Bengals Approaching Deadline On Stadium Lease Agreement
Negotiations are ongoing between the Bengals and Hamilton County over the future of Paycor Stadium. A June 30 deadline looms which will play a key role in deciding how the franchise proceeds with respect to its location. 
The Bengals will have to choose by that date on exercising an option to maintain the current lease with Paycor Stadium and thus remain in the downtown Cincinnati area. Doing so would represent the first of five two-year rolling extensions of the current agreement. Talks on an deal for stadium renovations have not yielded much in the way of recent progress, however.
“We wish there was a little more urgency and it was moving faster,” EVP Katie Blackburn said at the annual league meetings, via Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic (subscription required). “I do believe that the county would like to get something done. We just seem to be very slow in making it happen.”
Finances are among the issues yet to be worked out in this case. A $1.3 billion renovation project was proposed in September, but no arrangement has been made with respect to how it would be funded. Use of state money could be an option, although nothing has been decided in that respect yet. A consultant was recently hired by the county to help bridge the gap between the parties; unless significant progress can be made in the coming weeks, though, the situation could notably change.
In the event the Bengals do not pick up the option by the looming deadline, the team’s lease will expire on June 30, 2026. If that were to be the case, the door would be open to the team exploring other locations for the future. Such a scenario would be unlikely, but discussions on that front will no doubt increase unless an agreement can be reached shortly.
“We could, I guess, go wherever we wanted after this year if we didn’t pick the option up,” Blackburn added. “We’ll see… We are having discussions, and so we’re hopeful that the county is thinking about it a lot, too, and wants to get it addressed in a way that would be beneficial to both of us.”
Blackburn noted the Bengals’ affinity for remaining in place as negotiations continue. Depending on how they proceed, the possibility of a change in location could become a key talking point for the franchise this offseason.
Arthur Blank Addresses Falcons GM Terry Fontenot’s Status
Terry Fontenot has been in place as the Falcons’ general manager since 2021. The team’s record has remained consistent during his four years at the helm, but Atlanta has yet to post a winning campaign or reach the postseason during that span. 
As a result, questions have been raised about a potential front office change. When speaking about the subject, owner Arthur Blank did not give Fontenot, 44, a public vote of confidence. However, he also declined to term 2025 as a make-or-break season with respect to his job security.
“Every year for everybody is a crucial year,” Blank said (via ESPN’s Marc Raimondi). “So, I don’t want to say the NFL is ‘Not For Long.’ I don’t believe in that, because I fundamentally do believe – and I’ll make this point really clear – the most successful teams in the National Football League, you go back to the last 10 years, 20 years, 100 years… are teams that have long-term sustainability between their coaches and their general managers.”
Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith were paired together in 2021, but their three-year run did not go according to plan. Atlanta went 7-10 every year during that stretch, and Smith’s firing led to a reunion with Raheem Morris. The latter took on head coaching duties in 2024, a season which saw the team post a 6-3 start. The Falcons ended the year on a 2-6 skid, again falling short of a postseason berth and replacing Kirk Cousins with Michael Penix Jr. at the quarterback depth chart along the way. A potential parting of ways with Cousins after only one year in Atlanta is now a central offseason storyline.
Blank cited stability under center as another pillar of long-term success. The Falcons obviously hope Penix, selected with the No. 8 pick last April, will given them a true Matt Ryan successor. Even if that proves to be the case, though, Fontenot will be tasked with building a strong roster during the remainder of his rookie contract. Atlanta has made several high-profile draft investments on offense recently, and making needed improvements on the other side of the ball will be critical moving forward.
The NFC South has not excatly been among the league’s strongest divisions over Fontenot’s tenure, and again falling short of at least a wild-card berth in 2025 would no doubt lead to increased pressure with respect to a firing. For now, at least, Blank’s preference to keep him in place with Morris – and avoid a repeat of last season’s second-half fallout – has him safe for Year 5 at the helm.
Bills Unlikely To Extend RB James Cook Before Draft
The Bills’ offseason has been defined in large part by their extension efforts with key in-house players. Quarterback Josh Allen‘s recent top-up has him near the top of the position’s pecking order, and a quartet of starters on their rookie contracts now have lucrative second deals in place. 
Receiver Khalil Shakir, linebacker Terrel Bernard, edge rusher Gregory Rousseau and cornerback Christian Benford have all had their long-term futures assured early in the 2025 offseason. Other extension candidates loom on the roster, including running back James Cook. Nothing on that front should be expected over the coming weeks, however.
