HEADLINES

Cordarrelle Patterson Unlikely To Make Steelers’ Roster?

June 17th, 2025 at 9:10pm CST by Ben Levine

The first season of Cordarrelle Patterson‘s two-year deal with the Steelers didn’t necessarily go as planned. The veteran offensive weapon still remains on Pittsburgh’s roster, but it’s seeming increasingly likely that he won’t be sticking around for Week 1.

Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly writes that there’s “no place where [Patterson] can slot in” into the roster, and the reporter expresses skepticism that the veteran will be on the roster for the start of the 2025 season. Kaboly also wonders if the team may be holding out for a potential trade suitor.

Kaboly notes that Patterson barely had a role during OTAs. The former All-Pro was spotted “mingling in the locker room,” but that ultimately proved to be “the extent of his participation.”

With Najee Harris no longer around, the Steelers would appear to have some leftover reps at the RB position. Jaylen Warren is preparing for a starter’s workload, but Patterson could compete for backup reps with rookie third-round pick Kaleb Johnson and veteran acquisitions like Kenneth Gainwell, Trey Sermon, and Evan Hull. Considering Patterson’s versatility, the Steelers could also look to keep him around for WR reps and special teams contributions, although it sounds like the team may just prefer to roll with a younger option in those spots.

Patterson’s Swiss Army Knife profile will always make him an alluring option for teams, but it’s uncertain how many more chances the 34-year-old will get. He finished last season with only 215 yards from scrimmage, which was his worst showing since the 2015 campaign. He also pitched in a team-leading 11 kickoff returns, although it only resulted in 240 yards.

Patterson has managed to contribute in a variety of roles throughout his career. He earned All-Pro nods for his special teams ability, and he’s the NFL’s all-time leader in kickoff return touchdowns (nine). While he mostly served as a backup offensive option for the first nine seasons of his career, he showed his ability while with the Falcons in 2021, finishing with 1,166 yards from scrimmage and 11 scores. He had another 800-plus yards and eight touchdowns in 2022, but he’s been limited to only 434 yards across the past two years.

Falcons Sign RB Jashaun Corbin

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

The Falcons have added a UFL standout. The team announced today that they’ve signed running back Jashaun Corbin.

The running back put himself on the NFL map following two strong seasons at Florida State, where he compiled 1,547 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns. He went undrafted in the 2022 draft and has bounced around the NFL a bit in recent years. He’s had a pair of stints with the Giants and spent an offseason with the Panthers, and he’s been limited to six total NFL appearances (all coming with New York in 2023).

Corbin caught on with the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League in late 2024 and proceeded to have a league-leading performance. He paced the UFL in rushing yards that season (514), and he also added another 138 yards on 18 receptions.

Now he’ll be catching on with a Falcons squad that could have an opening for an end-of-the-depth-chart RB. Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier will continue to lead the position, but Corbin will have a chance to compete for one of the remaining spots in the RBs room. The team’s other options include former or current UDFAs like Carlos Washington, Elijah Dotson, and Nathan Carter.

In a corresponding move, the Falcons cut RB Jase McClellan. The 2024 sixth-round pick got 13 carries in two games as a rookie, and he’ll now look to resume his NFL career elsewhere.

NFL Minor Transactions: 6/17/25

June 17th, 2025 at 7:10pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Cleveland Browns

  • Waived from IR: WR Ja’Seem Reed

Los Angeles Chargers

Elijah Ellis went undrafted after starting all 13 games for Marshall last season. The offensive lineman played a major role in his team’s top-20 rushing attack, and there’s hope he can use his six-foot-four, 336-pound frame to succeed in the NFL. He’ll be replacing Tyler McLellan, who joined the Chargers as a UDFA last year.

Trey Smith, Travis Kelce In Attendance For Chiefs Minicamp

June 17th, 2025 at 5:32pm CST by Ben Levine

A pair of notable Chiefs veterans showed up for the start of mandatory minicamp today. According to Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com, offensive lineman Trey Smith was in attendance for today’s practice. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes that tight end Travis Kelce also showed up for minicamp. Both players were absent from voluntary OTAs.

Smith’s absence was likely contract related, as the veteran is pushing for a long-term extension after being slapped with the franchise tag. The guard already inked his tender, locking him into a guaranteed $23.4MM salary for the 2025 campaign, but he still flexed the little leverage he had in pursuit of a new contract.

We heard back in April that the Chiefs front office was planning to pivot to a Smith extension after the draft. That’s the last we heard about a potential deal, and it appears that the two sides have made little progress since. There is a bit of urgency when it comes to an extension, as the Chiefs and Smith only have until the middle of July to agree to a new deal. Otherwise, the lineman will be forced to play out the upcoming season on the franchise tag.

