Roger Goodell: No CBA Talks Planned
The current collective bargaining agreement runs through 2030, leaving plenty of time for negotiations between the NFL and NFLPA to take place on several issues. Commissioner Roger Goodell made it clear when speaking at the recent owners meetings an effort to begin serious talks on the next CBA are not lined up. 
“There are no formal plans on any discussions,” Goodell said (via Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio). “We obviously continue to be in close communication with the union on a variety of matters, but no start of negotiations have been set or are under consideration really at this point.”
[RELATED: Latest Goodell Extension Expected To Receive Approval]
Goodell has made no secret about the league’s key goals for the next CBA. Expansion to an 18-game regular season is among them, although the players association as expected is not looking to agree to that without significant concessions being made. Increasing the NFL’s international footprint is also high on the agenda. Staging as many as 16 regular season games outside the United States annually within the next five years was named as a target by Goodell this week.
Goodell said he and the owners spoke “at length” about two key matters. The first was the salary cap, and the second was the ongoing spike in costs with respect to owning and operating NFL franchises. The cap ceiling was $120.4MM when the 2011 CBA was signed; that figure stands at $279.2MM for the coming campaign. Further surges are expected in the near future once the newest round of media rights deals are agreed to.
With the cost of roster building continuing to increase and franchise values spiking, a number of teams have turned to private equity funds for an infusion of cash. Stakes of up to 10% in NFL teams recently became permissible, and a small list of equity firms are in position to take on a non-controlling share in franchises. It would come as no surprise if the trend of such transactions continued over the coming years.
In the meantime, owners will look into measures related to the salary cap and operating expenses (which will no doubt include, crucially, the share of revenue between the league and the PA). Goodell noted no discussions about expanding the schedule took place this week in Minneapolis, but that topic can be expected to remain a point of emphasis moving forward. When a strong push to open up CBA talks is made, it will be interesting to see how the NFLPA responds.
Cowboys RB Javonte Williams Addresses Knee Recovery
Javonte Williams showed plenty of potential during his rookie season. A 2022 knee injury which included ACL and LCL tears has proven to be a major hindrance since then, however. 
Williams was limited to just four games in his second Broncos campaign as a result of the injury, and he was unable to regain his previous efficiency during the 2023 and ’24 seasons (3.6, then 3.7 yards per carry). While the former second-round wanted to remain in Denver, it came as little surprise when he departed in free agency. The Cowboys added him on a one-year, $3MM pact as part of their backfield renovations.
The terms of that deal illustrate the extent to which Williams’ value was impacted by the injury and its lingering effects. The 25-year-old managed to play 16 games in his first season upon returning to action and he appeared in every contest last year. Williams nevertheless feels better now than he did at any point over the past two years.
“I feel completely like myself,” he said (via the team’s website). “I probably can get more flexible and things like that, but as far as healing up, that I feel like is done. It just depends on who you are, it depends on your body… mine might take this amount of time, but somebody else might be different.”
There are of course plenty of examples of players enjoying a true return to form during their second season after a major injury like an ACL tear. Williams’ underwhelming showing in 2024 (859 scrimmage yards, four total touchdowns) came about while he handled a similar snap share to the other three years of his career, however. With a drop in workload not contributing to his statistical output, the North Carolina product will aim to spark a resurgence in Dallas another year removed the injury.
The Cowboys also inked Miles Sanders to a one-year pact, meaning he will look to help replace Rico Dowdle‘s production in 2025. Rookies Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah will provide depth to a backfield which is unlikely to see any further additions at this point in the offseason. If Williams is able to rebound this year, a much more lucrative free agent market will await him next spring.
Brock Purdy Addresses 49ers Extension
Much of the 49ers’ offseason contract work has been taken care of well before training camp. That includes the long-term extension recently worked out with quarterback Brock Purdy. 
That five-year, $265MM pact ties Purdy to San Francisco through 2030 and ensures his earnings on his second NFL pact will vastly outweigh his first. The former ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ will receive a $40MM signing bonus, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk details. Other notable payouts include option bonuses due in 2026 ($37.75MM), 2027 ($15MM) and 2028 ($20MM).