When speaking to the media at the league meetings, Bills general manager Brandon Beane said (via Ryan O’Halloran of the Buffalo News) nothing is imminent regarding a Cook extension. The team has turned its attention to the upcoming draft. As a result, a Cook deal may very well not be in place until after it is over.
Buffalo’s primary back for the past two seasons, Cook has earned a Pro Bowl nod each time in that span. The former second-rounder topped 1,500 scrimmage yards in 2023 and upped his end zone production considerably this past year. Cook tied for the league lead with 16 scores on the ground, something which helped inform his asking price. $15MM per season represents the target for a long-term deal, something Cook doubled down on shortly after letting it be known he aims to be one of the best-compensated backs in the NFL.
The top of the RB market sat at $19MM in AAV (Christian McCaffrey) at the start of the offseason, but it has since moved. In the wake of his historic debut Eagles campaign, Saquon Barkley inked an extension averaging $20.6MM per year; to no surprise, though, that investment was not followed by a series of lucrative free agent pacts at the position. If Cook, 25, were to hit his stated asking price on a long-term accord, he would rank third in the financial pecking order behind Barkley and McCaffrey and just ahead of Jonathan Taylor.
2024 fourth-rounder Ray Davis, veteran Ty Johnson and journeyman Darrynton Evans are also in place on the Bills’ backfield depth chart. Cook – who has handled 444 regular season carries across the past two years – is in line to remain the team’s lead option at the position, but as things stand he is entering the final year of his deal. Buffalo would avoid a potential departure on the open market next spring with an extension, but efforts to work out a deal on this front appear to be on pause until the draft is in the books.
Ravens Notes: Free Agency, Humphrey, Simpson, Washington
To little surprise, the Ravens have not been busy so far in free agency. Modest outside additions (DeAndre Hopkins, Cooper Rush, Chidobe Awuzie) have set the team up for adding further depth in the draft, but Baltimore has also shown interest in other moves recently. 
The Ravens were “in on a lot of” interior offensive lineman in free agency, a league executive informed The Athletic’s Mike Sando (subscription required). Patrick Mekari – whose six-year Baltimore career included time at every O-line position – operated as the team’s starting left guard for much of 2024. The former UDFA landed a three-year Jaguars pact including $22.5MM in guarantees on the open market, creating a vacancy in the starting lineup.
Andrew Vorhees represents an in-house candidate to take on a first-team role at left guard. The opposite spot is occupied by converted tackle Daniel Faalele, who struggled early in the 2024 season in particular and finished with a PFF grade of just 60.5. While the center position is set for now (and quite possibly the long-term future) with Tyler Linderbaum, guard will be a spot to watch at the draft with respect to the Ravens.
The cornerback position is also one which saw Baltimore lose a starter in free agency. Brandon Stephens took a deal with the Jets, creating the need for a boundary replacement. Marlon Humphrey has seen time on the outside but also in the slot during his career, and it appears he is on track to stay inside for 2025. Head coach John Harbaugh said (via Sando’s colleague Jeff Zrebiec) he prefers Humphrey playing in the slot. If the four-time Pro Bowler is primarily used on the inside next season, that will leave 2024 first-rounder Nate Wiggins in place for first-team duties on the perimeter. Awuzie is a candidate for the other starting gig, although Baltimore could look to add a rookie as competition.
Baltimore’s inside linebackers group features the highest-paid player at the position in Roquan Smith but a question regarding who will start alongside him. Trenton Simpson opened the year in that capacity, but the 23-year-old struggled and did not handle a snap share above 44% from Week 12 onward. Harbaugh expects Simpson to again handle a starting role at least on early downs in 2025 (h/t Zrebiec), but to no surprise he added Baltimore will make at least one more addition at the linebacker spot.
The Ravens saw Patrick Queen depart for Pittsburgh on the open market last offseason, and the Steelers similarly signed Malik Harrison in free agency this March. Baltimore also saw special teamer Chris Board depart, although his third phase contributions will be replaced by free agent signing Jake Hummel. Just like guard and cornerback, though, linebacker will be an area to watch as the Ravens weigh their remaining options in free agency as well as the draft.
The team’s defensive turnaround midway through the 2024 campaign was driven in part by the decision to insert safety Ar’Darius Washington into the starting lineup. The former UDFA made a case to remain a first-team option moving forward, and he was kept under team control when Baltimore placed the right of first refusal RFA tender on him. That will leave Washington in line for $3.26MM in 2025 compensation if he signs the tender, something he has until April 18 to do. Zrebiec writes no offer sheet signs have emerged to date regarding the 25-year-old, but he suggests the Ravens would prefer to retain Washington at a lower price than the tender value (subscription required).
