Jaguars To Hire Brian Xanders
Shortly after the draft took place, the Jaguars moved on from Ethan Waugh. The departure of Jacksonville’s assistant general manager – who took over from Trent Baalke on an interim basis this winter – left a notable vacancy in the team’s front office. 
Brian Xanders is being hired by the Jags as part of their effort to fill that void, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports. The former Broncos general manager most recently worked with the Rams as a senior personnel executive. As a result, he represents a familiar face for both GM James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen.
Xanders’ NFL career began with the Falcons, spending considerable time in their player personnel department. That tenure was followed by his time in the Mile High City, which included the assistant general manager gig for 2008. He took charge of the Broncos one year later, overseeing one postseason appearance during his three years as GM. Xanders moved on to the Lions following his Broncos stint, but in the wake of Bob Quinn‘s firing he too found himself on the move in the spring of 2017.
It did not take Xanders long to find a new opportunity, though, as he was hired by the Rams later that offseason. The 54-year-old is a veteran executive who has handled a number of responsibilities during his career, something which should help the Gladstone-Coen tandem given both of its members are first-timers in their respective positions. Xanders will join a front office which has seen a number of other recent departures in addition to that of Waugh.
College scouting director Michael Davis is no longer in the fold, as noted by Neil Stratton of Inside the League. His tenure in Jacksonville began in 2021 under Baalke, but with Gladstone in place the team’s scouting department will move in a different direction. According to Stratton, other departures include that of scout Geep Chryst – in place since 2023 – and Claire Morrison (who had also worked for the Jags over the past two years). Further shuffling in the front office could take place over the coming weeks and months.
Jason Pierre-Paul Aims To Play In 2025
Jason Pierre-Paul‘s last NFL action came in 2023, but he made it clear this past December he intended to continue his career. That remains the case now. 
“Anybody that gives me the opportunity, I’m ready to go and I’m ready to rock right now,” the 36-year-old said during an interview with TMZ. Pierre-Paul spent the 2023 campaign with the Saints and Dolphins, and during his three total games that year he was held without a sack. That lack of production, coupled with his age, helps explain the lack of interest shown by NFL teams.
The three-time Pro Bowler had a decorated eight-year run with the Giants to begin his career. That was followed up by four seasons in Tampa Bay, a stretch which saw Pierre-Paul win his second Super Bowl. In 2022, he operated as a starter with the Ravens but managed only three sacks that year. The former first-rounder has topped nine sacks four times in a season, but the most recent time that was the case was 2020.
A veteran of 193 combined regular and postseason games, Pierre-Paul would certainly add considerable experience to any team willing to sign him. He has amassed over $101MM in career earnings, but that figure would not stand to increase to a large extent if a 2025 contract agreement were to be reached. Teams are in the midst of signing their draft classes, something which will take up a portion of their remaining cap space. Plenty of funds will still be available by training camp if a suitor emerges during the summer, though.
The likes of Von Miller, Za’Darius Smith and Matt Judon are still on the market as veteran edge rush options. Each member of that trio has a stronger chance of landing a deal this offseason, but Pierre-Paul clearly still aims to play in 2025 as well.
Bengals, S Geno Stone Agree To Restructure
Geno Stone will remain with the Bengals for 2025, but he will do so at a reduced rate. The veteran safety has agreed to a restructured pact, Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap reports. 
Stone was due to receive $6.48MM this year, but that figure has now dropped to $4.9MM. The Bengals have guaranteed $1.5MM of the compensation contained in the new agreement, which ensures he will play in Cincinnati in 2025. Stone, 26, remains a pending 2026 free agent.
A seventh-round pick in 2020, Stone saw his usage rate increase with each passing season during his tenure with the Ravens. That included an 82% snap share in 2023, a year in which he posted seven interceptions and played a key role in Baltimore’s defensive success. That performance helped Stone’s market value, and he landed a two-year, $14MM pact from the Bengals last spring.
The Iowa product was a full-time starter during his debut Cincinnati campaign, but he was one of several defensive players on the team who underperformed. Stone managed four interceptions and a career-high 81 tackles, but his work in coverage left plenty to be desired. The safety spot was a talking point this offseason as a result, and in January Stone found himself among the Bengals’ potential cap casualties.
