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Month: June 2025

Raiders Could Field New-Look Starting Secondary

June 14th, 2025 at 5:18pm CST by Ely Allen

Looking at how things are going in offseason workouts so far, there’s a chance that the Raiders could see only one starter from last year’s secondary return with the first-team defense in 2025. We already saw a free agent exchange at safety, with Tre’von Moehrig being replaced by Jeremy Chinn after signing with the Panthers. Now, according to ESPN’s Ryan McFadden, both of last year’s starting cornerbacks are working with the second team this summer.

In his report earlier this week, McFadden noted that, so far in Organized Team Activities, it’s been free agent addition Eric Stokes and rookie third-round pick Darien Porter running on the first-team defense, while Jakorian Bennett and Decamerion Richardson, who tied for the second-most starts in the team’s cornerbacks room last year, are getting reps on the second team.

This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. Last year, the Raiders didn’t have a single cornerback rank in the top half of players at the position with enough snaps to qualify for Pro Football Focus’s rankings system (subscription required). Nate Hobbs (72nd of 116) was the highest ranked corner on the team, and Jack Jones (102nd) was cut after starting 16 games in 2024. Bennett (85th) and Richardson (114th) were then tasked with holding off Stokes, who ranked 72nd in Green Bay last year, and the rookie, Porter.

Though Stokes has never started for a full season, he’s got plenty of experience on first-team defenses after starting 32 of 45 appearances during his time with the Packers. Statistically and analytically, Stokes’ rookie campaign was by far his best. That year, he started 14 games, nabbed an interception, and registered 14 passes defensed, earning him a ranking of 45th out of 116 cornerbacks, per PFF. After a disappointing start to his sophomore season, injuries set in. Stokes ended up missing 22 of 25 games leading up to last year, when he appeared in every game of the season.

Porter’s early starting role comes as a bit of a surprise. Coming into the NFL at 24 years old after a six-year collegiate career at Iowa State, Porter only has seven starts under his belt. Originally a wide receiver commit for the Cyclones, Porter switched to cornerback in his fourth year with the team. After serving as a rotational defender in his first two year on defense, Porter got all seven starts in his sixth year as the team’s CB3. After only seeing four passes defensed in his first two defensive seasons, Porter broke out last year with five passes defensed and three interceptions. That meteoric rise appears set to continue in Las Vegas.

A fourth-round pick two years ago, Bennett started four games as a rookie. He started seven of the team’s first 10 games last season as he tried to play through a torn labrum, per Tashan Reed of The Athletic, but the injury worsened and led Bennett to undergo season-ending surgery. Now, Bennett has two hurdles to overcome as he attempts to earn back a starting role while trying to get back to form following the surgery. Richardson was the one to step in for Bennett in the starting lineup to close out the season. Quarterbacks targeting Richardson completed 30 of 46 passes for 459 yards and three touchdowns during his rookie season.

We still have a long way to go before the start of the season, so any number of updates could change the outlook for the depth chart. At the moment, though, it’s looking like safety Isaiah Pola-Mao could be the only starter from last year’s secondary to return to his role in 2025.

Kicking Competition In New York?

June 14th, 2025 at 3:39pm CST by Ely Allen

Three weeks ago, we labeled veteran kicker Graham Gano a potential cap casualty for the Giants. At the time, we weren’t sure where his potential replacement would come from. We made note of the team’s signing of Jude McAtamney to a reserve/futures deal, but drew more attention to the litany of established, veteran kickers available on the free agent market. According to Ryan Dunleavy of New York Post Sports, while special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial praised the way Gano closed out the 2024 NFL season, the second-year coach left the door open for a kicking competition this summer with McAtamney.

Gano has been with the Giants for the past five seasons, putting up some of his best seasons from 2020-22. Unfortunately for Gano, Ghobrial only joined the staff last season. When Ghobrial came in, he would’ve looked at a 2023 campaign that saw Gano miss six of 17 attempts and only appear in eight games before coaching Gano through last year’s 10-game performance in which he converted nine of 11 attempts.

Gano is under contract for the next two years, but his recent injury issues (a knee injury in 2023 and a groin injury in 2024) put the Giants in a difficult spot. His current contract has a potential out built in that makes the dead money of his contract fairly manageable. Cutting him now would leave the team with $1.25MM of dead money and $4.42MM of cap savings. Graham closed out last season strong, but the recent history of regression and injuries makes his hold on the kicking job a bit tenuous.

The Giants initially turned to veteran Greg Joseph as an injury replacement for Gano last year but gave McAtamney a shot off the practice squad later in the season. He wasn’t asked to do much, but he did convert the only two kicks — a 31-yard field goal and an extra point — that he attempted.

