2025 August - Pro Football Rumors

Month: August 2025

Rams To Trade T KT Leveston To Browns

August 26th, 2025 at 8:16am CST by Adam La Rose

Tuesday’s first NFL trade will see offensive line depth change hands. The Rams are sending tackle KT Leveston to the Browns for a 2028 seventh-round pick, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Dealing away selections three years into the future is certainly rare in the NFL, especially in the case of a low-level trade such as this one. Cleveland has restocked on draft capital this offseason, though, with the move down the first-rounder order yielding an additional first from the Jaguars in 2026. Yesterday’s Kenny Pickett swap also added to the team’s collection for next spring.

Leveston entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick of the Rams last season. He did not see any regular season game action as a rookie while dealing with an injury. Los Angeles opened his practice window in November, but one month later he reverted to injured reserve without being activated. Now healthy, the 25-year-old will aim to provide Cleveland with depth up front.

The Browns’ offensive tackle position has been in flux this offseason, with Jedrick Wills no longer in the fold. The former first-rounder is set to miss most or all of the coming season while recovering from a knee injury. Jack Conklin is still in place for Cleveland, a team which added Cornelius Lucas in free agency. The likes of Germain Ifedi, Geron Christian and Hakeem Adeniji departed this spring, however, so Leveston will look to compensate (in part) for their absences.

The Rams will create $840K in cap space with this move, while the Browns will take on the remaining three years of Leveston’s rookie contract. The Kansas State product managing to carve out a swing tackle role or another backup gig along the offensive line could allow for him to have an extended stay in Cleveland.

Giants To Waive QB Tommy DeVito

August 26th, 2025 at 8:07am CST by Adam La Rose

The Giants’ trio of new quarterbacks has pushed Tommy DeVito off the roster. New York is moving on in this case, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

DeVito has made 12 appearances and eight starts across the past two seasons, but the Giants’ actions this offseason led to the expectation he would wind up on the wrong side of the roster bubble. New York added Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency before selecting Jaxson Dart in the first round of the draft. Each of those three signal-callers will be on the team’s 53-man roster, Dianna Russini of The Athletic confirms.

DeVito’s showings during his regular season appearances as well as New York’s preseason finale last Thursday could make him an attractive option on the waiver wire. Teams will be able to put in a claim through tomorrow, the first day in which practice squads will be formed. If DeVito, 27, passes through waivers, he will become a free agent.

As NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo notes, DeVito himself was the subject of trade talks in recent days. Winston has also been the target of a potential deal, but the Giants are prepared to move forward with the former No. 1 pick in a depth capacity. Wilson will handle starting duties to begin the year with Dart looming as a potential replacement depending on how the early portion of the campaign shakes out.

This time of year often brings about shuffling at the QB position, and it will be interesting to see how strong DeVito’s market turns out to be. The Raiders found themselves in need of an addition, but their vacancy was filled yesterday with the Kenny Pickett trade. The Patriots, meanwhile, have only two passers in the organization at the moment. New England thus represents a candidate for a waiver claim or a free agent push in the event DeVito hits the market.

Bengals, DE Trey Hendrickson Revise Deal

August 25th, 2025 at 11:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

The monthslong (perhaps yearslong) Trey Hendrickson contract saga in Cincinnati has reached a conclusion — for 2025, at least. With less than two weeks remaining before the Bengals’ opener, a deal is in place.

Hendrickson and the Bengals are in agreement on a revised contract, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. After Rapoport and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero indicated the sides were close, it appears this endless chapter is complete. The sides agreed on what will be a $14MM 2025 raise, Pelissero reports, adding the ninth-year veteran will make $30MM this year.

While this is a short-term win for Hendrickson, the Bengals’ preference for a one-year guarantee — reminding of a previous Hendrickson re-up — appears to have won out. This is certainly good news for the Bengals, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes Hendrickson is expected to play in Week 1.