The former sixth-round pick has emerged as a mainstay on Kansas City’s offensive line, missing only a single regular season game over the past four years. Pro Football Focus has consistently graded Smith as a top-15 offensive guard, including a 2024 campaign where he finished 14th among 77 qualifiers. Smith’s franchise tag currently puts him atop his position from an AAV standpoint, and an extension would presumably come in around $20MM annually.

It’s uncertain why Kelce no-showed voluntary practices, although his absence could be related to his flirtation with retirement. Notably, the veteran tight end showed up today 25 pounds lighter than 2024, per Fowler. Kelce is coming off one of the least productive seasons of his career; other than his one-game rookie campaign, the tight end’s 824 receiving yards in 2024 represented a new career-low.

Giants LT Andrew Thomas Tied To Lengthy Return Timetable

June 17th, 2025 at 5:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Andrew Thomas‘ injury trouble has hamstrung the Giants’ offensive line over the past two seasons. Since signing a big-ticket extension in summer 2023, Thomas has missed 18 games.

The latest batch of absences came as a result of a Lisfranc injury the former second-team All-Pro suffered in October. Thomas underwent surgery to repair the issue, ending his season, but this recovery timetable looks to have been delayed.

Initial expectations for Thomas pointed to a return to full strength by OTAs, according to the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard, but the sixth-year blocker has not participated in the Giants’ offseason program. However, the team does not appear too worried about this hold-up. Adjusted expectations have led to a cautious approach, Leonard adds, one that produced a revised timetable for a buildup during the offseason program and a return in training camp.

Brian Daboll did not, however, confirm Thomas would be ready by the start of camp. Considering the injury occurred in Week 6 last season, it would be a key storyline were Thomas not ready to go next month. The Giants not viewing their top O-lineman as ready would lead to a stay on the active/PUP list to start camp. Thus far, no signs indicating Thomas would need to miss regular-season time have emerged. But the Giants have seen the former top-five pick’s injury trouble intervene on a few occasions.

Thomas has also endured setbacks while recovering from a previous injury. He needed to restart hamstring rehab after a setback occurred during an early-season recovery in 2023. That hiccup led to Thomas missing seven games. This came after the Georgia alum needed two ankle surgeries earlier in his career.

The Giants then allowed the second-most sacks in a season (85) since team sacks-allowed data had been charted in the early 1960s. Although the team gave Jon Runyan Jr. a $10MM-per-year deal in free agency in 2024, its other O-line pillars have not stepped up. Evan Neal has proven to be a bust, and has since been shifted to guard in a last-ditch effort to salvage value, while 2023 second-round center John Michael Schmitz has not panned out yet. This has highlighted Thomas’ injury trouble, as Pro Football Focus ranked last year’s Giants O-line 23rd as a group.

Big Blue has used James Hudson as the first-string tackle during the offseason program, Leonard adds. The Giants gave Hudson a two-year, $12MM deal to be their swing tackle. That certainly represents upper-crust backup money for an O-lineman, but after Thomas’ past two seasons, such a move was probably necessary. The team also drafted Purdue’s Marcus Mbow in Round 5, using the former Big Ten standout — who drew guard buzz during the pre-draft process — at both tackle spots during the offseason program. While insurance measures are in place, the Giants’ viability as a reliable O-line — in a season that will likely feature some Jaxson Dart starts — hinges on Thomas’ return.

Extra Points: Hill, Lyles, Bolts, Bears, UFL

June 17th, 2025 at 4:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Tyreek Hill-Noah Lyles race will not happen, after all, this year. The Olympic 100-meter champion and three-time 200-meter world champion said the event was slated to take place this coming weekend in Times Square, a setup that would have come not long after a boxing event in the same location. But the race is off, per Lyles, due to unspecified complications and personal reasons. A high school track standout who was a sprinter at Oklahoma State before being kicked off the football and track teams (following a much-discussed domestic violence arrest), Hill made a return to the sport last week. The All-Pro wideout clocked a 10.15-second 100-meter dash at a meet in Sherman Oaks, Calif. (This time marked a personal best, as Hill clocked a 10.19 in high school.) Although Hill had run a 60-meter dash since joining the Dolphins, this was his first 100 since becoming an NFLer.

“We were very deep into creating the event,” Lyles said, Instagram link via the New York Post. “Unfortunately, there were some things, complications, personal reasons that it just didn’t come to pass, but we were full on. We were gonna have a big event, we were going to shut down New York Times Square and everything. We were gonna have all the billboards for the event; it was going to be a lot of fun.”

This may end up boosting Hill’s stock as an all-time NFL speedster, as Lyles (27 in July) would have been a heavy favorite in a race. While Hill’s 10.15-second sprint is certainly impressive at 31, it is tied for 121st in the world this year. Lyles’ personal-best time is 9.79. Not confused with Usain Bolt in terms of dominance in the 100, the Team USA superstar has 24 sub-10-second 100-meter clockings (including 11 sub-9.9-second performances) in his career.

