HEADLINES

Month: June 2025

Steelers To Host WR Gabe Davis; No TE Jonnu Smith Trade Expected

June 3rd, 2025 at 9:48am CST by Adam La Rose

Gabe Davis‘ free agent tour will continue this week. The veteran wideout will next meet with the Steelers, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Davis will fly to Pittsburgh tomorrow and visit the team on Thursday. That will mark his third known meeting with an interested team. The former Bill and Jaguar has taken a visit with the 49ers and Giants so far. Neither of those produced a deal, but in the case of at least New York, team and player have remained in contact.

With nothing imminent on either of those fronts, Davis will continue to gauge his market deep into the offseason. The 26-year-old expectedly departed Buffalo in free agency last year, but his debut campaign in Jacksonville did not go according to plan. Taking on $20MM in dead money in the process, the Jags’ new regime moved forward with a release last month (doing so with a failed physical designation).

Evaluating Davis’ knee will of course be a key aspect of his visits before signing a new deal. In the case of the Steelers, it comes as no surprise this meeting has been arranged. Pittsburgh is known to still be in the market for a pass-catching addition of some kind in the wake of the George Pickens trade. D.K. Metcalf will operate as the team’s new No. 1, with incumbents Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson in line to take on increased roles in 2025. Veteran Robert Woods has already been added via free agency, but with nearly $32MM in cap space the Steelers could easily afford another signing.

On another note, Schefter reports Pittsburgh is not expected to swing a trade for Jonnu Smith. The veteran tight end emerged as a potential target last week, and a swap sending him to the Steelers would allow for another reunion with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. The presence of fellow tight end Pat Freiermuth for 2025 and beyond would make a Smith trade at least somewhat redundant, however. After a franchise-record campaign with the Dolphins in 2024, Smith’s preference is to remain in Miami.

With that appearing likely to be the case, Pittsburgh’s attention will return to the receiver spot in terms of adding a pass-catching presence. Depending on how this week’s visit goes, that move could turn out to be a Davis signing.

Ravens Open To Extending OLB Odafe Oweh; No Deal Imminent

June 3rd, 2025 at 9:01am CST by Adam La Rose

Several Ravens edge rushers face an uncertain future beyond the 2025 campaign. The most notable of the team’s pending free agents at that spot is Odafe Oweh.

The former first-rounder showed flashes during his first three Baltimore seasons. Seeing his playing time fluctuate over that span, Oweh totaled 13 sacks. 2024 resulted in a full-time starting role, though, and that increased workload yielded career highs in sacks (10), pressures (28), QB hits (23) and tackles for loss (nine).

That development could continue in 2025, a season in which Oweh is set to play on his fifth-year option. The 26-year-old is due $13.25MM, but a long-term pact – especially if he can deliver another strong campaign – will be worth much more on an annual basis. As they prepare for another season with Oweh operating as a starter, the Ravens also have Kyle Van Noy and David Ojabo set to enter 2025 as pending free agents.

Van Noy’s two most productive pass rushing seasons have come during his time in Baltimore (nine sacks in 2023, then 12.5 in 2024). The 34-year-old earned his first career Pro Bowl nod last season as a result of his success, and expectations will remain high for the coming season. Beyond that, however, it will be interesting to see if the team authorizes another contract. Ojabo, a second-round pick in 2022, has battled multiple major injuries in his brief career and has managed just four sacks to date. His roster spot is uncertain for the summer, but even if he makes the team he too is far from a lock to return in 2026.

Against that backdrop, Oweh’s contract situation represents an interesting one to monitor. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes Baltimore “appears to be open” to working out an extension in this case (subscription required). He adds, however, that no signs have emerged this offseason indicating an agreement is close. Baltimore still has lucrative deals with the likes of safety Kyle Hamilton and center Tyler Linderbaum to attend to. A new pact aimed at lowering quarterback Lamar Jackson‘s future cap hits is also on the agenda.

Baltimore’s edge rush group also includes recent mid-round picks Tavius Robinson and Adisa Isaac as depth options. Mike Green – selected in the second round of this year’s draft after his stock fell in the wake of sexual assault allegations – represents a long-term option at the position and his college production certainly offers considerable upside. Still, the lack of NFL production from that trio will require Oweh to remain a key contributor on defense this year.