Purdy is assured of $100MM at signing, and the outstanding money which is not already locked in for 2027 ($15.35MM) will shift from an injury to a full guarantee on April 1, 2026. A $55.05MM injury guarantee exists for 2028, but $5MM of that total will be fully locked in early if Purdy handles at least a 50% snap share and the 49ers win the Super Bowl this year or next. Of his 2029 compensation, $7.15MM will become a full guarantee on April 1, 2028, with the remaining $5MM vesting one year later. Workout and roster bonuses are present throughout the deal, which includes a non-guaranteed base salary of $49.05MM in its final year.
With an average annual value of $53MM, this deal moves Purdy near the top of the market for quarterback compensation. His pact nevertheless falls short of similar ones signed before this offseason, and considering the trend of QB contracts leapfrogging each other as the cap continues to surge this can be viewed as a team-friendly arrangement. That is particularly true in 2027 when it comes to cashflow – which will stand at $110MM in new money at that point – as Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap writes.
“We want to make sure that we’re working together with our organization and setting up everybody for success,” Purdy said when speaking to the media about his extension (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner). “It’s not just for me to get all the money as much as I can, but also, hey, let’s surround yourself with a great team and players and a great locker room, and all those things mattered.”
In addition to a major spike in pay and a series of rolling guarantees, Purdy’s deal contains a no-trade clause. A number of other terms had been agreed to in the days leading up to the agreement, per Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News. Just prior to the deal being signed, though, other elements – one of those likely being the clause – came up in negotiations. Franchise quarterbacks receiving no-trade clauses is nothing new, but Purdy’s deal is the first in 49ers history to include one.
“I think it’s important, yes, but also that’s something that my agent and I had discussed with what other quarterbacks have around the league and stuff in their contract,” the 25-year-old added during his press conference (via Florio). “But, for me, was it going to be a determining factor in signing it or not? No. We were very grateful that we had it in there, but… everything else that the contract entails we’re extremely excited about, so we’re just grateful how it turned out.”
Given the structure of the deal, the 49ers will have Purdy in place atop the depth chart for at least the next three seasons. San Francisco’s first opportunity to move on from the Iowa State product will come during the 2028 offseason before his next round of guarantees kicks in, as a release would yield over $41MM in cap savings while generating a dead money charge of only $16MM. If things go according to plan for team and player, though, such a move will not receive consideration.
Lions, Aidan Hutchinson Likely To Accelerate Extension Talks
Aidan Hutchinson confirmed yesterday that he has received full medical clearance. That positive but expected development will allow his attention to turn to the matter of a Lions extension. 
The expectation remained amongst team and player that a full recovery would take place well in advance of the 2025 campaign. With that now being official, a long-term pact can be sought by both parties. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes that while some extension talks have already taken place, they can be expected to heat up given Hutchinson’s full recovery (video link).
Given the Lions’ decision to pick up the former No. 2 pick’s fifth-year option, plenty of time remains for a deal to be worked out on that front. However, the 2025 offseason has already seen the top of the edge rush market jump twice (with Maxx Crosby, then Myles Garrett, signing extensions). $40MM annually now represents the top price point at the position, and other veterans such as T.J. Watt (Steelers) and Trey Hendrickson (Bengals) are in line to secure new pacts soon.
Whereas Garrett, Watt and Hendrickson are each entering their age-30 seasons, Hutchinson will only be 25 by Week 1. That age gap makes Micah Parsons a better comparable situation in this case. The Cowboys’ top extension priority will turn 26 next week, and he is in position to remain one of the league’s top sack artists over the course of his next contract. If the Lions are confident the same will hold true of Hutchinson in 2025 and beyond, a monster accord should be in store.
When speaking about the direction of the pass rush market earlier this offseason, general manager Brad Holmes noted Detroit was anticipating such a jump while budgeting for a Hutchinson extension. A deal at or around the top of the pecking order will take into account the Michigan alum’s production to date – 28.5 sacks, 119 QB pressures in 39 games – while also anticipating further development into an All-Pro performer. That should not prove to be much of a logical leap, considering the fact Hutchinson was in the early Defensive Player of the Year conversation prior to suffering a broken leg five games into the 2024 campaign.
Finding a consistent complementary edge rusher during Hutchinson’s career has proven to be a challenge for the Lions. Even if Marcus Davenport manages to put together a healthy season in 2025, though, much of the team’s success on defense will depend on Hutchinson’s level of play. It will be interesting to see if he will have a new deal in hand by the time the campaign begins.
Saints’ Trevor Penning Taking LG Snaps
Trevor Penning spent his first two NFL seasons at left tackle, but the Saints moved him to right tackle last year. The former first-rounder appears to be on course for another position change in 2025. 