Instead, he and Jordan Battle remain in the fold. Cincinnati elected not to re-sign veteran Vonn Bell this spring, but the team did not select a safety during the draft. New defensive coordinator Al Golden has expressed confidence in Battle’s ability to take on a full-time starting gig starting in 2025, so a tandem with Stone is in store as things stand. The Bengals could of course still look to bring in a veteran, though; Justin Simmons, Julian Blackmon and Jordan Whitehead are among the experienced options still on the market.
The Bengals ranked 21st against the pass last season, and improvement in that department will be needed in 2025 for a return to the playoffs to be possible. Stone will have a role to play in that regard, and a bounce-back campaign would help his value ahead of free agency next spring.
Ravens Release K Justin Tucker
Justin Tucker‘s tenure with the Ravens has come to an end. The decorated kicker was released on Monday, per a team announcement.
“Sometimes football decisions are incredibly difficult, and this is one of those instances,” a statement from general manager Eric DeCosta reads in part. “Considering our current roster, we have made the tough decision to release Justin Tucker… We are grateful for Justin’s many contributions while playing for the Ravens. We sincerely wish him and his family the very best in this next chapter of their lives.” 
While this move is significant given Tucker’s lengthy run of success in Baltimore, it does not come as a surprise. The possibility of moving on from the 35-year-old has loomed throughout the offseason. On-field matters were cited as the reason why a release would take place during the official comments on the subject from the team’s decision makers, but today’s news also comes amid a backdrop of sexual misconduct allegations.
16 massage therapists have accused Tucker of inappropriate conduct dating back to the early portions of his NFL career. Denials of any wrongdoing have emerged on two occasions, and the Ravens made it clear in the wake of a league investigation being opened they would wait until its conclusion to make a decision. In spite of that, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports the matter is still being reviewed.
Prior to the draft, Tucker was informed by the Ravens the team could select a kicker. In the rare instances when teams do so, veteran incumbents are usually replaced. That will indeed be the case in this instance as well. Tyler Loop – selected in the sixth round of this year’s draft – is now the only kicker on Baltimore’s roster. Barring an addition for training camp, he will be tasked with replacing the NFL’s all-time most accurate kicker.
Tucker (a former undrafted free agent who took over kicking duties as a Ravens rookie in 2012) played a key role in the team’s Super Bowl victory that year. From that point on, he enjoyed a strong run of consistency, with his field goal success rate ranging from 82.5% to 97.4%. The 2010s All-Decade team member connected on a 66-yard field goal attempt in 2021, breaking the record for the longest in NFL history.
The 2024 campaign saw a notable downturn in accuracy, however. A midseason slump resulted in Tucker missing a total of 10 kicks (eight field goals, two extra points) during the season. A return to form late in the campaign did little to quell questions about a change at the position being on the horizon. That became especially true when news of the allegations broke.
Jeff Zrebeic of The Athletic notes Tucker will be designated a post-June 1 release, which represents the more feasible financial route from the team’s perspective. This move will generate $4.2MM in cap savings while incurring a dead money charge of $2.87MM. Three years remained on the five-time All-Pro’s contract, one which carried an average annual value of $6MM (the second-highest figure in the league for kickers).
While the Ravens will move forward with a new kicker for the first time in 13 years, attention will turn to the results of the league investigation. Tucker’s future in the NFL – if he has one – will no doubt depend in large part on the findings of the NFL probe.
Mutual Interest Between Cowboys, WR Amari Cooper
The draft came and went without the Cowboys adding at the receiver spot. At least one addition amongst the veterans still on the market is expected as a result, with a familiar face on the team’s radar. 
Amari Cooper‘s name was recently mentioned as a wideout the Cowboys have discussed bringing back. Nothing is imminent at this point, but this team-player connection remains one to watch. During an appearance on SportsCenter yesterday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported a “mutual interest” exists between Dallas and Cooper (h/t Bleacher Report).
The Cowboys traded for Cooper in 2018, with a first-round pick going the other way. The former Raider remained in Dallas for another three seasons, topping 1,100 receiving yards on two occasions. With CeeDee Lamb emerging as the team’s WR1, Cooper was dealt to the Browns in March 2022 as part of a late-round pick swap agreement. Since that point, the Cowboys have attempted to find a viable group of options to complement Lamb.