The Dolphins are likely not too disappointed about this race’s cancellation, as Hill is coming off an injury-plagued 2024. The 10th-year veteran, who had dropped early 15 pounds this offseason, is coming off two offseason wrist surgery and will now focus on a fourth Dolphins training camp. Here is the latest from around the pro football world:

  • Jim Harbaugh needed to leave the sideline during a Chargers-Broncos game last October, enduring a heart episode. An atrial flutter, an arrhythmia that leads to an accelerated heart rate, led to the brief exit. Harbaugh returned to coach in that game but underwent heart surgery this offseason. The second-year Bolts HC said (via ESPN.com’s Kris Rhim) he underwent a cardiac ablation procedure, along with a hip replacement surgery, this year.
  • The Bears drafted tackles on Day 2 in each of the past two years, following their Kiran Amegadjie third-round choice with a second-round selection of Ozzy Trapilo. In the meantime, contract-year left tackle Braxton Jones is recovering from an ankle surgery expected to sideline him into training camp. Chicago could move Darnell Wright, who split time at left and right tackle at Tennessee before becoming entrenched at RT with the Bears, to the blind side. But Ben Johnson threw cold water on an extended LT look for Wright. The Bears HC said (via ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin) the team is “pretty comfortable” keeping Wright at RT. Chosen 56th overall out of Boston College, Trapilo has worked with the Bears’ first-stringers at LT, per Cronin. Naturally, this will be a storyline to monitor as Jones — a three-year LT starter — enters a walk year.
  • The UFL wrapped its second season Saturday, and the spring/summer league does not appear in danger of folding. In fact, an expansion could commence. The league trademarked four names — the Oakland Invaders, the Philadelphia Stars, the New Jersey Generals, and the Tampa Bay Bandits, all part of the original USFL in the mid-1980s — according to UFLNewshub.com. Combining XFL 3.0 and USFL 2.0 franchises, the UFL features eight teams. It would be interesting to see expansion become a legitimate topic, as the XFL twice folded and then merged with a rival league. Attendance and viewership for the minor-league product of sorts was down this season, per SportsBusinessJournal.com’s Ben Fischer, who indicates ratings dropped by 20% from 2024. Attendance declined 5% from Year 1.

Rams Re-Sign CB Derion Kendrick

June 17th, 2025 at 12:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

Last week, the Rams waived Derion Kendrick. That move appeared to set the fourth-year cornerback up for a move to a new team late in free agency, but he will instead remain in Los Angeles.

Kendrick has been re-signed, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes. The 24-year-old missed all of last season after suffering an ACL tear in training camp. During his two healthy seasons, though, Kendrick totaled 32 appearances and 18 starts.

The former sixth-rounder recorded 14 pass deflections during his first two years with Los Angeles, and in 2022 he notched his first career interception. A notable workload would have likely been in store once again last year if not for the injury, one which left Kendrick’s roster spot in danger this summer. One year remained on his rookie contract prior to last week’s decision, but now a new arrangement (no doubt on a short-term accord) is in place.

Cobie Durant and Ahkello Witherspoon remain in the fold as key figures at the cornerback spot for Los Angeles entering 2025. The team also has former first-rounder Emmanuel Forbes and special teamer Shaun Jolly on the books ahead of training camp. Kendrick’s quick re-signing is certainly a positive indication regarding his health, and he should be able to carve out at least a rotational defensive role provided he can avoid a repeat of last year’s injury.

The Rams have long been connected to a trade for Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The All-Pro played under Sean McVay from 2019-22, and a reunion remains something to watch for as the summer plays out. Some thought the decision to part ways with Kendrick was a sign a Ramsey trade could be in store; instead, the former is now back in place while the latter continues to await his future.

Raiders Considering Free Agent Additions

June 17th, 2025 at 10:38am CST by Adam La Rose

The Raiders moved quickly in making a free agent addition earlier this month. Shortly after Germaine Pratt was released by the Bengals, the veteran linebacker agreed to a one-year Vegas deal.

For the most part, free agency around the NFL has quieted down with the break between spring practices and training camp looming. The Raiders find themselves near the top of the league in terms of cap space at the moment, however, so further additions could be in store. Head coach Pete Carroll recently spoke on that point.

“You’re either competing or you’re not,” Carroll said (via ESPN’s Ryan McFadden). “We ain’t letting up now. There’s no time to turn away from having a chance to get a little bit better. So, we’ll be on it.”

The cap impact of the Pratt deal is not yet official, but it will of course not hinder Vegas’ ability to make other moves on the open market. The Raiders currently have just over $36MM in cap space, once again finding themselves in position to make multiple moves deep into the offseason. In years past, they have avoided doing so; Carroll’s comments certainly leave the door open to a different approach, though.