Veteran Marcus Williams was benched midway through the season, and as expected he was released last month. Baltimore had already let go of Eddie Jackson by that point, so it would come as no surprise if safety was seen as a position of need early in the draft. Kyle Hamilton is among the Ravens’ most important players and will occupy one first-team spot moving forward, but it remains to be seen if Washington will do the same in 2025.
Cowboys Eyeing Tyler Smith, DaRon Bland, Jake Ferguson, Brandon Aubrey Extensions
Progress has been made regarding a Micah Parsons extension, although the Cowboys still have work to do on that front. Other candidates for new deals are on the team’s radar, and they could have agreements in place this offseason. 
When speaking to the media at the league meetings, EVP Stephen Jones listed a quartet of extension candidates for the Cowboys (courtesy of The Athletic’s Jon Machota). Left guard Tyler Smith, cornerback DaRon Bland, tight end Jake Ferguson and kicker Brandon Aubrey are all targets for new deals. The first three players are members of Dallas’ 2022 draft class, while Aubrey has been in Dallas for the past two years.
“There are scenarios where we sit down, have a visit with them,” Jones said. “You got to have two sides to get a negotiation done. We are certainly look at that with those guys.”
Smith was drafted with the intention of starting at guard and then moving to the blindside to replace Tyron Smith. The latter’s hamstring tear during training camp led to a change of plans, though. Tyler Smith played primarily at left tackle out of necessity during his rookie season before moving back inside the following year. Dallas kept the former first-rounder at guard for the most part in 2024, left tackle Tyler Guyton‘s rookie campaign. If Guyton develops as hoped, Smith could remain in place along the interior for years to come.
The guard market has seen surges in recent years, and five players are now attached to an AAV of $20MM or more. Smith ranked 11th in PFF grade amongst guards in 2023, and slotted in at No. 15 at the position last year. A new deal at the top of the pecking order may not be in store for the 24-year-old, but he represents a logical candidate for a long-term investment. Presuming Dallas picks up Smith’s fifth-year option for 2026, he will be scheduled to receive $21.27MM.
Bland outperformed his draft stock during his first two seasons in particular. The former fifth-rounder racked up five interceptions as a rookie, then added nine (including an NFL-record five returned for touchdowns) to his total in 2023. Bland was limited to just seven games this past campaign, failing to record a pick along the way. That could hurt his value on a new pact, one which would give the Cowboys a pair of corners (Trevon Diggs being the other) on second contracts.
Ferguson assumed TE1 duties when Dalton Schultz departed in free agency in 2023. He quickly became a key figure on offense, registering 761 yards and five touchdowns on 71 catches. Ferguson, 26, faced high expectations entering this past season as a result. Across 14 games, however, he only managed 494 scoreless yards while the Cowboys dealt with many injuries on offense. A rebound in 2025 would help the Wisconsin product’s free agent value if he elected to test the market. Failing that, he could ink a deal keeping him atop the depth chart.
Aubrey’s arrival in Dallas paved the way for what has been a remarkable run of success so far. A former draftee of Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC, he won out the kicking role in 2023 and connected on 36 of 38 field goal tries. Aubrey saw his FG accuracy rate fall to 85.1% this past campaign, but he recorded a 65-yard field goal (one yard shy of matching the all-time record). At the age of 30, he would be counted on remain one of the league’s top kickers – a position which now features three $6MM-per-year players – in the event he inked a long-term deal. Aubrey could alternatively be retained next offseason via a restricted free agent tender.
Quarterback Dak Prescott, receiver CeeDee Lamb and (presuming an agreement is eventually reached) Parsons will account for major Cowboys cap commitments in 2025 and beyond. The quartet Jones named as important players to retain will also be in line for raises in the event some or all of them ink new pacts in the near future, though.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/3/25
Thursday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- WR Miles Boykin
Washington Commanders
- Signed: DE T.J. Maguranyanga
Maguranyanga is the latest rugby player to join an NFL team as part of a bid to play football professionally. The 22-year-old is Zimbabwean and joins Washington via the International Player Pathway program. At 6-4 and 222 pounds, Maguranyanga will look to develop into a depth option along the edge, an area of need for the Commanders as the draft approaches.