Looking back at his capabilities, McAtamney didn’t draw much interest coming out of college. A Northern Ireland-native, McAtamney attempted to join ProKick Australia to develop for a chance to play collegiately, but COVID-19 kept him from traveling down under. Instead, he worked with former Ray Guy Award winner Tom Hackett in Serbia until they were cleared to travel to the states. McAtamney started his American football career at Chowan University, converting six of 10 attempts and 47 extra points for the Division II program.

He transferred to Rutgers after a year with the Hawks and won the starting job for the Scarlet Knights. After only converting on 12 of 18 field goal attempts, though, he ultimately lost the kicking job to Jai Patel, though he retained kickoff duties. The Giants noticed McAtamney at his pro day, where he converted all 10 attempts in front of scouts. The team invited him for a tryout and, eventually, signed him as an undrafted free agent.

At the moment, it looks like the job is Gano’s for the taking in New York, but McAtamney continues to lurk in the background and seems to be doing enough to remain in contention. If McAtamney can impress this summer, the combination of Gano’s cap impact and his recent struggles with injury may open the door a little wider for McAtamney to kick his way through.

Bills DE Joey Bosa Expected Back By Training Camp

June 14th, 2025 at 2:02pm CST by Ely Allen

Injuries have limited Joey Bosa‘s play in the last three seasons, limiting his free agency potential, as a result. Unfortunately, he’s already found some injury trouble with his new team, but according to Lance Lysowki and Ryan O’Halloran of The Buffalo News, there’s “no question” the veteran pass rusher will be ready in time for training camp.

Coming off his release from a five-year, $135MM extension, the past year of which included a pay cut, Bosa landed in Buffalo after a brief stint as a free agent. While he was well-compensated on the deal, worth $12.61MM, his injury history likely limited the team’s commitment to a one-year tryout.

If he hits on a number of incentives, Bosa stands to earn an additional $3.51MM and the potential of a more committed contract. Reaching those incentives would require Bosa to play at least 65 percent of the Bills’ defensive snaps (something he hasn’t done since 2021) and register 12.0 sacks (something he hasn’t done since 2017).

Bosa’s pay cut came as a result of missing 20 of 36 games over the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He missed a three-game stretch last year but played in the Chargers’ final 11 games of the regular season, though he only tallied three sacks in that span. While he was able to get on the field, injuries may still have been limiting the 29-year-old. His defensive rating in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), was the lowest of his career and ranked 71st out of 119 edge defenders.

The news of the early calf injury is certainly not encouraging, seeing as it keeps him off the field during a crucial stretch for helping to learn a new defense, but the certainty of reports that he’ll be back for training camp provide some silver lining. With Von Miller no longer on the roster, Bosa is expected to step in across from Greg Rousseau on the starting defensive line. A.J. Epenesa will continue to run with the first team, until Bosa is ready and may continue to do so until Bosa can earn the spot. Regardless, Buffalo will likely be patient with its new pass rusher, making sure they have a healthy Bosa on hand. Bosa intends for that version of himself to show up at training camp.

Packers Trying Bo Melton At Cornerback

June 14th, 2025 at 1:11pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Packers are trying wide receiver Bo Melton out at cornerback this spring, according to The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman.

Melton will be the first to say that he’s no Travis Hunter, but his coaches think that his special teams prowess can translate to defense. He plays on the outside for both punt coverage and returns, giving him experience with open-field tackling and backpedaling to stymie opposing gunners.

“We just thought that if there is somebody that can potentially do both, he would be that guy,” said head coach Matt LaFleur, who previously asked Melton about playing cornerback when he first arrived in Green Bay in 2022, per Schneidman.

Melton downplayed his time at cornerback during spring practices, calling it “just something that came up.”

“I want to give it a shot,” said Melton (via Schneidman), before clarifying, “I’m still a wide receiver, so I’m not really transitioning to no cornerback, but if it works, it works.”

The Packers are careful to note that Melton’s time at cornerback is more of an experiment to develop versatility rather than a full bore position change.

“It’s just something we’re going to take a loot at and see if that’s a possibility,” said general manager Brian Gutekunst (via TMJ4’s Ashley Washburn). The Packers are especially thin at cornerback after parting ways with Jaire Alexander, but Melton would still face an uphill battle to contribute on defense this year. However, if he can become comfortable enough at cornerback to serve as an emergency option, it could help him hold onto a roster spot in a crowded wide receiver room.

“If he’s able to add to his arsenal, that makes him really valuable for us,” Guteknust said.

LaFleur echoed that message, saying, “I think versatility is critical and it creates added value for that player. I just love everything about the guy, how he shows up every day ready to compete and give his best effort.” 

Return Targets Set For Dolphins’ Austin Jackson, James Daniels

June 14th, 2025 at 12:41pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Dolphins are hoping that offensive linemen Austin Jackson and James Daniels will be ready by the team’s regular-season opener in Indianapolis.