Penning has been taking snaps at left guard during OTAs, with Taliese Fuaga moving to the right tackle spot. The 2024 first-rounder handled blindside duties as a rookie, but that responsibility could now fall to the latest Day 1 addition along the O-line. Kelvin Banks Jr. has worked at left tackle so far, although he will also see time at other spots during the offseason.
“We feel great about Trevor and it’s just a matter of putting the best five out there on the field, giving ourselves opportunities and the versatility that that provides,” head coach Kellen Moore said of the move (via the team’s website). “Trevor’s physicality and his demeanor and the way he plays, we feel like guard presents him a great opportunity.”
Penning entered the NFL known for his physicality in the run game, but questions lingered about his pass protection. Struggles in the latter area have persisted through the Northern Iowa product’s three years in New Orleans, and in 2024 he ranked 75th in overall PFF grade amongst offensive tackles. Moving inside could mitigate Penning’s issues against the pass while allowing Fuaga to return to right tackle (where he played exclusively in college).
Banks handled blindside duties during his time at Texas, but a generally underwhelming final year with the Longhorns led some to expect a fall down the draft board and/or a switch to guard at the NFL level. It remains to be seen where he will line up with the Saints during his rookie campaign, although the team’s decision to select him ninth overall is a clear indication of their confidence in a long-term left tackle stint being possible. Erik McCoy and Cesar Ruiz remain on track to start at center and right guard, respectively.
Penning expectedly had his fifth-year option declined last spring. As a result, the 26-year-old enters this campaign as a pending free agent. His ability to find success wherever he lines up will be key in determining his value to New Orleans or an outside team next offseason. 2025 could still include at least some time at either tackle spot, but a stint along the interior is clearly being explored in Penning’s case as well.
Giants Sign No. 3 Pick Abdul Carter
MAY 23: Shortly following details of the No. 1 overall pick’s contract, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 divulged some details for the No. 3 overall pick. The signing bonus for Carter’s contract, signed yesterday, has been updated to a more exact $29.55MM. Following his rookie campaign, Carter will receive guaranteed roster bonuses for each of the three remaining guaranteed years of his contract. The roster bonuses will be worth $1.89MM in 2026, $3.83MM in 2027, and $5.78MM in 2028.
MAY 22: Abdul Carter is the latest member of the 2025 draft class to sign his rookie deal. The No. 3 pick inked his initial NFL pact on Thursday, per an announcement from the Giants. 
This four-year deal is worth a total of $45.26MM and (like those of all other first-rounders) is guaranteed in full. Carter will receive a $29MM signing bonus as part of the deal. Taking into account the fifth-year option, he could remain under team control through the 2029 campaign.
Throughout the pre-draft process, Carter established himself as one of the two bluechip prospects in this year’s class (with Heisman winner Travis Hunter being the other). The Titans were linked early to potentially moving out of the No. 1 slot, but once they committed to selecting quarterback Cam Ward that came off the table. Hunter wound up going second overall, albeit to the Jaguars after they pulled of a trade with the Browns to move up to that spot.
The Giants did extensive work on the quarterback position this year, but by late April a signal-caller (Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart or otherwise) was not expected to be the pick at No. 3. To no surprise, Carter heard his name called at that slot and thus joined a New York pass rush group already featuring Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Expectations will be high for those two, along with Carter, to deliver strong production in 2025.
The Penn State product transitioned to edge rusher on a full-time basis in 2024, something which proved to be a productive decision. Carter earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors upon leading the conference in sacks (12). His 23.5 tackles for loss were the most in the country, something which helped lead to a consensus All-American nod. If Carter – who is clear to take part in spring practices after dealing with a foot injury – develops as hoped, he will become a mainstay along the edge for years to come in New York.
Of course, the Carter selection wound up being followed by a move back into the Day 1 order to draft Dart as the Giants’ long-term option under center. He remains unsigned at this point, with the same being true of second-round defensive tackle Darius Alexander and fourth-round running back Cameron Skattebo. Given today’s news, though, four members of the Giants’ draft class have been signed, with the most lucrative rookie pact having been taken care of.
Browns Not Planning QB Trade; Kenny Pickett Frontrunner For Starting Gig?
