HEADLINES

Month: July 2025

Chiefs, G Trey Smith Finalize Extension

July 15th, 2025 at 9:45pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

9:45pm: Smith will see $46.75MM fully guaranteed, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer. That sits second among guards, trailing only Lindstrom’s $48.2MM number. Smith’s guarantee also checks in lower than what two franchise tags would have brought, but Kansas City was still able to finalize a deal before today’s deadline.

As the Chiefs reward the former sixth-round pick, they will use their Patrick Mahomes guarantee model. Smith secured a rolling guarantee structure, per Breer, who reports the Pro Bowl right guard’s $23.25MM 2027 base salary will become fully guaranteed on Day 3 of the 2026 league year. Smith’s $23.25MM 2028 base salary is nonguaranteed, but the 2027 structure effectively ensures he will collect three years’ worth of cash on this lucrative contract.

12:45pm: The Chiefs are finalizing a four-year extension with franchise-tagged right guard Trey Smith, according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.

The deal is worth $94MM with $70MM in guaranteed money, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, keeping Smith as the highest-paid guard in league history. His $23.5MM APY is slightly more than his one-year franchise tag and resets the position’s market by $2.5MM after the Eagles gave left guard Landon Dickerson $21MM per year last offseason. Smith’s total guarantees of $70MM will also set a new record by $7MM, per OverTheCap, beating out Falcons right guard Chris Lindstrom.

News of the agreement comes mere hours before a 3pm CT deadline for tagged players to sign a multiyear deal. With a strong desire to lower Smith’s 2025 cap hit and lock him down for the foreseeable future, the Chiefs finally accomplished their biggest goal of the offseason. This comes three years after Kansas City failed to beat the buzzer with left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., but the team had eyed a Smith payday for a bit. The March Joe Thuney trade set this in motion, as the three-time reigning AFC champions swapped out one high guard salary for another.

Smith will be under contract through 2028, as will All-Pro center and fellow 2021 draftee Creed Humphrey, who signed a four-year extension last August. Arguably the best guard-center duo on the league, Smith and Humphrey are both the highest-paid players at their position and will form the bedrock of the Kansas City’s offensive line for years to come.

While the Chiefs are coming off a humbling loss in Super Bowl LIX — a game that saw its O-line struggle — the team had done well to reconfigure its O-line following the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV onslaught. This came via the Brown trade, the Thuney contract (five years, $80MM) and adding Humphrey and Smith in the draft. It will be on Smith and Humphrey to lead the way back following the Eagles’ blowout win.

The Chiefs also spent this offseason acquiring potential long-term left tackles to join Smith and Humphrey on the O-line, including veteran free agent signing Jaylon Moore and first-round rookie Josh Simmons. However, the team’s future at left guard and right tackle is less certain. 2023 UDFA Mike Caliendo is the most experienced guard on the roster with just three career starts, while right tackle Jawaan Taylor has struggled to live up to his $80MM contract and has no guaranteed money on his deal after this year.

Regardless of who he plays next to, Smith figures to be one of the best blockers in the league for the foreseeable future. He fell into the sixth round of the 2021 draft due to medical concerns about blood clots in his lungs, but earned the Chiefs’ starting right guard job as a rookie and never looked back.

The 25-year-old blocker has only missed one game due to injury in his four-year NFL career and was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2024 after giving up only one sack in 1,288 total snaps, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). PFF has rated Smith as a top-15 guard in each of his four seasons, and ESPN’s pass block win rate has slotted him sixth in run blocking in 2024 — after placing him fourth in pass protection in ’23.

Smith’s new contract is a final leap in a guard market that has exploded over the last few offseasons. Next up will be Cowboys Pro Bowler Tyler Smith, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He could approach Smith’s $23.5MM APY, but other guards up for new deals are either significantly older or significantly less-proven.

T.J. Watt Seeking Market-Topping AAV, Four-Year Guarantee From Steelers?

July 15th, 2025 at 9:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

The wait continues around the NFL for several high-profile edge rush contract situations to be sorted out. In the case of T.J. Watt and the Steelers, it remains to be seen if an extension agreement can be reached before Week 1.