Jackson started just eight games last season before undergoing season-ending knee surgery. He is expecting to be ready by training camp, per ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques, where he is expected to retake his role as the Dolphins’ starting right tackle.

After the offseason departure of Kendall Lamm, who started seven games in Jackson’s stead in 2024, Miami has limited options at right tackle should Jackson suffer a setback. Jackson Carman started one game last season, while free agency addition Larry Borom has 1,045 career snaps at right tackle, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), though only 33 have come in the last two seasons.

Daniels, who signed a three-year, $24MM contract with the Dolphins in March, is coming off a torn Achilles suffered at the end of September. His representation has said that he will be ready for Week 1, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, but the team will want to prepare its other guards in case Daniels’ timeline does not work out. Liam Eichenberg started 14 games at right guard last year, so he will likely be the team’s primary stopgap option if Daniels isn’t ready for the regular season.

Second-round pick Jonah Savaiinaea is expecting to push for the Dolphins’ starting left guard job, with Aaron Brewer retaining his job at center and Patrick Paul replacing Terron Armstead at left tackle.

Micah Parsons Expects Cowboys Extension Price To Rise, Not Planning Holdout

June 13th, 2025 at 10:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

Considerable time has taken place since Micah Parsons and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones agreed in principle on an extension. The edge rush market could very well see further movement before an agreement is finalized in this case, something which would increase the cost of a monster second contract.

In April, it was reported Dallas was prepared to make Parsons the league’s highest earner for non-quarterbacks. During his most recent comments on the matter – an interview with DLLS’ Clarence Hill Jr. – the two-time All-Pro confirmed his target is to become the highest-paid player outside the QB spot. In terms of AAV, that title currently belongs to Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase ($40.25MM per year).

Myles Garrett leads the way in terms of pass rushers. His new Browns pact averages $40MM annually, a bar which could be cleared in the event T.J. Watt secures another Steelers extension. The latter has an offer on the table, the particulars of which are not publicly known. Interestingly, Parsons said in his interview he is aware of Watt’s asking price and noted it is higher than the deal he and Jones previously agreed to.

In the event Watt – who skipped minicamp this week and does not appear to be signing a deal in the immediate future – does ink a third Pittsburgh pact before Parsons, that will have a notable effect. The Cowboys finalizing a contract with the four time Pro Bowler would come at a higher cost if Watt does manage to surpass Garrett’s benchmark. To little surprise, Parsons expressed his surprise during the interview at the fact his extension has still not been finalized given the legwork which was done months ago.

The former Defensive Rookie of the Year has notched at least 12 sacks every year to date despite the fact he missed four games last season. Parsons will be counted on to remain highly productive in 2025, during which he is slated to receive $24.01MM on his fifth-year option. A long-term pact will cost much more, especially given the EDGE market’s upward movement since he first became eligible for an extension last offseason. The Penn State product has already made it clear his deal will be impacted by others signed this offseason.

Parsons originally stated his desire for an extension to be in place before free agency began in mid-March. With that time having come and gone, training camp represents the next target. During the interview, he said would be willing to attend camp even without a deal in hand and thus avoid daily fines. Parsons added, however, that he would not participate in camp in such a scenario (after he did take part in on-field work during minicamp).

The prospect of a hold-in will become a moot point if team and player can finalize an agreement over the coming weeks. Whether or not that takes place will continue to depend in part on other moves amongst some of the league’s top remaining extension-eligible players, though.

Vikings To Extend OC Wes Phillips

June 13th, 2025 at 10:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Vikings have been busy this offseason in terms of maintaining continuity in the front office and on the sidelines. Another piece of business on that front has been taken care of.

An extension agreement was reached on Friday with offensive coordinator Wes Phillips, Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. Phillips was set to enter the final season of his deal in 2025. Instead, he is set to remain in place for years to come.

From 2019-21, Phillips and Kevin O’Connell worked together on the Rams’ staff (after previously doing the same in Washington). When the latter landed the Vikings’ head coaching gig, the former followed him to Minnesota in a move which came as little surprise. O’Connell has called plays during his time at the helm, and there is no reason to expect that to change in the wake of his extension. Still, Phillips will be counted on to remain a key figure on the team’s staff.

His 2022 hire marked Phillips’ first OC opportunity at the college or NFL levels. He has enjoyed a strong run so far, with the Vikings posting a top-10 finish in points twice over the past three seasons. The 46-year-old received a three-game suspension from the team in the wake of a December 2023 DWI arrest. Phillips returned to his duties upon serving that punishment, and he will stay in place well beyond 2025 given today’s news.