As McFadden notes, cornerback would represent a clear target in the event the Raiders were to pursue a signing. The team has plenty of uncertainty in the secondary at this point, with starting spots and depth roles up for grabs at the cornerback spot. Vegas recently hosted Shaquill Griffin on a visit, a sign of interest between team and player. Adding Griffin would give the Raiders a veteran of 82 starts and a contender to handle a large workload in 2025.

In addition to Griffin, the likes of Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas and Asante Samuel Jr. are unsigned at this point. Fellow corner Jalen Ramsey remains a high-profile trade target, although no Vegas links have emerged on that front. Nevertheless, the team will have the financial wherewithal to make one or more notable additions at that position or others this summer.

Ravens CBs Chidobe Awuzie, T.J. Tampa To Compete For Starting Spot

June 17th, 2025 at 9:52am CST by Adam La Rose

Four-time Pro Bowler Marlon Humphrey and 2024 first-round pick Nate Wiggins are slated to occupy starting roles at the cornerback spot for the Ravens this season. Aside from those two, however, there is plenty of uncertainty on the depth chart.

Baltimore lost veteran Brandon Stephens as well as trade acquisition Tre’Davious White during free agency. Neither of those developments came as a surprise, but their departures created a first-team vacancy on the perimeter (provided Humphrey primarily works in the slot moving forward). Chidobe Awuzie represents a candidate to fill in as a starter.

The former Cowboy, Bengal and Titan took a one-year Ravens pact shortly after being released by Tennessee. Awuzie has 94 appearances and 81 starts to his name, giving his latest team a highly experienced option in the secondary. Injuries have been an issue for the 30-year-old, however, and after taking a deal worth $1.26MM he is far from a lock with respect to first-team action.

As a result, training camp will feature competition for a starting gig. Awuzie is obviously a strong contender in that regard, but Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic writes T.J. Tampa can be seen as his primary challenger for the CB3 role (subscription required). The latter was a fourth-round pick in last year’s draft, but injuries limited him to only seven games played. When on the field, Tampa played almost exclusively on special teams and logged just 18 defensive snaps.

Given that lack of experience, the 23-year-old would require a strong showing this summer to play his way into a starting spot. As Zrebiec notes, though, Tampa impressed during spring practices and he could carry that momentum into training camp and the preseason. Baltimore’s pass defense improved dramatically during the second half of last season, but on the whole the unit ranked 31st in yards allowed; needles to say, improving on that figure will be a key goal in 2025.

The Ravens also have Jalyn Armour-Davis on their CB depth chart, although the fourth-year defensive back may be in line for a transition to safety this summer. Baltimore added a pair of rookies during this year’s draft in the form of Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam, but those sixth-rounders will of course face modest expectations in 2025. As a result, the play of Awuzie and Tampa through training camp will be worth watching closely.

Khalil Mack Addresses Decision To Re-Sign With Chargers

June 17th, 2025 at 8:59am CST by Adam La Rose

The Chargers’ edge rush group will be different in 2025 with Joey Bosa no longer in place. Khalil Mack is still in the fold, though, given his decision to re-sign on a one-year, $18MM deal.

That pact is guaranteed in full and ensures Mack will spend a fourth season in Los Angeles. The 34-year-old loomed as a candidate to retire at one point before it appeared he would test his value on the open market. The Bears and Buccaneers emerged as potential landing spots in the event Mack departed. Instead, he opted to remain in place for 2025.

“I had to be fair in the approach to things and not making it about just finances and all the different things,” the three-time All-Pro said when reflecting on his decision (via ESPN’s Kris Rhim). “I tried to make it more so just about winning ball games.”

The Chargers have reached the playoffs twice in Mack’s three years with the team. During that span, he has racked up 31 regular season sacks – including a career-high 17 in 2023 – en route to a Pro Bowl nod in each campaign. The 2010s All-Decade team member saw his sack total drop to just six last year, one in which he played through a groin injury. A repeat of the form shown during Los Angeles’ wild-card loss (two sacks, five QB pressures) over the course of the 2025 campaign would be a welcomed development for team and player in this case.

Mack has lost all five of his playoff appearances, so making a postseason run will be a central goal for his 12th NFL season. The former Defensive Player of the Year will remain in the AFC West, a division which sent three teams to the postseason last year and may very well do so again in 2025. If the Bolts are to enjoy a successful campaign, Mack will no doubt play a leading role along the edge.

Los Angeles has fellow veteran Bud Dupree in the fold, but especially with Bosa gone Tuli Tuipulotu will be counted on to provide consistent pass rush production. The latter upped his sack total from 4.5 to 8.5 in 2023, and a strong Year 3 could set him up for a notable extension next spring. In any case, Mack’s decision to remain with the Bolts will likely prove to be a key factor in determining their success this year.

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