Earlier today, a report surfaced indicating the Bengals and Hendrickson had resumed talks. The Bengals had long been willing to give Hendrickson a high AAV on a short-term agreement, but the 30-year-old pass rusher had understandably sought a guarantee package that provides better long-term security. But that has not happened. And Hendrickson remains on track for free agency in 2026.

Hendrickson was already tied to a $15.8MM 2025 base salary this year. That had been in place as part of a one-year extension agreed to in 2023. Hendrickson said he agreed to that extension in fear of being franchise-tagged in 2025. With the Bengals’ Tee Higgins matter taking two offseasons to resolve, no tag was available. And Hendrickson, despite seeing T.J. Watt land a $108MM full guarantee on a three-year deal, appears to be prepared to hit free agency in 2026. Even as the Bengals observed the Steelers break their guarantee structure for Watt, the Bengals did not budge on a key organizational philosophy with Hendrickson.

The Bengals have bent on their steadfast refusal to include post-Year 1 salary guarantees in deals, but it has taken a young Hall of Fame-type talent to convince them to do so. Joe Burrow naturally received post-Year 1 guarantees upon being extended in 2023, and Ja’Marr Chase‘s triple-crown season prompted the Bengals to break their policy this offseason. Higgins, however, did not. With the Bengals not bending for a younger talent like Higgins, the team did not appear ready to give Hendrickson that type of agreement. Hendrickson’s importance to Cincinnati’s defense — one that took a significant step back last year — did not end up leading to an extension for the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up, and this could be the parties’ final season together.

Hendrickson did receive an extension offer — three years, $95MM — according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, but he turned it down due to no guaranteed money being present beyond Year 1. Hendrickson turned down what may have been a comparable offer several weeks ago.

This familiar Bengals issue is now a key part of the decorated edge rusher’s career. Rather than take his chances with a nonguaranteed structure down the line, Hendrickson will see if he can reach free agency after another strong season. This top-up does not match where the Texans went with Danielle Hunter (one year, $35.6MM), which certainly points to this saga either concluding with a 2026 free agency exit or potentially taking another turn.

Cincy could cuff Hendrickson via a 2026 franchise tag. Teams usually reserve the tag for players who play out their rookie deals, as the Bengals did with Higgins and Jessie Bates recently, but this franchise also cuffed a veteran performer not too long ago. The Bengals tagged A.J. Green in 2020. If they were to go to this well with Hendrickson, however, this raise will hike that price beyond $35MM. As could be expected, veteran reporter Jordan Schultz adds a no-tag clause is not present in this rework.

Over the past two seasons, Hendrickson leads the NFL with 35 sacks — 4.5 more than anyone else. This naturally brought Hendrickson back to the table, after the Bengals did not redo his deal in 2024. The team let Hendrickson seek a trade, and while better guarantee structures were undoubtedly available elsewhere, Cincy held a high asking price that prevented a deal. The Bengals wanted at least a first-round pick before the draft, and their recent ask — even after a reported reduction –was believed to be too high for teams as well.

The second leg of trade rumors came after a report indicating contract talks had stalled. We heard earlier this summer Cincy had not offered a $35MM-per-year deal, but an August report indicated the proposal was “closer to the top of the market.” At 3/95, Hendrickson would have been the NFL’s sixth-highest-paid EDGE by AAV. While there are more notable barometers to measure contract value, the Bengals’ guarantee caution would not have made that a player-friendly pact.

Even as the Bengals struggled defensively, leaving a Burrow MVP-caliber season short of the playoffs, Hendrickson could not turn a holdout or a hold-in into a multiyear guarantee. With Hendrickson agreeing to terms rather than missing out on near-$1MM game checks, the matter is resolved for now.

This will remain an interesting story to follow, as Hendrickson free agency- and/or tag-related rumors figure to follow this agreement soon. But the Bengals, after their lengthy Shemar Stewart impasse over default language ended, will have both their top DEs available to start the season.

