HEADLINES

Month: March 2025

Bills, WR Khalil Shakir Agree On Extension

March 5th, 2025 at 8:20am CST by Sam Robinson

MARCH 5: The official terms of the deal are out, and Shakir did not quite hit $15MM per year. Buffalo has locked down its leading receiver on a four-year, $53MM deal, The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia notes. The $13.25MM AAV checks in 23rd at receiver.

Adding one void year to the end of the deal, the Bills will have Shakir on a $2.59MM cap number in 2025, Buscaglia adds. As mentioned last week, Buffalo securing Shakir through 2029 at a rate outside the top 20 represents impressive value. In addition to a $7MM signing bonus, a $9MM 2026 option bonus is present in the deal.

FEBRUARY 25: Despite acquiring Amari Cooper from the Browns, the Bills did not move Khalil Shakir down in their pass-game pecking order. Months later, the team’s reliable slot receiver landed an extension.

The Bills are signing Shakir to a four-year deal, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero report. The fourth-year slot agreed to terms on a deal that will max out at $60.2MM and include $32MM guaranteed at signing. Helping to move the negotiations across the goal line: an $18MM payment in Year 1, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds. The Bills have since announced the deal.

Although the near-$15MM AAV number certainly could be classified as a win for the Bills, they are authorizing a full guarantee that comes in just inside the top 20 among active receiver contracts. Shakir’s at-signing guarantee nearly matches Nico Collins‘ on his $24MM-per-year deal; though, the Texans only secured a three-year extension for Collins. The Bills managed to keep Shakir from testing free agency in 2026 on a four-year pact, which will keep his connection with Josh Allen in place for years to come, as the deal runs through the 2029 season.

Considering Shakir’s importance in the post-Stefon Diggs Bills passing game, the Boise State alum agreeing to a four-year deal at what appears to be less than $15MM per year in base value is interesting. But $32MM guaranteed at signing represents a nice haul for a player who initially worked as a low-end target in a passing attack fronted by Diggs and Gabe Davis. Shakir came on during the second half of the 2023 season, however, and functioned as Buffalo’s nominal WR1 following last year’s Diggs trade.

Shakir, who turned 25 earlier this month, accumulated 821 receiving yards last season. Allen’s most reliable chain-mover added four touchdown receptions, being a surehanded player for an offense in transition. In addition to losing Diggs, the Bills let Davis walk (to Jacksonville). Their offense still hummed, as Allen collected MVP honors. While the team did trade for Cooper to help boost its offense, the 1,000-yard regular was more role player than go-to target. Although Cooper certainly contributed in commanding top coverage, he took a backseat to Shakir. This contract will ensure Allen can keep building a rapport with a Day 3 success story.

The Bills will have this Shakir contract to pair with Keon Coleman‘s rookie deal, which runs through the 2027 season. As the team may soon need to give James Cook a deal similar to this one, locking in Shakir checks off an early-offseason part of its to-do list. Extensions for Christian Benford, Terrel Bernard, Gregory Rousseau and Connor McGovern may also be in the cards for a Bills team that has done some good work in the middle and late rounds during recent drafts.

That has not translated to a Super Bowl berth yet, as ill-timed injuries (and the Chiefs brick wall) continue to impede the AFC East powerhouse. But the Bills will enter 2025 with a clearer Super Bowl path, after the 2024 offseason was viewed more as a retooling period.

Chiefs Discussing Joe Thuney Trade; Bears Among Interested Teams

March 5th, 2025 at 8:16am CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs were one of two teams to use the franchise tag this year, cuffing fifth-year guard Trey Smith. The team has barely a week to move under the salary cap. A route being explored appears to be a trade of their more experienced starting guard.

Kansas City is discussing Joe Thuney in trades, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports. Thuney is heading into the final year of his contract and coming off back-to-back first-team All-Pro seasons. The Bears, who traded for Jonah Jackson on Tuesday, are among the interested teams, Russini adds.