Watt has drawn trade interest from suitors, but even though the Steelers are evaluating his value the pending 2026 free agent is widely expected to stay in Pittsburgh for at least one more season. Ensuring his future beyond that point will require another lucrative investment on the team’s part, with Watt a strong candidate to once again reset the pass rush market. A clearer picture of his asking price seems to have emerged.

During Monday’s episode of Kaboly+Mack (video link), Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show laid out the parameters of what he is “pretty sure” Watt is seeking. Per Kaboly, the former Defensive Player of the Year is angling for a five-year contract with the first four years guaranteed at an average annual value higher than Myles Garrett‘s $40MM. Topping Garrett’s mark in terms of per-year compensation has long been expected, but a commitment of that length by the Steelers would certainly be notable.

As evidenced by the fact an agreement is still not in place, the Steelers are not – at least for now – willing to go to those lengths to retain Watt on a third contract. Entering his age-31 season, the seven-time Pro Bowler naturally faces questions about his ability to remain among the league’s top pass rushers over the course of his next deal. Watt’s level of play late in the 2024 campaign is believed to be a cause for concern from the team’s perspective, and projecting his production over the coming years will be key for general manager Omar Khan in arriving at an agreement in this case.

Deviating from standard organizational procedure in a number of ways, Khan has taken a different roster-building approach in some respects than predecessor Kevin Colbert. 2025 in particular has seen the Steelers make notable win-now moves like the Aaron Rodgers signing and the trade acquisition of Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith. Pittsburgh’s chances of making a postseason run would be greatly hindered by trading Watt, and the team’s 1-10 record in games without him certainly helps the four-time All-Pro’s leverage in negotiations.

Steelers players are set to report to training camp on July 23, which marks a somewhat notable checkpoint in this process. A holdout would come as a surprise given the fact it would lead to mandatory fines, although some view Watt as the likeliest player engaged in extension talks to take that route. During negotiations on his second Steelers pact, the three-time sack leader opted to hold in and it would come as no surprise if he did the same this time around.

Garrett’s four-year, $160MM Browns extension (which contains just under $124MM in total guarantees and roughly $89MM locked in at signing) still represents the bar for edge rushers at this point, but Micah Parsons is among the players who could sign a larger deal before Week 1. Watt is in a similar situation despite the age gap between he and Parsons, leaving plenty to be determined over the coming weeks. It will be interesting to see if the Steelers find a middle ground between their valuation and his asking price in time for the start of the season.

Broncos Sign First-Round CB Jahdae Barron

July 15th, 2025 at 9:38pm CST by Ben Levine

While a long list of second-round picks remain unsigned, there were only two first-round selections who had yet to sign their rookie pacts. One of those unsigned first rounders is Shemar Stewart, whose standoff with the Bengals has been extensively covered. The other was Broncos defensive back Jahdae Barron, but the Texas product has reportedly put pen to paper.

Mike Klis of 9News in Denver reports that the Broncos and Barron have agreed to terms on the player’s four-year rookie contract. The cornerback will earn more than $18MM on his rookie deal, and he’ll also get a $9.8MM signing bonus. The Broncos are set to open their rookie minicamp tomorrow.

Barron had a standout career with the Longhorns, but he took his performance to another level in 2024. He finished the season with 67 tackles and a conference-leading five interceptions, leading to him earning a number of accolades. This included a consensus All-American nod and the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back. That performance vaulted him up draft boards, and he was ultimately selected by the Broncos with the 20th-overall pick.

Following his selection, head coach Sean Payton said the rookie was “too unique to pass up,” and the Broncos fully intend to capitalize on the player’s versatility. Barron served in a variety of roles during his time at Texas. He primarily played nickel during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, but he played more on the outside in 2024. He even garnered at least 140 snaps in the box in each of his final three seasons at the school.