Latest On Falcons, Kirk Cousins; QB Still Prefers To Be Released
Kirk Cousins is known to be on the trade block, with the Falcons confirming this week their willingness to work out a deal under the right circumstances. Of course, finances will play a major role in determining if an acceptable agreement can be reached. 
Cousins has already seen his $10MM roster bonus vest for the 2026 season, but at issue in ongoing trade discussions is his scheduled $27.5MM base salary for next year. An acquiring team would take on a portion of that compensation as the Falcons aim to move forward with Michael Penix Jr. atop the depth chart. Atlanta has set the bar rather high with respect to the financial responsibility of Cousins’ next team, though.
Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post reports the Falcons are “insisting” on the acquiring team in a Cousins swap taking on between $20MM and $25MM of what he is owed for 2025. To little surprise, he adds that demand has stalled talks on a deal to date. Owner Arthur Blank is seen as the driving force behind the team’s stance on this front, and with the draft approaching and the list of teams in need of a veteran QB addition thinned out it will be interesting to see if it changes in the near future.
Cousins appeared to be set up for at least a two-year stint as Atlanta’s starter when he signed in free agency last spring. The Falcons’ decision to the draft Penix eighth overall immediately led to speculation about a parting of ways for Cousins, and that has emerged as a possibility this offseason. The 36-year-old has let the team know his desire to be released, but even doing so with a post-June 1 designation would result in a $50MM dead cap charge. A trade thus represents a more suitable path, but Cousins does not want to waive his no-trade clause until after the draft to avoid a repeat of last year’s situation.
A third-round pick has been mentioned as compensation in a potential Cousins trade, but teams will of course not be willing to part with notable capital in addition to taking on the majority of his base pay for next year. The possibility remains that the four-time Pro Bowler will stay in place and operate as a highly expensive backup behind Penix. Head coach Raheem Morris confirmed at the league meetings (via NFL.com) Atlanta remains on board with such a scenario in the event a trade cannot be worked out.
Of the few realistic suitors for the four-time Pro Bowler, the Browns have often been mentioned as the top one to watch. Kenny Pickett was acquired via trade last month, and at the moment he is in position to lead a QB depth chart which features an injured Deshaun Watson. Cleveland aims to move forward from the ill-fated Watson acquisition, something which could include a draft investment as early as the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft or a short-term move such as reuniting Cousins with former Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski.
As noted by D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution during an appearance on 92.3 The Fan, the Browns are not in a position to trade for Cousins and take on some (perhaps most) of his remaining contract. In the unlikely event a release were to take place (something Ledbetter confirms is still his preference), Cleveland would presumably show interest in a low-cost deal given the offset language in Cousins’ contract. Considering Atlanta’s apparent asking price in a swap, though, it would come as a surprise if serious traction toward an agreement with the Browns or any other suitor were to be gained in the near future.
Raheem Morris: Falcons Open To Trading Kirk Cousins
TODAY, 8:30pm: Owner Arthur Blank echoed Morris’s statements, telling Josh Kendall of The Athletic that the Falcons will listen to offers on Cousins on their terms.
“At the end of the day, what happens happens, maybe something pre-draft, draft, post-draft, I don’t know,” Blank said, “but [Cousins] understands what our needs are and what we have to do as a franchise.”
YESTERDAY, 9am: Much of the discussion related to the Falcons’ offseason revolves around Kirk Cousins‘ future. The team has repeatedly stated a willingness to keep the Pro Bowl quarterback in place as a backup, but head coach Raheem Morris left the door open to a parting of ways on Monday. 
Cousins has made it clear he wants a change of scenery after one year in Atlanta. The 36-year-old old inked a four-year deal to join the Falcons last offseason, but he was benched late in the year in favor of first-round rookie Michael Penix Jr. The latter is set to handle starting duties moving forward, but Atlanta’s decision to keep Cousins in the fold past the vesting date of his $10MM 2026 roster bonus helped confirm he will not be released.
That leaves a trade as a possibility, although Cousins will not waive his no-trade clause until after the draft takes place later this month. Doing so will help him avoid a repeat of last year’s situation (where he was caught off guard by the decision to draft Penix), but it could limit the number of suitors in play to acquire him. When speaking about the Cousins situation on Tuesday, Morris noted the team would be on board with dealing him under the right circumstances.
“There’s definitely a human side when you want to see him go out and be the best version of himself,” Morris said (via Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams). “This is not a thing where we’re holding you back if the opportunity presents itself. If it’s something that’s good for both of us — it’s good for the Falcons and Kirk Cousins — we certainly would like to see that happen.”