As of Wednesday morning, the Chiefs are more than $18MM over the cap. While the three-time reigning AFC champions will need to prepare to lose some other free agents — Nick Bolton and Justin Reid perhaps among them — they will at least need to move under the cap and carve out some spending room to address other priorities. Left tackle is believed to be a place where the Chiefs are investigating, with Thuney’s final game of the season exposing him as overmatched while moonlighting there.

Smith is going into his age-26 season; Thuney will turn 33 in November. Swapping out an older guard’s salary for their younger guard standout is logical, even if Thuney has proven to be one of the best players at his position. Thuney, who also has two second-team All-Pro nods on his resume, would stand to attract interest. He is entering the final season of a five-year, $80MM contract; no guaranteed money remains on the deal.

Thuney is due a $15.5MM base salary in 2025 and will be set to carry a $26.97MM cap number. An acquiring team could reduce that via an extension, even if Thuney is moving close to his mid-30s. The nine-year veteran has started all 146 games he has played and has collected four Super Bowl rings. Thuney did not start for the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII, and while he endured a tough night against the Eagles last month, he was at his LG spot when the Chiefs beat them to win Super Bowl LVII.

The Bears have reunited Ben Johnson with Jackson, a four-year Lions starter. A move for Thuney would mark a reunion for GM Ryan Poles, who was with the Chiefs when they signed Thuney in 2021. As the Chiefs have paid Creed Humphrey and have Jawaan Taylor locked into a 2025 salary, they have put their most accomplished O-lineman on the trade block. The Bears used Teven Jenkins and Matt Pryor as their primary guards last season. A three-year Bears guard starter, Jenkins appears likely to leave in free agency next week.

Rams, Bears Agree To Jonah Jackson Trade

March 4th, 2025 at 11:03pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jonah Jackson played only one season with the Rams, and his time in Los Angeles is set to come to an end. A trade agreement is in place which will see the veteran offensive lineman join the Bears.

Chicago is set to send Los Angeles a 2025 sixth-round pick in exchange for Jackson, ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reports. This deal will allow for a reunion between Jackson and Bears head coach Ben Johnson. The pair previously worked together in Detroit.

Expectations were high upon arrival for Jackson when he inked a three-year, $51MM free agent deal last spring. The former Pro Bowler was a key figure in the team’s efforts to shore up the interior of its offensive line. After seeing time at guard and center (while also dealing with a shoulder injury), though, Jackson was benched midway through the campaign. To no surprise, he was recently granted permission to seek a trade.

Jackson has a 2025 cap hit of $17.5MM for 2025, a figure which hindered his market and helps explain the limited return in the trade (which can become official as early as next week when the new league year begins). The Bears will take on the remainder of his compensation, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports. With no financial adjustments taking place, Jackson will be owed a $9MM base salary next season; he is also due an $8.5MM roster bonus next week.

The Bears’ offensive line has faced question marks at every spot other than right tackle this offseason. The interior of the unit in particular has often been named as the subject of interest from Chicago. Prior to the news of this deal, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote the Bears were expected to make at least one addition along the interior of the O-line during free agency. It will be interesting to see if that will still be the case in the wake of this Jackson addition.

Chicago entered Tuesday with roughly $79MM in cap space, so there will still be resources to make a notable splash on the open market. The Bears could, of course, also look to retain one or more of pending free agents Teven Jenkins, Coleman Shelton and Matt Pryor as part of their plans up front. In any case, Jackson will be tasked with occupying a first-team role on his new team. The 28-year-old has experience at center, but for much of his career he has operated at left guard.

Jackson has started all 57 of his career games, and on two occasions he has surpassed 1,000 snaps in a season. If the Ohio State product can remain available during the year and provide consistent play wherever he winds up playing, he will prove to be an effective addition for the Bears.

Jets Release WR Davante Adams

March 4th, 2025 at 11:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

As expected, no suitors emerged for Davante Adams on the trade front. As a result, the Jets will move on from the All-Pro receiver.

Adams is being released, as first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. He will now become one of the most intriguing options at the receiver position in free agency. Presuming this move is processed immediately, it will save $29.9MM in cap space while generating $8.36MM in dead money. The release is now official.