O’Connell won Coach of the Year honors in 2024 and has earned a reputation as one of the league’s top offensive minds since taking charge of the Vikings. Expectations will remain high in his case for the coming campaign, one in which second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy will be tasked with handling starting duties. Having missed his entire rookie season due to injury, a steep development curve will be needed if the Vikings are to duplicate their 14-3 season from last year.

Phillips will be a key figure in that respect while also helping to guide an offense featuring multiple additions up front and which returns an impressive array of skill-position players. Another productive outing from the unit will be key, and matching it previous success will help justify the Vikings’ commitment to keeping O’Connell and one of his most important assistants in the fold. Per Goessling, O’Connell advocated for his staff to receive new deals once his extension was in place.

Since then, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has also been extended. The 2026 offseason once loomed as a time when plenty of notable changes could have taken place in the organization, but instead the Vikings have elected to keep many of their core staffers in the fold for the foreseeable future. Once his new deal is official, Phillips will join the list of names included in that effort.

Kirk Cousins Gives Update On Situation In Atlanta

June 13th, 2025 at 10:02pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins seemed to confirm reports that he sought an exit out of Atlanta this offseason, but said that he’s focused on “moving forward” as the season approaches, per Rick Farlow of the Associated Press.

“Obviously you’d love to play,” admitted Cousins (via The Athletic’s Josh Kendall), “but I’m not going to dwell on things that aren’t reality. That’s not the situation I am in, so it’s better to be focused on the situation I’m in and control what you can control. I think that’s the right mindset to have.”

Indeed, Cousins is set to spend most, if not all, of the 2025 season on the bench behind Michael Penix. The 2024 No. 8 pick took over under center after Cousins threw a league-high 16 interceptions through 14 starts last year. Penix wasn’t brilliant in his three starts, throwing three interceptions of his own on his way to a 78.9 passer rating, but the Falcons believe he has a better long-term outlook than the 36-year-old Cousins.

Understandably, Cousins does not want to spend the twilight of his career as a backup. There is no question that he struggled in Atlanta last year – his 88.6 passer rating was his lowest as a full-time starter – but he earned three Pro Bowl nods from 2019 to 2022 and was on his way to another before his Achilles tear in 2023. He was linked with a number of teams during the offseason, but interest gradually waned as they honed in on other quarterbacks in free agency and the draft. When Aaron Rodgers finally signed with the Steelers last week, Cousins’ last path out of Atlanta seemed to be gone.

However, Cousins could quickly find himself in demand another team’s starter get injured in training camp. His contract might be tough to move this close to the season, but the Falcons might be willing to eat a majority of his 2025 salary for the right trade compensation.

Of course, if Penix were to miss any time, Cousins would step in as the Falcons’ starting quarterback. If he bounces back from last year’s showing, the team’s desire to compete in the NFC South could even help him stay on the field. It’s hard to imagine Cousins playing well enough to finishing out his contract in Atlanta, which runs through 2027, but a strong 2025 could convince another team to acquire him next offseason as a starter.

For now, though, Cousins seems resigned to staying put and watching the action from the sidelines.

Browns Were Diontae Johnson’s Only Suitor

June 13th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

After a rollercoaster 2024 season, Diontae Johnson received virtually no interest in free agency until he landed in Cleveland last month.

Johnson said at mandatory minicamp that the Browns were “the only team to hit me up,” per Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot.

The lack of suitors for the veteran wide receiver makes sense after tumultuous stints in Baltimore and Houston at the end of last season. He averaged 51.0 yards per game for the Panthers before being dealt to the Ravens at the trade deadline, where he only saw five targets in his first four games.

Rashod Bateman‘s Week 13 injury should have been an opportunity for Johnson to seize a bigger role. Instead, he refused to enter the game, leading to a one-week team suspension and his eventual departure from Baltimore. The Texans tried their luck by claiming Johnson on waivers, but he also seemed dissatisfied with his target share despite the team’s playoff victory over the Chargers.

Houston waived Johnson as well, and after being briefly re-claimed by the Ravens for compensatory pick purposes, he hit free agency with significant questions about his ability to adjust to new teams.

The Browns could use some experience at wide receiver behind Pro Bowler Jerry Jeudy, but Johnson’s veteran-minimum salary should set low expectations for his contributions in Cleveland. He’s been able to produce in the past, but he will have to prove he can be a reliable teammate to earn playing time.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/13/25

June 13th, 2025 at 8:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

Friday’s minor moves:

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

Seattle Seahawks

  • Released: TE Mitch Van Vooren

Kendrick missed all of last season due to an ACL tear. Prior to that, though, he started 18 games across two seasons. The 24-year-old will look to find a new opportunity in time for training camp once he clears waivers. Long connected to a potential re-acquisition of Jalen Ramsey, meanwhile, it will be interesting to see if today’s Rams move is soon followed by another at the cornerback spot.

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