With Patrick Surtain and Riley Moss slotted in on the outside in Denver, the rookie is expected to mostly play in the slot as a rookie. The Broncos are still rostering their 2024 slot CB in Ja’Quan McMillian, so the team could also use Barron as a Swiss Army Knife-type player in their secondary.

As mentioned, Stewart now has the distinction of being the only unsigned first-round pick from this year’s draft. Also as mentioned, there are still a number of second-round picks who haven’t signed their rookie contracts, including Broncos second-round running back RJ Harvey.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/15/25

July 15th, 2025 at 8:17pm CST by Ben Levine

One minor move to pass along:

Buffalo Bills

The Bills made a bit of an unexpected move today when they placed rookie defensive end Landon Jackson on the physically unable to perform list. While the nature of the injury hasn’t been reported, a source told Ryan O’Halloran of The Buffalo News that the move was merely “precautionary” and Jackson “will be fine.”

The third-round pick finished his college career with a pair of standout seasons at Arkansas. The pass rusher compiled 13 sacks between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, earning him All-SEC honors in both campaigns. The Bills made him the 72nd pick in this year’s draft, and he’ll be joining a deep group of DEs that includes Joey Bosa, Greg Rousseau, Michael Hoecht, and A.J. Epenesa.

Ravens Received Trade Interest In Mark Andrews, Hope To Extend Isaiah Likely

July 15th, 2025 at 7:07pm CST by Ben Levine

Despite months of trade speculation, Mark Andrews remains on the Ravens roster and is expected to stick with the squad for the 2025 season. While the team held on to their long-time star tight end, the front office was clearly open to making a trade. As Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic writes, the Ravens indeed received trade inquiries on the veteran, but no team was able to meet Baltimore’s asking price.

Zrebiec still leaves the door open for a potential departure, with the writer wondering how the Ravens front office would proceed if a TE-needy team comes knocking during the preseason. GM Eric DeCosta, head coach John Harbaugh, and quarterback Lamar Jackson have all endorsed Andrews sticking with the organization for at least the 2025 campaign, although the tight end’s expiring contract (and his recent playoff failures) have led to the veteran being firmly on the trade block.

Andrews has struggled to replicate his first-team All-Pro performance from 2021, when he finished with 107 catches for 1,361 yards and nine touchdowns. The 2024 campaign actually represented one of his most productive recent performances, as the 29-year-old finished the year with a career-high 11 touchdowns. Of course, Andrews drew plenty of blame for his postseason showing, including a playoff loss to the Bills when the tight end fumbled the ball on a crucial drive and dropped a game-tying two-point conversion.

The former third-round pick is entering the final season of a four-year, $56MM extension, and he’s due to carry a lofty cap charge of $16.91MM in 2025. A trade would have provided the organization with some cap relief ($11MM), although those savings aren’t nearly as important now that the offseason is all but over.

While Andrews may be preparing for his final season in Baltimore, the team is apparently focused on retaining another impending free agent tight end. Zrebiec writes that the Ravens are expected to “make a push” to extend tight end Isaiah Likely. The former fourth-round pick is coming off his most productive NFL season, with the third-year player hauling in 42 catches for 477 yards and six touchdowns.

Considering Andrews’ precarious spot on the roster, Likely could be in line for an even bigger role in 2025. With a true breakout within the realm of possibilities, the Ravens may be hoping to extend the tight end before his value shoots up.

Patriots WR Stefon Diggs To Start Season On PUP?

July 15th, 2025 at 6:00pm CST by Ben Levine

Both the Patriots and Stefon Diggs have seemingly moved on from an early-summer video that had new head coach Mike Vrabel imploring his players to make “great decisions.” Soon, focus will turn to the practice field, but it’s still uncertain how much the veteran receiver will be involved in August workouts.

As Diggs continues to work his way back from a torn ACL, Chad Graff of The Athletic writes that the wideout will likely open camp by “working on the side.” Graff adds that Diggs has been expected to start the regular season on the physically unable to perform list, but the acquisition’s spring performance has sparked optimism that he could be ready to go for Week 1.