MAY 23: During an appearance on ESPN Cleveland radio, head coach Kevin Stefanski said there will not be an even distribution of quarterback reps this offseason. That comes as little surprise, but the door is obviously still open to all four passers earning the starting gig depending on how training camp shakes out.
MAY 19: Since the Browns used a selection during the second and third days of the draft on a quarterback, questions have lingered about how they will sort out the position in 2025. Plenty of time remains for things to change on that front, but a few early indications have emerged. 
Rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders are joined by trade acquisition Kenny Pickett and veteran Joe Flacco, re-acquired in free agency this spring. That quartet could shrink in size during roster cutdowns, but for the time being it can be expected to remain intact. Even in the wake of the Saints losing Derek Carr to retirement, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com writes no QB trade is being planned at this point.
If such a move were to be made, Cabot recently named Flacco as the passer likeliest to find himself on the move. For now, though, he is in position to compete for a spot on the depth chart upon returning to Cleveland. The 40-year-old helped guide the Browns to the postseason upon joining them midway through the 2023 campaign, and he represented a logical target to return this year. With Deshaun Watson unlikely to play in 2025 while rehabbing his second Achilles tear, Flacco could at least open the year as the starter with the rookies developing.
As Cabot adds, however, it is Pickett who appears to be the frontrunner heading into upcoming OTAs and June’s mandatory minicamp. The former Steelers first-rounder saw his Pittsburgh tenure end in short order after a disappointing spell atop the depth chart. His trade to the Eagles resulted in a one-year backup stint behind Jalen Hurts and a single start in Week 18. To no surprise, Cleveland declined Pickett’s fifth-year option for 2026, meaning he enters the year as a pending free agent.
In a separate piece, Cabot writes there will be a split of two QB pairings to divvy up reps during offseason work, which is a reasonable approach given the uncertainty surrounding the position. Pickett is slated to operate as the No. 1 (at least, to begin the process) and Cabot predicts he will be partnered with Gabriel. That would leave Flacco and Sanders alternating third-string reps, albeit with the potential to move up the pecking order depending on their performances.
Gabriel and Sanders will remain under team control through 2028 on the rookie deals, so the Browns can be expected to retain them well past this summer’s training camp. With Flacco and Pickett’s respective futures much less clear, though, it will be interesting to see how they fare during practice. The latter could help his market value to a great extent with a sustained QB1 run in Cleveland, and his audition period for the gig will begin soon.
Buccaneers RB Rachaad White Addresses Pending 2026 Free Agency
Rachaad White‘s playing time has fluctuated during his time with the Buccaneers. The fourth-year running back is not expected to return to a full-time starter’s role in 2025, something which will of course affect his free agent value for next spring. 
White made eight starts as a rookie, setting him up to serve as Tampa Bay’s lead back the following year. 2023 produced a number of new career highs, including 1,539 scrimmage yards and a strong 64-549-3 receiving statline. After the former third-rounder averaged only 3.6 yards per carry, though, questions were raised about his ability to efficiently handle lead back duties.
Last season, White started 15 of his 16 appearances but his playing time fell over the course of the campaign. The emergence of rookie Bucky Irving cut heavily into White’s workload, as the latter totaled just nine carries across the final three games of the regular season. Irving has three years remaining on his rookie deal, but White’s will expire after the coming campaign. In the absence of extension talks, the possibility of a free agent departure looms, something he is acutely aware of.
“I’m ready to see what the year holds,” White said during an interview with RG.org’s DJ Siddiqi. “I’m coming into the last year of my deal, I’m ready to prove what I got and what I got going on. At the end of the day, you can only control what you can control. You have to go out there and prove it every day… I’m just going out with my mindset, just attack every day, show them who I am, and let the chips fall where they may.”
White averaged 4.3 yards per carry last year, by far the best mark of his career in that department. His drop in usage came about as Irving showcased his potential, however, and a further uptick in playing time for the Oregon product would leave White in place to operate as a backup. Such a scenario would hinder the 26-year-old’s value on a new Bucs pact or one sending him to a new team, so it will be interesting to see how he fares this year.
Under offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Tampa Bay experienced a strong resurgence on the ground in 2024 after years of struggling in that regard. Coen departed to take over head coaching duties with the Jaguars, leaving Josh Grizzard as the Buccaneers’ new OC. How his first season in that role plays out will be key in determining White’s future beyond 2025.
Roger Goodell Expected To Receive Contract Extension
Roger Goodell‘s current contract runs through 2027, but his tenure as NFL commissioner could continue beyond that point. An extension is expected to receive approval from owners, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. 