Like many other recent Penn State edge rushers, Oweh’s success to date has largely been based on his speed and athleticism. As Zrebiec notes, he has gained 20 pounds this spring in an effort to diversify his pass-rush skillset and improve against the run. Succeeding on that front will help his 2026 market value on a pact keeping him in Baltimore for years to come or one sending him elsewhere for the first time in his career.

Lions C Frank Ragnow Retires

June 2nd, 2025 at 10:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

Frank Ragnow‘s playing days have come to an end. The Pro Bowl center has informed the Lions he plans to retire, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Ragnow was away from the team during OTAs, but not as a result of a contract dispute. Instead, the 29-year-old was contemplating his options while weighing the possibility of continuing his career against the numerous injuries he has dealt with in the NFL. Health concerns led to today’s decision, which is now official.

“These past couple of months have been very trying as I’ve come to the realization that my football journey is ending and I’m officially retiring from the NFL,” Ragnow wrote on Instagram Monday. “I’ve tried to convince myself that I’m feeling good but I’m not and it’s time to prioritize my health and my family’s future. I have given this team everything I have and I thought I had more to give, but the reality is I simply don’t.

“I have to listen to my body and this has been one of the hardest decisions of my life. The Lions organization has been absolutely incredible throughout this process and I can’t emphasize enough how grateful I am for this team and all the fans.” 

An injury limited Ragnow to four games in 2021, but he managed to suit up for either 15 or 16 games during each of the past three seasons. This included playing through a pectoral injury last season. The former first-rounder earned a Pro Bowl nod every year in that stretch, bringing his career total to four. Ragnow earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2020, and he matched that feat over both of the past two campaigns. He operated as a Lions’ starter upon arrival, later becoming a key piece during a rebuild that saw the O-line play a pivotal role. But for the first time in seven years the team will be without his services.

Ragnow drew middling PFF evaluations during his rookie season as a guard, sliding to center ahead of his second season. Since then, he ranked among the league’s best at the center spot. The Arkansas product finished no worse than sixth for qualifying centers in terms of overall grade (with the exception of his brief 2021 season, when he earned a mark of 86.7 in his limited action). Expectations would have remained high moving forward, and two years remained on Ragnow’s contract. Now, though, his attention will turn to his post-playing days.

Detroit has veteran Graham Glasgow in place as an option to handle first-team center duties. The 32-year-old has spent much of his career at both guard spots, with that being the case for the majority of his two Lions stints. In 2018, though, Glasgow did operate as the team’s starting center before Ragnow took over that role. Glasgow also served as a Broncos center starter in 2022, replacing an injured Lloyd Cushenberry after Quinn Meinerz had taken Glasgow’s right guard spot. Another option at the center position would be second-round rookie Tate Ratledge. Rapoport’s colleague Mike Garafolo notes both Ragnow and Ratledge have taken center reps this spring.

The Lions managed to keep a number of depth options in place along the offensive line this offseason, but right guard Kevin Zeitler departed in free agency. Today’s news means multiple moves will need to be made along the interior ahead of the 2025 campaign. Expectations will remain high for Detroit’s offense in no small part due to the play of the team’s O-line. That unit will nevertheless be notably different with Ragnow no longer in the fold.

After exceling on his rookie pact, Ragnow landed a 2021 extension. Only three centers have since surpassed the AAV of Ragnow’s extension ($13.5MM), an indication of the center position’s market but also his value to the Lions. After 100 combined regular and postseason appearances, Ragnow will depart the NFL with roughly $57MM in career earnings.

Patriots Have No Plans To Cut Stefon Diggs

June 2nd, 2025 at 9:10pm CST by Ben Levine

Stefon Diggs‘ absence from the first week of Patriots voluntary OTAs didn’t raise any eyebrows. However, the wideout quickly commanded attention when a video showed him flashing an “unidentified pink substance” while partying on a boat. New coach Mike Vrabel quickly cited making “great decisions,” and there was later speculation that the Patriots could consider ending the partnership before it truly begins.