No guaranteed salary remained on Adams’ pact, something which essentially made him a rental in the eyes of interested teams ahead of the 2024 trade deadline. The Jets sent a conditional third-round pick to the Raiders for the six-time Pro Bowler, a move which allowed him to reunite with Aaron Rodgers. The latter will be released with a post-June 1 designation, though, so to no surprise Adams will also seek out a fresh start for 2025.

Rodgers and Adams had the potential to remain in place with New York, but their time with the Jets did not yield a playoff berth. On the other hand, the latter racked up 854 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games upon arrival, a sign he can still be counted on to provide high-end production at this stage of his career. Adams, 32, could draw attention in a free agent class light on impact players at many positions (including receiver).

A release was seen as likely one month ago, but the door was still open to a team avoiding free agency and agreeing to a trade (and subsequent restructure or extension to lower Adams’ cap charges for 2025 and ’26). Interest was shown on that front, but to no surprise a deal never appeared to be imminent. A report from yesterday confirmed a release would take place before the start of the new league year next week.

The Jets are allowing fellow ex-Packers wideout Allen Lazard to seek out a trade, but he too is unlikely to generate a market. A release could also be expected in that case, something which would leave the team short on experienced options behind Garrett Wilson on the depth chart. Taking into account the Adams release, New York has roughly $52MM in cap space.

With a change of scenery on tap, several updates have recently emerged regarding where Adams could play next. A return to the Packers could be in store, but a deal sending him to the West Coast is also something to watch for. Rapoport notes the opportunity for the Fresno State product to head west remains a key factor in his free agency. Rodgers, for his part, is still interested in playing with Adams (provided he decides to suit up in 2025), so a partnership between those two on a third team could come into play.

In any case, it will be interesting to see how things play out for Adams given his track record (six 1,000-yard seasons in the past seven years). The Jets, meanwhile, will need to be active in the receiver market in one form or another as they move past the Rodgers investment and the additions which accompanied it.

AFC North Notes: Gesicki, Bengals, Steelers, Garrett

March 4th, 2025 at 10:56pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Bengals are interested in re-signing tight end Mike Gesicki before free agency, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

The team was “very happy” with his performance last season and “would like to pay” him, per Fowler. The tight end market is projected to reach $8MM per year, which would be a significant raise on Gesicki’s 2024 salary of $2.5MM.

Gesicki caught 65 of his 83 targets for 665 yards and two touchdowns in his debut season in Cincinnati. His 78.3% catch rate and 62.7% success rate were both career-highs by significant margins, indicating that he was a strong fit in the Bengals offense.

The seven-year veteran certainly benefitted from the attention drawn by Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but he was able to capitalize in a way other Bengals tight ends haven’t in recent years. In fact, Gesicki is the team’s first tight end to eclipse 600 receiving yards in a season since Tyler Eifert in 2015.

If Gesicki remains in Cincinnati, Juwan Johnson and Tyler Conklin will be the top tight ends in free agency. Their stock should improve with another option off the market, especially if Gesicki negotiates a strong deal with the Bengals.

  • Changes are coming to the Bengals linebacker room. Germaine Pratt is expected to leave Cincinnati this offseason, leaving Logan Wilson as the only returning starter. Director of player personnel Duke Tobin said at the Combine that the team was “looking at” the position and specifically mentioned tackling as an area of improvement, per Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
  • The Bengals may also adjust their safety usage in 2024 under new defensive coordinator Al Golden. Jordan Battle could be in line for a starting role after a strong finish to the season. “I think Jordan Battle really hit the ground running at the end of the season, and so I’m pleased with the direction that he’s headed,” said head coach Zac Taylor (via The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr.). “I’ve got a lot of confidence in him moving forward.” That may not necessarily mean a step back for Geno Stone, who started all 17 games in 2020. He was considered a potential cap casualty, but the Bengals are poised to carry him into 2025. Golden said that the current safety room was “a great starting point,” per Dehner, but didn’t rule out an addition at the position.
  • The Steelers have long been expected to re-sign one of their starting quarterbacks from last season. Justin Fields is still considered the favorite to return to Pittsburgh over Russell Wilson, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Fields is younger and may have more future upside for a Steelers offense that is desperately searching for stability under center.
  • The Combine has a history of accelerating trade talks, a trend that continued this year with multiple teams agreeing to deals in Indianapolis. The Browns, however, did not engage in any negotiations for Myles Garrett, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Cleveland has been resolute in their opposition to moving Garrett since his trade request, and the two sides seem headed for a prolonged standoff.