Raiders Acquire Kenny Pickett From Browns

August 25th, 2025 at 11:10pm CST by Ben Levine

The Raiders have landed on a new backup for Geno Smith. The team is acquiring Kenny Pickett from the Browns, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Cleveland will be receiving a 2026 fifth-round pick in return, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

This is a natural move for both organizations. The Raiders have been hunting for a new backup quarterback since Aidan O’Connell suffered a fracture wrist that will sideline him for six to eight weeks. Meanwhile, the Browns were looking to clear up their QB logjam, despite what GM Andrew Berry may have signaled yesterday.

The Raiders’ only other option behind Smith was rookie sixth-round pick Cam Miller, so it seemed like only a matter of time before Las Vegas landed a veteran signal caller. In comes Pickett, who has pivoted to the backup phase of his career. A former first-round pick, the Pittsburgh product failed to live up to his draft billing with the Steelers. He went 14-10 in his 24 starts with the organization but only tossed 13 touchdowns vs. 13 interceptions. When the Steelers revamped their QB depth chart last offseason, Pickett requested a trade and was promptly sent to Philly to be Jalen Hurts‘ backup.

Pickett ended up getting into five games for his new squad, completing 25 of his 42 pass attempts for 291 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He earned a win in his lone start for the Eagles, a blowout Week 17 victory over the Cowboys. After the season, he was dealt to Cleveland for a fifth-round pick and QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

The Browns depth chart quickly became crowded as they navigated another lost season from Deshaun Watson. While it was once believed that Pickett could be in the driver’s seat to be Cleveland’s new QB1, Joe Flacco ended up winning the QB battle. Still, the team had too much notable depth at the position as the roster deadline approached. With this trade, the Browns can now roll into the season with rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders as the primary backups.

If you’re keeping count at home, this represents the third trade of Pickett’s four-year career. As NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero notes, this accomplishment has only been matched by one other player in NFL history: Sam Howell, who reached the milestone yesterday.

Raiders Bring Back WR Amari Cooper

August 25th, 2025 at 11:08pm CST by Adam La Rose

11:08pm: Cooper’s one-year deal with the Raiders (which is now official) is worth a $3.5MM base value, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The contract also contains $500K in per-game roster bonuses plus up to another $2MM in incentives. The max value comes in at $6MM.

4:35pm: On a day when one Raiders receiver has asked to be dealt, a former wideout is set to return to the team. Amari Cooper is heading to Vegas.

This will be a one-year reunion, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. Jakobi Meyers is looking for a trade in the wake of extension talks stalling, so the timing of today’s news is certainly noteworthy. Still, the Raiders were named today as one of the teams in the market for a WR addition, so this move is not entirely surprising.

Cooper has not had a strong market for his services this offseason, a reflection of his underwhelming production upon being dealt from the Browns to the Bills midway through last season. The five-time Pro Bowler averaged 37 yards per game with Buffalo down the stretch. The team left the door open to a re-signing, but nothing took place on that front and a lucrative addition was ultimately made in the form of Josh Palmer.

A return to the Cowboys received consideration shortly after the draft, but in the end Dallas worked out a trade for George Pickens. No other suitors emerged over the course of the summer, and with the preseason in the books Cooper will now face a quick ramp-up period ahead of the campaign. He will do so with the franchise he began his career with (albeit in a different city).

A first-round pick of the then-Oakland Raiders, Cooper enjoyed a highly consistent start to his career. He totaled 3,183 yards and 19 touchdowns across 52 games before being dealt to the Cowboys midway through the 2018 season. Cooper went on to top 1,000 yards another four times after that trade, giving Dallas and later Cleveland a dependable WR1. Expectations will be tempered for 2025, but the 31-year-old will give Vegas an experienced starting-caliber option with Myers’ future at least somewhat uncertain.

The receiver-hungry 49ers showed interest in Cooper, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. Instead of heading to San Francisco, though, he will re-join a Raiders team which is much different than when he left.

Seahawks Planning Role For Jalen Milroe

August 25th, 2025 at 11:05pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Seahawks didn’t draft Jalen Milroe in the third round of April’s draft for him to spend his rookie season developing on the sidelines.