Despite a knee injury prematurely ending Diggs’ lone season with the Texans, the former All-Pro receiver still garnered a three-year, $63.5MM deal from the Patriots in free agency. While the 2025 campaign will represent Diggs’ age-32 season, the Patriots are expecting the addition to elevate both their receivers room and second-year QB Drake Maye.

As Graff writes, Diggs impressed during minicamp. The receiver was lauded for mentoring the team’s younger wideouts, and his performance hinted that he could be ahead of schedule in his rehab. A video from May showed the wideout flashing an “unidentified pink substance” while partying on a boat, leading to speculation that the Patriots could look to bail early from the partnership. Instead, the Patriots decided to hang on to their free agent signing.

A stint on the PUP list would mean Diggs is forced to miss at least the first four games of the upcoming season. That would buy the Patriots some time as they navigate their relatively deep receivers corps. Diggs, Mack Hollins, and rookie third-round pick Kyle Williams have been described as the only definitively safe players on the depth chart, although holdover DeMario Douglas is also expected to secure a roster spot.

As a result, the likes of Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, 2024 second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk, and 2024 fourth-round pick Javon Baker would be fighting for at most two roster spots. A Diggs absence would allow the Patriots to temporarily retain another WR, although the team would surely prefer their new WR1 is ready for the start of the regular season.

Kyle Pitts Extension Not On Falcons’ Radar

July 15th, 2025 at 5:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

Earlier this decade, Kyle Pitts looked like a candidate to be the player who dragged the tight end market past $20MM per year. With Trey McBride and George Kittle not getting there with their respective extensions this offseason, a 2023 or ’24 draftee likely becomes the lead candidate.

Pitts has not delivered the kind of consistency necessary to warrant such a commitment, following his 2021 1,000-yard season with an injury-plagued 2022 and moderately productive 2023 and ’24 slates. Still, Pitts has proven to be a starter-level player — even if the return has not quite justified the Falcons’ No. 4 overall investment. But an extension does not appear on the radar ahead of training camp.

[RELATED: Kirk Cousins Felt Falcons Misled Him In 2024]

“No whispers” of a Falcons-Pitts accord have come out, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter. Pitts is set to play the season on a $10.88MM fifth-year option. An opportunity to cash in come 2026 would await the Florida product, though his path toward the tight end market’s upper reaches is murky.

Even if Pitts has not approached the heights of his 2021 season with Matt Ryan, he is among a small group of tight ends to clear 600 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons. Only Kittle, McBride, Travis Kelce, Sam LaPorta and Pitts have accomplished this. Pitts’ perfect attendance has helped in compiling yardage, and he said during the 2023 season he had not fully recovered from the MCL tear sustained in 2022. Nearly three years removed from that setback, the 6-foot-6 pass catcher should have a good chance at putting together a quality contract year.

The Falcons’ staff wanting to see more makes sense, as OC Zac Robinson was not in place when the team drafted Pitts or when his best season (the 1,066-yard rookie showing) occurred. Atlanta also did not give Pitts much to work with at quarterback during most of his rookie contract. Following the March 2022 Ryan trade, run-oriented offenses centered around Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder. Kirk Cousins elevated the team’s passing attack for a stretch, but poor play led Raheem Morris to bench the aging passer. As Cousins reluctantly settles into a backup role (for the time being), Pitts will be a key component in Michael Penix Jr.‘s development.

Penix making strides would stand to help Pitts as well, as he is only going into his age-25 season. Delivering this year will make Pitts an attractive free agent commodity, but the Falcons could also cuff him via the franchise tag. A few teams have unholstered the tag on a tight end in recent years. Since 2022, Evan Engram, David Njoku, Mike Gesicki and Dalton Schultz received tags. All four eventually scored an eight-figure-per-year deal — either with that team or in free agency down the road. Hunter Henry did as well after being tagged in 2020.

It cost $13.8MM to tag a tight end this year; a comparable 2026 price could be appealing to the Falcons, but their front office certainly has enjoyed plenty of time to evaluate Pitts by this point. Trade rumors circled Pitts for a bit, but no deal — Atlanta sought at least a Day 2 pick — appeared close. Should the Falcons start slowly, however, more trade buzz should be expected regarding the contract-year player. His summer foot injury will be something to monitor, however.