Over the past two seasons, that effort included Brandin Cooks logging a starter’s role. He returned to the Saints during free agency, though, further limiting the number of veterans still available to Dallas. Cooper – whose production took a notable step back in 2024 – should not require a major financial investment if a Cowboys reunion is to take place. Given Lamb’s $34MM-per-year pact, cost-effective role players will of course be key at the position.
During his two full seasons in Cleveland, Cooper racked up 2,410 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Browns struggled with respect to quarterback play last year, and the midseason trade which sent him to Buffalo did not produce a large workload on his new team. Entering his age-31 campaign, Cooper will not be expected to duplicate the success from earlier in his career on his next team.
Nevertheless, the five-time Pro Bowler could help a Cowboys WR room led by Lamb, Jalen Tolbert, Jonathan Mingo Parris Campbell and returner KaVontae Turpin. Dallas currently has roughly $34.5MM in cap space with other offseason priorities (like a Micah Parsons extension) to attend to. It will be interesting to see, though, if progress toward a Cooper agreement can be made in the near future.
Rams Finalize Matthew Stafford Restructure
After a new round of speculation about his future – tied not to his desire about playing in 2025, but rather where he would do so – Matthew Stafford and the Rams reached agreement on another restructure. Now, that deal is officially in place. 
Team and player finalized the new agreement over the weekend, as first reported by Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. Per the teams of the pact, Stafford will collect $44MM in 2025 along with $40MM the following year. That $84MM total stands in sharp contrast to the $58MM which was originally owed over the next two years (although it falls well short of the top of the QB market)
Stafford’s future has been considered year-to-year by Los Angeles, but the team’s latest raise notably included $56MM in full guarantees. That figure consists of the remaining $40MM to be paid out for this season, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, along with an additional $16MM in 2026. Rapoport adds that Stafford’s ’26 compensation will vest provided he remains on the roster by the start of free agency next spring.
For the past four years, Stafford has operated as the Rams’ starter. After helping lead the team to the Super Bowl during his debut Los Angeles campaign, the former No. 1 pick was limited to nine games the following year. Stafford has remained durable since then, and the Rams’ continued decision not to draft a successor indicates their confidence he will continue to operate at a high level moving forward.
The 37-year-old received permission to gauge his market this offseason, but no trade agreement was struck with suitors like the Giants or Raiders. As a result, Stafford and the Rams will look to build off the success of the 2024 campaign with stability under center for at least another two years. Given the length of this latest restructure, team and player will no doubt welcome the lack of questions regarding Stafford’s short-term outlook.
No Timeline For Texans WR Tank Dell’s Return
Tank Dell‘s 2024 season came to an abrupt end when he suffered a massive knee injury in Week 16. The Texans wideout still faces a very long road to recovery, and no firm timeline exists for him to return to the field. 
“For Tank, I want him to continue to get better, continue to attack each day of the rehab process the right way, like he’s been doing, with a great attitude,” head coach DeMeco Ryans said when speaking to the media on Monday (video link via Aaron Wilson of KPRC2). “There’s nothing to rush. There’s no set timeline that we need him back by this certain day. We need Tank back when Tank is ready to be Tank, and that’s good enough for me.”
Not long after the injury, it became clear Dell would require multiple surgeries to repair the damage (which included ACL, PCL and LCL tears along with a torn meniscus and a dislocated kneecap). As of March, the 25-year-old had undergone a pair of operations, marking a key checkpoint in his rehab process. The possibility still remains, however, that Dell will miss most or even all of the 2025 campaign.
Selected in the third round of the 2023 draft, Dell’s rookie campaign showcased a strong connection between he and quarterback C.J. Stroud. That year also featured a major injury, however, in the form of a broken leg. Missing considerable time during this coming campaign would of course hinder the Iowa State product’s value for a potential extension. Dell’s rookie deal runs through 2026.
Houston lost Stefon Diggs in free agency, although the team pulled off an intra-division trade to acquire Christian Kirk. The Texans’ receiver corps will continue to be led by Nico Collins moving forward, but the Texans also have John Metchie and Justin Watson in the fold, along with rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Both members of that Iowa State tandem will look to carve out roles during training camp. As that takes place, Dell will continue rehabbing without a hard target for when to return to action.
