NFL experience.

After playing for five different teams in his career, Brown will bring plenty of experience to Miami. He has appeared in 87 games with 54 starts, though he has primarily served as a blocker with a career average of 8.6 receiving yards per game.

Brown began his career as an undrafted free agent out of Oregon and signed with the Raiders after the 2017 draft. He didn’t make the 53-man roster, but still appeared in two games as a rookie. He didn’t play at all in 2018, partially due to a shoulder injury, then carved out a rotational role as a blocker in 2019 with the Browns.

Brown then joined the Texans in 2020 and started 21 games over the next two years. He was then released three games into the 2022 seasons and returned to Cleveland for the rest of the year.

The 30-year-old signed with the Patriots in 2023, where he caught 13 of 15 targets for a career-high 208 receiving yards and his first touchdown since 2020. He also carved out a role on special teams, which helped him earn a one-year, $3.2MM contract with the Seahawks in 2024. Brown picked up a similar role as a blocking tight end and special teams contributor in Seattle, something he will likely continue in Miami.

Giants To Sign LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles

March 14th, 2025 at 7:35pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Giants have signed veteran linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Flannigan-Fowles has spent five years in the NFL, all with the 49ers as a depth linebacker and core special teams contributor. He has appeared in 73 games in his career with seven starts on defense and 1,284 snaps on special teams.

The 28-year-old is the second special teams ace signed by the Giants this offseason. The team also added ex-Raven Chris Board on a two-year, $6MM deal.

Both veterans will likely be competing for rotational snaps behind 2024 starters Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden. Flannigan-Fowles and Board have played solid defense when called upon in their careers, but neither has ever been able to lock down a starting job. They will certainly see plenty of time on special teams in New York.

The Giants also got some good news from one of their biggest free agent additions.

Paulson Adebo, who signed a three-year, $54MM deal on Monday, said that he hopes to be ready for OTAs after a broken leg ended his 2024 season after just seven games (via Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post). He was excellent before his injury, recording three interceptions, 10 passes defended, and a 71.9 passer rating allowed when targeted.

Jets Re-Signing RB/KR Kene Nwangwu

March 14th, 2025 at 7:20pm CST by Ely Allen

It wasn’t long ago that running back Kene Nwangwu was named a second-team All-Pro. Although the 27-year-old only saw two games of action last year with the Jets, New York has made the decision to re-sign the dynamic return man for a second season with the team, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Nwangwu has been a return specialist since getting drafted by the Vikings in the fourth round out of Iowa State in 2021. In his three years with the team, Nwangwu only registered 27 carries for 88 rushing yards and six receptions for 30 receiving yards without registering an offensive touchdown.

Now, that doesn’t mean he’s been held out of the end zone. In those three years in Minnesota, Nwangwu was an immediate threat in the return game. Despite not appearing in the first six games of his rookie season, he racked up 579 yards on only 18 kick returns, including two in which he returned the kick for a touchdown. His 32.2 yards per return would’ve have ranked as the highest in the league that season if he had registered enough returns to qualify for the stat.

The following year, saw a bit of a dip in production for Nwangwu, as his average return yardage dropped to 26.3, but he registered a league-high 35 returns and logged another return touchdown. In 2023, he began the year on injured reserve and averaged a career-low 25.3 yards per return while being held out of the end zone for the first time in his career. Nwangwu was waived in final roster cuts before this past season and was claimed by the Saints the following day. Unfortunately, the day after that, he was waived again with a failed physical designation.

He would sign to the Jets’ practice squad about two weeks later, though not debuting for the team until December. In his first game as a practice squad callup, Nwangwu returned his first kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. He was promoted to the active roster the next day but only played in the next game without recording a stat. He was placed on IR shortly after with a broken hand.

In New York, the Jets return both their leading returners from last year, wide receiver Xavier Gipson and running back Isaiah Davis. Gipson is the team’s exclusive punt returner, with no other player longing a punt return last season, and he led the team with 17 kick returns for 489 yards (28.8 yards per return). Davis logged nine returns for 232 yards (25.8). In Nwangwu’s one game of action, even if you took out his 99-yard return touchdown, he would’ve averaged 29.0 yards per return.

It’s tough to see how exactly the room will play out in 2025. With Davante Adams, and potentially Allen Lazard, departing in free agency, Gipson could end up being more of a factor in the receiving game. Despite only logging 39 yards last year as a receiver, Gipson would be the third-leading returning wide receiver behind Garrett Wilson and Lazard. Davis’ RB3 role won’t likely change much behind Breece Hall and Braelon Allen.

If Nwangwu is healthy, though, he is clearly more effective as a kick returner and could easily be an improvement over Davis, should New York put two men back, consistently. After injury limited the dynamic returner in the past two seasons, Nwangwu will get a chance to prove his worth with the Jets once again.

Chiefs To Sign QB Bailey Zappe

March 14th, 2025 at 6:52pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Chiefs are signing quarterback Bailey Zappe to a one-year deal, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Adding Zappe is Kansas City’s second move at quarterback this week; they also signed Gardner Minshew to a one-year deal. That likely means that Carson Wentz will be looking for a new gig in 2025 after backing up Patrick Mahomes in 2024.

Zappe’s signing is technically a reunion, as he spent the first few months of the season on the Chiefs’ practice squad. He didn’t appear in any games in red and gold before he was signed by the Browns after Deshaun Watson‘s season-ending Achilles injury.

Zappe became the QB3 in Cleveland behind Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson. He only appeared one game: a rough Week 18 start against the Ravens. That loss secured the No. 2 overall pick for the Browns in April’s draft.

Zappe will likely take up a similar role in Kansas City behind Mahomes and Minshew. Though he holds the distinction of being Bill Belichick‘s last quarterback in the NFL, it seems Zappe’s starting days are behind him. Joining the Chiefs will give him a shot at a Super Bowl, though, and potentially help him develop and earn a QB2 job in the future.

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