Next year could present a crowded TE market. Mark Andrews and Dallas Goedert are on track for free agency, after trade rumors followed both this offseason, while Kelce’s age-37 season would be available — though, the future Hall of Famer appears unlikely to leave Kansas City. Njoku and Noah Fant would also be available, barring extensions. Pitts’ age, however, would make him an appealing option were he to reach the market.

The Falcons have some time to make a decision here, but Pitts undoubtedly residing behind Drake London and Bijan Robinson in Atlanta’s extension queue come 2026 further complicates this situation.

Terry McLaurin Unlikely To Practice Without New Deal

July 15th, 2025 at 3:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Failing to develop a reliable Terry McLaurin sidekick for the first six years of the standout wide receiver’s career, the Commanders took on Deebo Samuel‘s salary in their most notable attempt to resolve the issue. As Samuel readies for training camp, Washington appears unlikely — based on how things are going, at least — to have McLaurin on the practice field to open its set of preseason workouts.

After a report last week indicated McLaurin is unhappy with the tone of extension talks, the Pro Bowl receiver confirmed as such Tuesday. McLaurin added (via ESPN.com’s John Keim) “without any progress in discussions it’s kind of hard to see how I step on the field.”

McLaurin mentioned that talks between he and the Commanders have not transpired over the past month. While the perennial 1,000-yard target is not pushing for a trade, he appears ready to force the issue in some way fairly soon.

“I want to be here. I want to make that abundantly clear,” McLaurin said. “… I guess you can say there is a point of no return. I don’t think it’s at that now but … time is kind of ticking.

“When you have that type of production, when you know how people value you and see you have told you to your face and then you see how it’s progressing until this point, that’s very disappointing. I’m just trying to get some clarity. Shoot it to me straight.”

Skipping OTAs, McLaurin received a $104K fine for failing to report to Commanders minicamp last month. Were he to miss training camp workouts, he would face $50K-per-day penalties. This has generally deterred players from holding out, as teams can no longer — as of the 2020 CBA — waive the fines for players on veteran contracts. That said, a holdout uptick has occurred over the past two years. Chris Jones, Zack Martin and Nick Bosa stayed away from training camp in 2023; Trent Williams and Haason Reddick followed suit last year. The hold-in measure has brought a sweet spot for disgruntled players, and McLaurin certainly seems set to exercise that option while he angles for a new contract.

McLaurin’s dissatisfaction with the Commanders’ negotiations has come up a few times this offseason. He was surprised by the difficulties this process has brought, but two weeks later, no progress had been made. McLaurin is tied to the three-year, $69.6MM deal agreed to during the 2022 offseason. That year brought a sea change in the WR market, and McLaurin joined 2019 draft classmates A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf, Diontae Johnson and Samuel in cashing in. However, Brown and Metcalf have since inked third contracts. McLaurin has been more consistent than Samuel and Metcalf on their respective second contracts as well, not missing a game and earning two Pro Bowl nods on the deal. McLaurin’s $23.2MM AAV has fallen to 16th among receivers.

McLaurin has amassed a string of 1,000-yard seasons but without a 1,200-yard year, though his QB draw was rather poor before Jayden Daniels‘ arrival. He then posted a second-team All-Pro showing in Daniels’ rookie year. The former third-round find also is heading into an age-30 season, and our Ely Allen highlighted the issue — upon seeing what an extension might look like — that brings for the Commanders. Though, McLaurin’s durability stands to mitigate some concerns about him aging out of WR1 territory in the near future. Term length and guarantee structure likely represent issues here.

“I’m not dismissing [age] completely,” McLaurin said. “There are data points to support that, but how come it’s not OK to say this may be a different case and based on what he’s proven, showing no signs of deterioration, I feel that should be acknowledged as well.”