Instead, they’re planning to install a package of offensive plays featuring Milroe, likely designed around his athleticism and abilities as a ballcarrier.

Head coach Mike Macdonald said on Monday (via Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune) that the offense will “have plays in game plans for [Milroe],” adding that he would practice those packages with the first-team. In the preseason, Milroe racked up 87 rushing yards on just 15 carries (5.8 yards per attempt) on both designed runs and scrambles, but only completed 56.4% of his passes with a pedestrian 6.5 yards per attempt, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Free agent signing Sam Darnold is still Seattle’s unquestioned starting quarterback, but the Seahawks clearly want to get Milroe involved as a rookie, both for his short-term impact and his long-term development.

Macdonald’s comments may add to the perception that the Seahawks don’t see Darnold as a long-term starter. They did notify him of their decision to draft Milroe, but the year-to-year structure of his contract suggests that Milroe could be a serious candidate to take over the starting job in the next few years.

Of course, Darnold could always establish himself as the future of the franchise with a strong debut season. Milroe, an exciting but flawed prospect, is no guarantee to succeed at the NFL level as a full-time starter, either. His athletic upside is certainly tantalizing to Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, so the team will find a way to get him on the field this year as they evaluate their future at quarterback.

Ravens LB Jake Hummel Underwent Minor Hand Procedure, Will Make 53-Man Roster

August 25th, 2025 at 10:37pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Ravens’ roster picture became even clearer on Monday with head coach John Harbaugh confirming that veteran linebacker and special teams ace Jake Hummel would make the 53-man roster.

“He’s going to be a big part of what we’re doing,” said Harbaugh, who also revealed that Hummel has a minor hand procedure this week. The former Ram missed part of the spring due to the birth of his son and started training camp on the non-football injury list due to an issue with his hand. He returned to practice and played in Baltimore’s first two preseason game before sitting out the third.

Harbaugh also said that he expects Hummel to return to practice next week and be “good to go” for the Ravens’ regular season opener in Buffalo.

Hummel will be the fourth linebacker on Baltimore’s 53-man roster, along with All-Pro Roquan Smith, 2023 third-rounder Trenton Simpson, and rookie Teddye Buchanan. The Ravens could keep a fifth after an impressive preseason from undrafted rookie Jay Higgins. He recorded six tackles, one sack, one bat-down, and one interception on his way to a 90.9 grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked fourth among all linebackers.

Harbaugh also provided some injury updates on wide receiver Xavier Guillory and Dayton Wade. Guillory, an undrafted rookie out of Arizona State, broke his clavicle, while Wade, a second-year UDFA, had chest surgery. Both are candidates to be placed on injured reserve, potentially ending their season, though neither was expected to make the 53-man roster.

Texans To Move Jimmie Ward To Reserve/PUP List

August 25th, 2025 at 10:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two Texans will be shifted to reserve lists when the team sets its initial 53-man roster Tuesday. As Joe Mixon will be transferred to the reserve/NFI list, Jimmie Ward is heading to the reserve/PUP list.

Ward has not recovered from offseason foot surgery, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports. Spending training camp on the active/PUP list, Ward must either be activated or transferred to the reserve/PUP list by Tuesday’s 3pm CT deadline. Not healthy enough to practice, Ward will miss at least the Texans’ first four games.

Ward’s age, injury and off-field trouble may put his career in jeopardy. The longtime DeMeco Ryans pupil has been arrested twice this year — the first on an assault family violence impeding breath/circulation charge and the second for violating his bail by consuming alcohol — and is rehabbing from surgery stemming from a Week 16 injury.

Ward, who has missed seven games in each of his two Texans seasons, will join Tank Dell as players to go down in a regular-season loss to the Chiefs but not be ready for the upcoming season. Dell’s injuries were considerably more severe, and the third-year wide receiver is expected to miss the full season.