Well, it appears the two sides have taken a step in the right direction, as Diggs was present during today’s portion of Patriots practice, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Even more notably, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says the Patriots have no plans to cut their free agent acquisition.

Rapoport provided a bit more insight, noting that Diggs presence at today’s voluntary practice “felt about as mandatory” as it could possibly be. Rapoport hints that Diggs addressed his new teammates, and Reiss notes that the receiver was later spotted catching passes from Drake Maye.

It’s been a bit of a rocky start for the receiver’s stint in New England. While the off-field issues commanded the headlines, there was some speculation that Vrabel may have been more perturbed by his receiver’s absence from practices. Not only is the receiver joining a new team with a new coaching staff, he’s also continuing to rehab a torn ACL suffered during his lone season in Houston.

While Boston radio pundits may be licking their chops at the potential drama, it sounds like those in the building are downplaying the whole story. “New” OC Josh McDaniels addressed Diggs’ recent absence, noting that the veteran has still been preparing for the upcoming season even if he wasn’t on the practice field.

“I know he’s staying up on the information and material and there’s so many things and opportunities for us to teach all our guys going forward — between the rest of the practices in the spring and going into the summer and the many days we have before we actually kick the ball off in September,” McDaniels said (via Reiss). “I’m not concerned about Stef in that regard.”

A significant portion of Diggs’ three-year, $69MM contract is based on roster and workout bonuses, and his guarantees are still contingent on Diggs eventually passing a physical (which he still hasn’t done). In other words, the Patriots do have a bit of wiggle room if they decided to bail on the Diggs experience. For the time being, it sounds like the organization isn’t considering that drastic route.

Steelers Have Submitted T.J. Watt Extension Offer?

June 2nd, 2025 at 9:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

With OTAs underway, T.J. Watt has yet to work out an extension agreement with the Steelers. At least one offer appears to have been made in this case, however.

During a recent episode of the Kaboly + Mack podcast, Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show reported that a “pretty significant” extension offer has been submitted to Watt (video link). It is unclear when it was made, but the offer is on the table at this point. Without a deal being signed, though, a gap clearly still exists between team and player in this situation.

Kaboly added it is unknown whether or not the current offer outpaces the extension Myles Garrett signed with the Browns this offseason. That four-year, $160MM pact ended speculation about his future in Cleveland – which was of course driven in large part by his trade request – and reset the edge rush market. Watt was once the league’s highest earner at the position, with that being the case for the first two years of his existing contract (four years, $112MM). A raise is in store once again, although it remains to be seen if surpassing Garrett’s deal will be required.

Team and player have expressed a desire to continue their relationship beyond 2025. That led to an expectation Watt would join the list of high-profile pass rushers receiving a new deal this offseason. The former Defensive Player of the Year remains a pending 2026 free agent at this point, though. Age (30) will be a key consideration in this case. Watt has nevertheless led the NFL in sacks three times since 2020 and has earned at least second-team All-Pro honors in five of the past six seasons.

The Steelers do not have a long history of committing guaranteed money beyond the first year of an extension for non-quarterbacks. Watt’s 2021 deal (signed days before the start of the campaign) represented an exception, but it will be interesting to see how far the team is willing to go on another monster extension. The seven-time Pro Bowler saw his sack total drop to 11.5 in 2024, and he was held off the statsheet in that regard for the team’s final four games last season.

An April social media post led to increased speculation about Watt’s situation, and he is among the veterans currently skipping OTAs while extension talks take place. Pittsburgh also has the likes of Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig and – on a full-time basis starting this year – DeMarvin Leal as experienced pass rushers. Rookie Jack Sawyer will compete for a depth role in 2025, but much of the team’s success will depend on Watt’s production. That, in turn could be influenced by the nature of extension negotiations, a process which will clearly need to continue.

Bills, James Cook Failed To Make Progress During Extension Talks

June 2nd, 2025 at 9:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bills have worked out a number of extensions with ascending players this offseason. Running back James Cook is notably not a member of that group, and no deal appears to be imminent in his case.