The Commanders also could frame part of a third McLaurin contract around Daniels’ rookie deal. The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year cannot sign an extension until 2027, giving the Commanders some time to pair that team-friendly agreement with another McLaurin pact. GM Adam Peters has not completed many extensions yet in Washington, but he did pay guard Sam Cosmi just before last season. The 49ers also developed a pattern — one that often produced unnecessary drama — of completing big-ticket extensions well into training camp during Peters’ time with the team.

If no deal is reached by Week 1, McLaurin will be attached to a $15.5MM base salary. Plenty of time, however, remains between now and Washington’s season opener. As the team has established rare modern-era momentum, it will naturally want to keep its top skill-position player happy before a Super Bowl push commences.

Three Teams Pursuing FA OLB Von Miller

July 15th, 2025 at 3:13pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Von Miller‘s Hall of Fame career is on pause after 14 seasons. The Bills moved on from his six-year contract after paying out the deal’s guarantees, swapping out the aging edge rusher for Joey Bosa. Miller has indicated he wants to play a 15th season, but he has remained in free agency for four months.

Some movement looks to have taken place in this market. Miller has “three very interested teams,” according to NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger (via Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams).

At least, that’s what Baldinger heard from his former Duke teammate and Miller’s agent, Joby Branion. Prior to this, there have been virtually no reports of interest from any specific teams. The only update has been Miller throwing cold water on a potential reunion with the Broncos due to the presence of younger edge rushers.

Part of the reason for the delay is likely Miller himself. Baldinger also said that the 36-year-old linebacker was not “too crazy about going to training camp…Most guys that age aren’t.” If Miller didn’t want to attend practices until later in the summer, he wouldn’t want to sign before mandatory minicamp and incur fines for not showing up.

However, it’s also possible that this game of telephone about Miller’s “very interested teams” is an attempt by Branion to improve the offers from those teams as training camp approaches. As it stands, Miller could be looking at one-year, incentive-laden offers for the lowest base APY and guarantees in his career. He’s missed 15 games in the last three years, though his four absences in 2024 were due to suspension, not injury. He had spurts of productivity in Buffalo, but he was a non-factor for virtually the entire 2023 season.

Baldinger expects Miller to decide on a team soon, but added that he did not know which specific teams Miller was considering. Miller is sitting on 129.5 career sacks. In the sack era (1982-present), that ranks 16th. Miller’s Broncos and Rams contributions all but assured him future Canton entry, but the former Super Bowl MVP can move into the top 12 with 6.5 more sacks. He can reach the top 10 with eight.

A role as a rotational rusher will likely be in the cards if/once Miller joins a new team. Other standout edge rushers have thrived in such late-career roles. A contending team bringing Miller in as a missing piece makes sense, and if the 36-year-old vet indeed waits until training camps wrap, injury situations could accelerate this market. But it sounds like Miller is willing to wait a bit longer before committing to a 2025 destination.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

PFR Originals: Panthers, Jackson, Smith, Jaguars, McLaurin, Texans, Ojabo, Sutton

July 15th, 2025 at 9:00am CST by Adam La Rose

Here is a roundup of PFR’s latest originals:

  • Recapping Panthers’ Offseason: The 2025 Offseason in Review series rolls on. Sam Robinson broke down the Panthers‘ moves on and off the field since the 2024 campaign came to an end. Bringing in needed help on defense was a major priority in free agency, and many thought a pass rush addition would be coming on Day 1 of the draft. Instead, Carolina opted to take a first-round receiver (Tetairoa McMillan) for the second year in a row while trying to add further to Bryce Young‘s supporting cast.
  • Previewing Jackson’s Second Extension: Three years remain on Lamar Jackson‘s current Ravens deal. Team and player have spoken about a new extension, though, and one could be in place by the start of the season. Ely Allen detailed what a third pact could look like for the two-time MVP, whose cap hit is currently scheduled to spike considerably ahead of the 2026 campaign. Working out a deal before then would be welcomed by all parties.
  • Detailing Smith‘s Extension Candidacy: Only one franchise tag recipient has yet to sign a long-term pact this offseason: Trey Smith. The Pro Bowl guard was given the one-year tender by the Chiefs to avoid reaching free agency despite the tag grouping all blockers together as one position. Ahead of today’s deadline for inking a new pact, I looked into what a long-term accord could turn out to be in this case. Smith’s age and durability should help him secure one of the NFL’s highest AAVs for guards but also lower his 2025 cap hit ($23.4MM, the value of the tag) in the process.
  • Reviewing Jaguars’ Changes: The past few months have seen sweeping changes made in Duval County. General manager Trent Baalke was belatedly dismissed in a move which paved the way for Liam Coen to take an unorthodox route to the head coaching position of the Jaguars. Sam recapped the process which resulted in Coen and new GM James Gladstone coming aboard. First-timers in their respective roles, their performances along with that of two-way player Travis Hunter will be central in determining Jacksonville’s success.
  • Breaking Down Potential McLaurin Extension: One of the more surprising contract standoffs of the offseason has been between Terry McLaurin and the Commanders. Both sides are seeking to continue their relationship beyond 2025, but valuation has proven to be challenging. Entering his age-30 season, McLaurin could experience a downturn in production but his consistency and chemistry with Jayden Daniels could land him in a higher tier regarding receiver compensation. Ely looked into the figures surrounding this situation, which all parties involved will hope comes to an end soon.
  • Summarizing Edge Rush Standoffs: 2025 has seen several key developments amongst edge rushers, and more is yet to come. Sam recapped where things stand regarding Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart (Bengals), Aidan Hutchinson (Lions), Micah Parsons (Cowboys) and T.J. Watt (Steelers). The pass rush market sits at $40MM per season for now, but that figure could move more than once before the start of the regular season.
  • Detailing Texans’ Offseason: The Texans entered the offseason once again looking to take a step toward genuine contender status in the AFC. As Sam wrote, changes at the offensive coordinator position (with Bobby Slowik being replaced by Nick Caley) along with a major overhaul of the O-line were aimed at bouncing back on that side of the ball. Houston’s defense – led by cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and his record-breaking extension – will again face high expectations in 2025. Favored to top the AFC South for a third straight year, the Texans will be an interesting team to follow as the conference’s pecking order takes shape this season.
  • Exploring Ojabo Release: While a number of edge rushers are set to cash in soon, others find themselves on the roster bubble. David Ojabo enters training camp as a Ravens cut candidate. I broke down the former second-rounder’s injury-plagued NFL tenure to date and how he could be waived ahead of the final year of his rookie contract. Baltimore’s starting edge rushers remain from 2024, and the team added Mike Green during this year’s draft. Ojabo – who has totaled just four sacks so far – could end up on the outside looking in when the Ravens make their final cuts after training camp.
  • Listing Past Decade’s Franchise-Tagged Performers: In light of the Chiefs’ approaching deadline on a Smith extension, Sam recalled each of the players who have played out a campaign on the franchise tag since 2015. As few as one player and as many as 12 (in 2020) have found themselves in the situation Smith will face in a given campaign unless he signs a long-term pact. It will be interesting to see if he does, and the league winds up not having any tagged players for the season as a result.
  • Tracking Unsigned Rookies: 33 members of this year’s draft class have yet to sign their rookie deals. That includes 30 second-round selections. Ely listed the players in question, including the Day 2 rookies who are aiming to follow in the footsteps of Carson Schwesinger and Jayden Higgins. Picks 33 and 34 received fully guaranteed contracts, which had previously only been the case for first-round picks. Tre Harris of the Chargers has elected not to attend training camp (at least for now) in a sign the wait for second-round selections to sign could last deep into the summer.
  • Looking Into New Sutton Deal: After plenty of time attached to trade rumors, Courtland Sutton is in position to continue his Broncos tenure in 2025. The team’s top receiver has one year left on his deal after a short-term financial compromise was reached last offseason. While Sutton is not Denver’s top extension priority, Sam detailed what a new pact could look like. His resume would not set Sutton up for a monster pact like other producers at his position, but a raise keeping him in Denver for years to come could prove to be a mutually beneficial move.
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