Travis Hunter Could Play Both Ways In NFL

March 4th, 2025 at 10:05pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Travis Hunter‘s ambition to play on both sides of the ball in the NFL was initially met with some skepticism. Coming out of the Combine, though, the projected top-five pick is gaining steam as a two-way player in the pros.

The Titans, who hold the first pick in April’s draft indicated that they would consider playing Hunter at wide receiver and cornerback if they select him.

“I think he can do both at a high level,” said Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi (via Mark Maske of the Washington Post).

Hunter played 1,422 total snaps for Colorado in 2024, per Pro Football Focus, 709 on offense and 713 on defense. That averages to a whopping 118 snaps per game. Such as workload has been seen as a risk due to the NFL’s heightened intensity and physicality.

Titans coach Brian Callahan, however, said that a two-way role in the NFL would be “very realistic” for Hunter.

“There’s not many guys that have played that many snaps on both sides of the ball,” continued Callahan, adding that if the team drafted Hunter, they would “find out where he fits.”

If the Titans don’t take Hunter, he will “draw serious consideration” from the Browns, who hold the No. 2 pick, per The Athletic’s Jeff Howe. General manager Andrew Berry agreed with the growing consensus that Hunter can play both offense and defense in the NFL.

“I’d say this in terms of Travis Hunter — cornerback or receiver? The answer is yes,” said Berry (via Maske). “He can play both. And I think that’s what makes him special.” 

The NFL has seen two-way players before – including Deion Sanders, who coached Hunter in college – but that typically has been in cameo or emergency roles. In recent years, Patrick Ricard and Scott Matlock have played fullback and defensive line, but not at the snap count Hunter is aiming for.

Berry also said that the Browns see Hunter “primarily” as a receiver, as opposed to other teams who view him as a full-time cornerback with select involvement as a receiver. If forced to choose, Hunter would prefer the former, according veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky, and it’s easy to see why. The receiver market has increased at a far higher rate than the cornerback market in recent years, so Hunter’s earning potential would be maximized by focusing on offense. If he does carve out a two-way role, he’ll be able to demand even more, even if he’s just a rotational contributor on one side of the ball.

Hunter will likely discuss his potential roles in Cleveland on a top-3o visit scheduled for this week, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Ultimately, he won’t be able to choose where he is drafted or where he plays in the NFL, but refusing to give him a chance as a two-way player may affect his relationship with his first team. Teams considering Hunter will want to be confident in their long-term future with a top-five pick.

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/3/25

March 4th, 2025 at 9:37pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

More teams made tender/non-tender decisions on restricted and exclusive rights free agents today. Here are the latest updates:

RFAs

Non-tendered: 

Despite 48 appearances, 19 starts, and 1,794 total snaps over the last three years, the Bears will not tender Sanborn, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. While not considered a starting defender, Sanborn could draw interest in free agency as a backup linebacker and core special teams contributor.

ERFAs

Tendered: 

Non-tendered:

Hoffman started the Cowboys’ last seven games of the 2024 season after Zack Martin went down for the season. He primarily played right guard, though he played 109 snaps at center and 19 at left guard, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Martin retired last month, so Hoffman will likely compete for a starting role in 2025 while earning $1.1MM.