That is not due to a lack of communication between team and player, however. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports Cook and the Bills engaged in extension talks earlier this offseason. He adds, though, that the parties never came particularly close to an agreement.

For several weeks, it has been clear a gap exists between the 25-year-old’s asking price and what the Bills are willing to commit on a long-term deal. Cook is currently on track to play out the final season of his rookie contract, but he has skipped voluntary workouts while continuing to seek a new pact. $15MM per year was mentioned online by the former second-rounder as the value he is aiming for, but the Bills have not been prepared to reach that price point.

General manager Brandon Beane has publicly implied Buffalo is prepared to wait out the coming season before assessing Cook’s value on a big-ticket deal. The Georgia product has only handled starting duties for the past two years, but in that span he has amassed 2,834 scrimmage yards. After rushing for only two touchdowns during each of his first two campaigns, he tied for the league lead with 16 in 2024. With totals like that and age on his side, Cook submitting an asking price near the top of the market is not entirely surprising.

On the other hand, the deals given out to the likes of Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry have come in the wake of sustained All-Pro play. Those veterans are the three backs whose deals average $15MM per year or more, with another four collecting eight figures annually on average. Cook could join one of those groups when his next contract is signed, but he may need to wait until at least some of the 2025 campaign takes place to secure a raise.

The Bills have worked out long-term deals with wideout Khalil Shakir, edge rusher Gregory Rousseau, linebacker Terrel Bernard and cornerback Christian Benford this spring. With those agreements in place – not to mention, of course, the restructure which moved Josh Allen much closer to the top of the QB position’s financial pecking order – most of the team’s offseason work has been taken care of. The Cook situation will linger into the summer if no agreement is reached, and in the absence of a successful second round of negotiations it appears that will be the case.

Jets Notes: Youth, UDFAs, Front Office

June 2nd, 2025 at 8:26pm CST by Ben Levine

Thanks in part to Aaron Rodgers and his say on acquisitions, the Jets had no choice but to lean on their veterans in 2024. With Aaron Glenn now controlling the show (and Rodgers no longer on the roster), the team is hoping to be a bit more reliant on their youth in 2025 and beyond.

As ESPN’s Rich Cimini notes, the Jets entered last season with 12 players aged 30 or older. At the moment, the team only has five such players: quarterback Tyrod Taylor (36), long-snapper Thomas Hennessy (31), wide receiver Allen Lazard (30), wide receiver Josh Reynolds (30), and guard Zack Bailey (30). After finishing last season with the NFL’s eighth-oldest roster, Cimini writes that the Jets are currently armed with the league’s fourth-youngest squad.

The team’s approach is somewhat by design, and Glenn said he won’t be afraid to use his inexperienced players in 2025.

“Listen, do we want younger players? Absolutely. It’s a young man’s game,” Glenn told Cimini. “It’s a young man’s game, but we want players that can help us win. So if those players happen to be 30 years old, we get those players. It just so happened that we got younger while we got players that could help us win.”

More notes out of New York…

  • In that same article, Cimini notes that the Jets front office was especially aggressive in the UDFA pool this offseason. While a $200K guarantee is considered a significant payday for undrafted players, Cimini observes that the Jets gave out that kind of money to three rooks: guard Leander Wiegand ($249K), defensive tackle Payton Page ($201K), and edge rusher Ja’Markis Weston ($200K).
  • While Darren Mougey is just about done with his first offseason as Jets GM, the executive continues to add to his staff. According to insider Neil Stratton, the Jets have hired TJ McCreight in an unspecified executive role. McCreight brings more than 25 years of NFL experience in stops with the Colts, Ravens, Eagles, and Cardinals. Per ESPN’s Seth Walder, the Jets also hired former NFL consultant Sean Clement into a director-level analytics role. The organization is also promoting from within, as Stratton notes that former player personnel assistant Thomas Witty has been promoted to a pro scout role.
  • We heard recently that the Jets started engaging in contract talks with wideout Garrett Wilson. Our own Nikhil Mehta explored Wilson’s extension candidacy yesterday.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/2/25

June 2nd, 2025 at 8:08pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves, including a handful of recent retirements that were made official:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Miami Dolphins

Philadelphia Eagles

C David Andrews Announces Retirement

June 2nd, 2025 at 6:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

TODAY, 6:40pm: Andrews has officially announced his retirement, as the long-time Patriots center held a press conference today at Gillette Stadium.