Houston deployed Ward as a safety and in the slot during his two-year tenure, and the team has him tied to a $2.75MM base salary for 2025. If the Texans release Ward, it will cost them $4.63MM. That could certainly be a possibility, as could an NFL suspension. Ward is not in the clear legally, either, with Wilson adding Ward’s case is heading to a grand jury in September. And this foot issue offers another complication for the former first-round pick.

The Texans traded for C.J. Gardner-Johnson this offseason and dodged a bullet when the nomadic defender avoided an ACL tear. The team also has returning starter Calen Bullock at safety, patrolling the back line of a secondary that features Kamari Lassiter and recently extended CBs Derek Stingley Jr. and Jalen Pitre. Ward’s place on a third Texans defense is foggy.

NFL Minor Transactions: 8/25/25

August 25th, 2025 at 10:10pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Waived: CB M.J. Devonshire, OT Reid Holskey, TE Baylor Cupp

Minnesota Vikings

Waived: P Oscar Chapman, T Leroy Watson

The Vikings appeared to shop around Leroy Watson before ultimately deciding to waive the OL, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. A former tight end, Watson has emerged as an offensive lineman in the NFL, garnering 11 appearances through two seasons in the league. He started all four of his appearances for the Titans in 2024.

Vikings Contacting Panthers About WR Adam Thielen

August 25th, 2025 at 9:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

TODAY, 9:40pm: The two sides continue to discuss a potential Thielen trade, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. However, the Vikings and Panthers continue to disagree on compensation. At the very least, it sounds like they’ve overcome any financial concerns that may have been holding up a deal.

FRIDAY, 1:18pm: Panthers head coach Dave Canales has confirmed no serious trade discussion have taken place yet on this front, and The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports finances represent a barrier to any deal being finalized. The deadline for roster cuts is Tuesday afternoon, and it would come as no surprise if a resolution one way or the other were to be in place by then.

10:33am: The Vikings are known to be among the teams seeking a receiver addition in time for Week 1. An Adam Thielen reunion has been named as something to watch for, and efforts to make one happen are indeed underway.

Minnesota has contacted Carolina about a Thielen trade, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Nothing is imminent at this time, per Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune. Nevertheless, this will be a situation to monitor closely over the coming days.

The Vikings’ skill-position group has largely remained the same compared to last season, but their receiver depth chart has been dealt a number of blows recently. Rondale Moore will miss the season due to a knee injury, and projected No. 3 wideout Jalen Nailor is dealing with a hand ailment. Jordan Addison is set to reprise his role as WR2 when on the field, but he will miss the first three weeks of the campaign due to suspension.

While Justin Jefferson is at full strength (after dealing with a hamstring injury earlier in training camp), Minnesota could stand to add help at the position for the early portion of the 2025 campaign. Third-round rookie Tai Felton is in place to handle at least a part-time role on offense – especially until Addison returns – but a more established option would no doubt be welcomed by the Vikings. As such, Thielen represents a logical trade target.

The former UDFA joined Minnesota in 2013, and he began establishing himself as a valued member of the team one year later. Thielen played with the Vikings for nine seasons, earning two consecutive Pro Bowl nods during that span. A downturn in production helped inform Minnesota’s decision to release Thielen in 2023.

The Minnesota State alum signed with the Panthers in free agency and recorded the third 1,000-yard campaign of his career during his first season with the team. Thielen was limited to 10 games last year, although he still managed to operate as a full-time starter. Thought was given to retirement after the season, but the 35-year-old will suit up for at least one more campaign.

As things stand, that will consist of a third Panthers season. Carolina has invested first-round picks at the receiver spot in consecutive years, though (Xavier Legette, Tetairoa McMillan), and 2024 UDFA Jalen Coker flashed potential as a rookie. The Panthers also have veteran Hunter Renfrow in position to return to NFL action; he could replace Thielen’s slot production in the event of a trade.

Thielen has one year remaining on his contract and is owed a base salary of $6.25MM for 2025. The Vikings currently have over $30MM in cap space, although that figure will soon change once roster cuts are made. Still, finances should not be an insurmountable challenge if an agreement is reached regarding a trade.

Load More Posts