Vikings To Hire Jordan Traylor As Offensive Assistant

March 4th, 2025 at 7:57pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Vikings are hiring Jordan Traylor as assistant offensive coordinator and assistant quarterbacks coach, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Traylor spent the last six seasons with the Saints. He started as a scouting assistant before moving into coaching as a defensive assistant in 2021. He switched to the offensive side of the ball in 2023 and has focused on tight ends over the last two years. Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau made noticeable improvements during his tenure and finished 2024 as the team’s first- and third-leading receivers, respectively.

The Saints wanted to retain Traylor, according to Mike Triplett of New Orleans.Football, but he decided to take a promotion on Kevin O’Connell‘s staff. He will replace Grant Udinski, who left the Vikings last month to take the Jaguars’ offensive coordinator job.

Traylor played quarterback at Texas A&M before starting his coaching career with Texas (2016-2017) and Arkansas (2018). In Minnesota, he will be tasked with developing 2024 first-rounder J.J. McCarthy, a job that could be even more important if Sam Darnold isn’t retained.

In that case, the Vikings may look to re-sign Daniel Jones, who ended last season in Minnesota. Traylor would then have to continue Jones’ integration into the offense as a potential starter if McCarthy faces any setbacks in his recovery from last year’s knee injury.

Tershawn Wharton Could Have Bigger FA Market Than Expected

March 4th, 2025 at 7:10pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton could “exceed expectations in free agency,” according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.

The former undrafted free agent will be looking to cash in after a career year in Kansas City. The market has placed a premium on interior pass-rushers in recent years, so Wharton should be able to negotiate a strong deal this spring.

Wharton was listed by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler as an under-the-radar free agent and the third-best interior rusher in the class behind Osa Odighizuwa and Milton Williams. Now that Odighizuwa is staying in Dallas, Wharton will likely have even more suitors.

Wharton spent the first four years of his career with the Chiefs after making the 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie in 2020. He quickly carved out a role along the defensive line, appearing in every game and playing over 1,000 snaps across his first two seasons. A torn ACL knocked Wharton out for most of 2022, but he rebounded for a full season in 2023. The Chiefs won Super Bowls in both years, and Wharton nearly helped them to another in 2024 while playing the best football of his career. His 6.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, and 667 snaps in the regular season were all career-highs, and he added two more sacks in the postseason.

That pass-rushing upside will allow Wharton to stand out among his fellow free agents, who typically profile as interior run-stuffers. Wharton will only be 27 years old when next season starts and can already push the pocket and get to opposing quarterbacks. He was surrounded by talent in Kansas City and had significantly less production before 2024, which will likely keep him from breaking into the upper echelon of contracts at his position. He may be best served by a two-year contract from which he can negotiate a higher-paying extension if he matches or improves on his 2024 numbers in 2025.

Cowboys Restructure CeeDee Lamb’s Deal

March 4th, 2025 at 6:00pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Cowboys have restructured CeeDee Lamb‘s contract, per ESPN’s Todd Archer, creating $20MM of cap space before the new league year begins next week.

The team converted $25MM of Lamb’s 2025 salary to a signing bonus and prorated it across the next five seasons. His 2025 salary has dropped to $1.85MM, per OverTheCap, and his cap number from 2026 to 2029 will increase by $5MM in each year.

The Cowboys’ moves have clarified their cap picture heading into free agency. Dallas entered the day needing to create space to become cap-compliant and potentially accommodate a $25.1MM franchise tag for Osa Odighizuwa. The team reached an agreement on a long-term deal with Odighizuwa to avoid the tag, but Lamb’s restructure was still necessary to get below the 2025 salary cap. The Cowboys now have $17.9MM in cap space and can create more with an extension for Micah Parsons or a restructure of Dak Prescott‘s deal.

Dallas is also carrying over $18.8MM of cap room from 2024 to 2025, per Archer, though dead cap hits from Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Brandin Cooks will effectively cancel out that carryover.

The Cowboys also re-signed defensive back and special teams ace C.J. Goodwin on a one-year deal. 2025 will be his eighth season in Dallas and 10th in the NFL. The former Division II wide receiver converted to defensive back in the NFL, but he has played more than 90% of his snaps on special teams.

Load More Posts