“David Andrews has been the heart and soul of our offensive line for the past decade and helped us achieve two Super Bowl championships,” said CEO Robert Kraft. “David’s leadership, work ethic, and dedication to the team earned the respect and admiration from his coaches, teammates, and fans. We are deeply grateful for everything he has given to this organization, both on and off the field. We know his impact on this franchise will be felt for years to come. We wish David and his family all the best in all his future endeavors.”

MAY 28, 1:30pm: Completing a journey from UDFA to rookie starter with the Patriots, David Andrews held that distinction until 2024. As the Patriots removed all player ties to their Super Bowl teams this offseason, Andrews will not attempt to bounce back in 2025.

The veteran center intends to retire with the Patriots, according to the team. This will wrap a 10-year run, as Andrews became a rare UDFA to play a decade with one franchise.

When the Pats released Andrews in March, he expressed uncertainty about his playing future. The 32-year-old snapper had provided the bridge up front from Tom Brady to Mac Jones to Drake Maye. Garrett Bradbury is on track to be Maye’s center in 2025, but the former Vikings starter will have a tough act to follow.

Andrews made 121 career starts, beginning his run as New England’s top center in Week 1 of his rookie season. The Georgia product supplanted Bryan Stork in that role and kept it until a blood clot issue kept him out for the entire 2019 campaign. Andrews returned for the 2020 season, beginning the Pats’ post-Brady period, and outlasted the other O-linemen from the Patriots’ Super Bowl years. Although Shaq Mason kept going into the 2020s in New England, the veteran guard has since been traded twice. Andrews managed to stick around for five more seasons, though his 2024 slate ended early due to injury.

A shoulder surgery shut down Andrews, who played just four games last season. The Pats also released him with a failed physical designation, calling into question his readiness for a potential return elsewhere in 2025. Fellow Super Bowl-era Patriot cogs Jonathan Jones and Deatrich Wise (Commanders) and Joe Cardona (Dolphins) have found new homes amid the Pats’ offseason makeover; Andrews will pass on a true effort to do so, wrapping a successful career.

The Patriots used Andrews as a starter in 12 playoff games, and his 121 regular-season starts rank highly among O-linemen in team history. Andrews’ regular-season start count ranks seventh in Pats history for offensive linemen, one game ahead of fellow former Brady center Dan Koppen. Among Pats blockers to participate in the second wave of Super Bowls during the Brady years, Andrews leads the way in terms of attendance.

Pro Football Focus graded Andrews as a top-five center twice (2017, 2021) and slotted him in the top 15 on four other occasions, including in 2023. The Pats gave Andrews three extensions, the most recent a one-year, $6.5MM bump agreed to in May 2024. Andrews’ more notable deals came in 2017 (three years, $9MM) and 2021 (four years, $19MM). For his career, the 300-pound blocker earned more than $34MM.

No Pro Bowl nods came Andrews’ way, but he holds a key distinction to cement a signature underdog story. No UDFA has Andrews’ 121 starts beat in Patriots history, as only one other New England cog (offensive lineman Sam Adams) logged more than 100 starts after going undrafted. Andrews will walk away as a key presence on the Brady- and Rob Gronkowski-led Patriots teams that increased that dynasty’s Super Bowl count to six.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 6/2/25

June 2nd, 2025 at 6:38pm CST by Ben Levine

One more draft pick signing to pass along:

New York Giants

Darius Alexander heads to New York following a successful collegiate career with the Rockets, including a senior season where he compiled 40 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks. That performance helped make him the 65th-overall pick in this past year’s draft.

He should have a chance to contribute as a rookie with his new squad. The pass-rusher will have an opportunity to play opposite All-Pro Dexter Lawrence on the Giants defensive line.

With today’s signing, the Giants now have one unsigned rookie draft pick in fourth-round RB Cameron Skattebo.

Load More Posts