Packers Sign 10 UDFAs
While serving as the host of the 2025 draft, the Packers selected eight rookies over the course of the three-day event. Green Bay has since added to its rookie class with the following UDFA signings:
- Johnathan Baldwin, CB (UNLV)
- Brant Banks, T (Rice)
- Kahzir Brown, S (FAU)
- Tyler Cooper, G (Minnesota)
- Tyron Herring, CB (Delaware)
- Amar Johnson, RB (South Dakota State)
- Jamon Johnson, LB (Kentucky)
- J.J. Lipe, G (Northern Illinois)
- Nazir Stackhouse, DT (Georgia)
- Jalen White, RB (Georgia Southern)
The Packers do not have a track record of making major commitments in term of base salaries for undrafted free agents. Baldwin represents an exception, however. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reports he received $100K locked in for his base salary along with a $15K signing bonus. That is a strong indication he will receive a long look during the summer.
Brown measured 6-1 and 223 pounds at FAU’s Pro Day, during which he posted a 4.53 40-yard dash time. That combination of size and speed could help him land a roster spot in a special teams capacity. Brown posted a pair of interceptions, along with eight pass deflections and a forced fumble in 2024.
Stackhouse won a pair of championships with the Bulldogs during his five-year run with the team. With only three sacks to his name, he will look to carve out a role based on his play against the run. The 6-3, 320-pounder totaled 96 tackles (including nine for a loss) in college.
Raiders Add Anthony Patch To Front Office
The Raiders have added an experienced executive to their front office. The team announced on Monday that Anthony Patch has been hired under the title of senior personnel executive. 
Patch’s time in the NFL began with the Dolphins in 2001. The majority of his career has taken place in Philadelphia. however. He held several titles during a 23-year run in the organization, including senior director of college scouting dating back to 2016.
As a result, Patch represented a key member of the Eagles’ front office with respect to the NFL draft. The team has established itself as a one of the league’s best at finding high-end rookies, many of whom have played a key role in Philadelphia’s two Super Bowl victories. General manager Howie Roseman and Co. will now need to find or promote a replacement to play a leading role in draft preparation.
For new Raiders general manager John Spytek, meanwhile, Patch will represent a familiar face. The pair worked together as scouts in Philadelphia from 2005-09 (h/t Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer). This reunion will see them each take on significant responsibilities in Vegas as the team looks to reach contender status over the long term.
Spytek, along with new head coach Pete Carroll and minority owner Tom Brady, oversaw the Raiders’ 2025 draft. That process was soon followed up by the hiring of Brian Stark as assistant general manager. The team has now made another notable move in the front office which could pay dividends for years to come.
Panthers DT Derrick Brown Aiming For Week 1 Return
The Panthers were without Derrick Brown for essentially the entire 2024 campaign. If the Pro Bowl defensive tackle’s rehab continues as planned, though, a full slate in 2025 should be possible. 
A Week 1 meniscus tear led to surgery (in the form of a full repair) and began a lengthy rehab process for Brown after his season consisted of just 60 defensive snaps. Progress has been been made since then, however. During his most recent public comments on the matter, Brown stated his intention of being back to full strength in time for Week 1.
“I’m doing what the doctors and trainers are allowing me to do at this point,” Brown said, via Joe Person of The Athletic (subscription required). “No rush, just trying to get back. I would like to be able to be there when the team gets ready to play in September.”
Plenty of time remains for that goal to be reached, although Brown could be a candidate to open training camp on the PUP list depending on how quickly his recovery goes. A cautious approach on Carolina’s part would certainly be reasonable based on the former No. 7 pick’s importance to the team. Brown has operated as a full-time starter since his arrival, and he produced a 103-tackle campaign in 2023.
That helped the 27-year-old land a $96MM extension last offseason. Brown is one of several defensive tackles who has landed a big-ticket deal in recent years, although his production against the pass does not match up with some of his peers. Still, his loss was acutely felt as the Panthers struggled mightily on defense in 2024, and a return to full health will be key for the group moving forward.
Carolina has made a number of moves along the defensive interior this offseason, signing Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown in free agency. The team also brought in a rookie in the form of fifth-rounder Cam Jackson. Brown will be counted on to reprise his role as an anchor of the unit (which also includes veteran Shy Tuttle) once he returns to action. If things go according to plan, that will include taking part in the Panthers’ season opener.