The matter of another new contract was expected to be discussed yesterday during the owners meeting, but that did not prove to be the case. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor) no conversations were held about another Goodell pact. The most recent extension in that respect took place in October 2023.
Goodell is currently 66, and finishing his current deal would take him past 20 years at the helm of the league (thus marking the second-longest run for an NFL commissioner). Another extension – which would be the fifth of his tenure – would obviously be a sign that retirement is not under consideration, though. Paul Tagliabue‘s successor has overseen the league through two CBAs and one media rights deal, with another agreement on the latter front likely coming soon.
Under Goodell, the NFL’s value and that of its franchises has soared. The recent sales of the Broncos and Commanders – for a combined price of $10.7 billion – illustrates that point. Revenues are expected to continue growing with a new, more lucrative broadcast deal and continued expansion of the NFL’s schedule at home and abroad. Earlier this year, it became clear an 18-game regular season with a total of 16 international games played per year is a target for the league.
Since taking over in 2006, Goodell has of course been the subject of criticism on a number of fronts. Matters such as the handling of suspensions as well as health and safety concerns (including concussions and playing surfaces) have been talking points for years, and that will likely continue into the future. It has long been clear, however, that the league’s owners are comfortable with the status quo when it comes to the NFL’s top executive position.
With discussions on this front being tabled, no timeline is in place for a new Goodell pact to be worked out. Plenty of time remains on his current deal, but a stint ranging beyond 2027 could very well be on the horizon.
49ers, Fred Warner Agree To Extension
THURSDAY, 7:45pm: The 49ers have officially announced the extension.
“Fred’s leadership is exemplary and his approach to his craft is contagious,” said GM John Lynch. “Fred sets the tone for our entire team with the consistency, speed and physicality with which he plays. Off the field, his passion, energy, and professionalism are second to none and truly embody what it means to be a Niner. We are extremely proud to get this extension done and lock Fred in for the future.”
MONDAY, 4:00pm: Talks with Fred Warner have indeed resulted in an extension agreement. The 49ers have come to terms with the All-Pro linebacker on another lucrative deal. 
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports team and player have agreed to a three-year extension. The pact is worth $63MM in total and includes $56MM in guarantees. For the second time in his career, Warner holds the title of the NFL’s highest-paid middle linebacker.
The top of the LB market stood at $20MM annually entering Monday, with Warner ranking second behind only Roquan Smith in terms of AAV. This latest San Francisco commitment will move Warner up to $21MM per season, which represents a slight raise on that front while no doubt lowering his scheduled cap hits for the next two years. The four-time Pro Bowler is now under contract through 2029.
Joel Corry of CBS Sports notes Warner will still earn $18.25MM in 2025, but this pact includes $5MM in additional compensation through 2026 compared to the previous one. $39.5MM of full guarantees are in place. Between now and the end of the 2028 season, $42MM in new money will be paid out.
In recent years, San Francisco has seen negotiations for its top players drag deep into the summer. That has not proven to be the case in 2025, however. Tight end George Kittle landed a new pact recently, and that was followed in short order by Brock Purdy becoming the league’s latest big-money quarterback. Warner loomed as the next logical target for such a commitment on the part of the 49ers, although as of April it seemed as though there was still plenty of work to be done on the negotiating front.
More recently, though, it became clear progress was being made. The latest update on the matter noted an agreement was close, so today’s news comes as no surprise. Warner will remain a focal point of San Francisco’s LB unit in particular and the team’s defense in general for years to come, something of increased importance given the departures seen on that side of the ball this spring. Dre Greenlaw was among the starters who left in free agency, with the pending Purdy extension playing a role in the 49ers’ spending plans. Obviously a new Warner pact was also in the team’s budget.
The former third-rounder has handled full-time starting duties during each of his seven years in the league; he has missed only one game during that span. Warner’s consistency as a run defender (at least 118 tackles each season) and play against the pass (seven interceptions, 28 pass deflections) has helped his case for being the league’s best linebacker, and his financial situation once again reflects that. The 28-year-old will remain in the Bay Area through the remainder of his prime.
Improved play on both sides of the ball will be required if the 49ers are to return to the postseason in 2025. Better health on offense will be a key factor, but the while the team’s defense integrates a number of new starters Warner will continue in his pivotal role with his long-term future secured.