Finances will be a challenge to work out between Atlanta and an acquiring team. Cousins is owed $27.5MM next season, and offset language in his pact means the Falcons could pass on at least some of that figure (along with the $10MM locked in for next season) to his new team. Especially after the draft has taken place, though, most NFL teams will have their 2025 starter in the fold. That will limit the Falcons’ opportunities to swing a deal. If retaining funds winds up being required to pull of a trade, Josh Kendall of The Athletic predicts the team will be willing to do so (subscription required).
The Browns have frequently been named as a team to watch on the Cousins front, given the presence of a familiar face in head coach Kevin Stefanski. A recent report noted a strong push to acquire the former Viking should not be expected at this time, however. As Kendall’s colleague Dianna Russini notes, though, a Cousins-to-Cleveland move would not come as a surprise given the ongoing discourse around the subject (video link). Barring another veteran acquisition under center, the Browns will remain a potential suitor worth monitoring.
To no surprise, Morris added in his remarks that he does not expect Cousins to attend voluntary OTAs. That has been expected on the team’s part, Underdog Fantasy’s James Palmer confirms. A holdout later in the offseason when mandatory minicamp and/or training camp take place would of course be more notable, provided Cousins is still on the Falcons’ roster in the summer. If an appropriate arrangement can be made regarding a trade, though, that may not be the case.
Cowboys Willing To Make Micah Parsons NFL’s Highest-Paid Non-QB?
April 2: Parsons took umbrage at Jones’ recent comments dismissing the importance of his agent, David Mulugheta. Jones stated that “the agent is not a concern here” and even said that he didn’t know Mulugheta’s name, per Hill.
Parsons fired back in a post on X, saying that he wouldn’t sign a contract without his agents involvement and telling the Cowboys that there would be “no backdoors” in their negotiations. The All-Pro edge rusher asked the Joneses to contact his agent regarding negotiations, but they have not reached out, per Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports. Mulugheta has spoken with Cowboys director of salary cap/player contracts Adam Prasifka.
APRIL 1: As of last week, it appeared as though no extension offer had been made by the Cowboys to Micah Parsons. That has apparently changed, and the team is willing to go to record-breaking lengths to get a deal done. 
Dallas has submitted an offer which will make Parsons the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback, Clarence Hill Jr. of All DLLS reports. That title currently belongs to receiver Ja’Marr Chase, whose Bengals extension averages $40.25MM per year. Amongst edge rushers in particular (and defenders in general), Browns All-Pro Myles Garrett leads the way at $40MM annually.
Interestingly, Hill adds an agreement is in place following a meeting between Parsons and owner Jerry Jones. Serious extension talks were not believed to have ocurred prior to this latest update. A sticking point with respect to a contract being signed, however, is the fact the summit between Jones and Parsons did not involve the latter’s agent, David Mulugheta. No talks with Mulugheta present have taken place since the Combine, per Hill.
“Some guys want to visit,” EVP Stephen Jones recently said when speaking about Parsons’ situation (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “And some guys don’t want to visit about their money. We respect both ways. But if players want to come in and talk to us, we got an open-door policy, whether it’s Jerry or myself. Micah likes to visit, so that’s a good thing.”
Jerry Jones confirmed on Tuesday that multiple meetings with Parsons have occurred and that an agreement is in place on several contract-related fronts (h/t ESPN’s Todd Archer). Nothing is imminent at this time, however. Nevertheless, it is clear considerable progress has been made toward ensuring the 25-year-old remains in Dallas for the foreseeable future.
Parsons has racked up between 12 and 14 sacks each year to date. He is under contract for 2025 as a result of the team’s decision to pick up his $24.01MM fifth-year option, but a long-term pact will of course be much more expensive. The four-time Pro Bowler has been attached to an asking price of $200MM on his extension, although it is unclear how long such a pact would be. Hitting that total on a five-year deal would match Garrett’s AAV; if the Cowboys are indeed prepared to move Parsons to the top of the defensive pecking order, though, his new deal will need to be shorter or reach an even higher total value.
The Cowboys made a pair of monster long-term commitments in Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb last offseason. It quickly became clear a new Parsons accord would need to wait until 2025, and the Penn State product’s initial goal of working out a deal before free agency was pushed back to training camp. Given today’s development, hitting that new target certainly seems feasible.
The team has previously spoken to Parsons about attending voluntary workouts this spring. On that point, new head coach Brian Schottenheimer said (via Archer) he expects that to be the case. Dallas’ offseason program begins April 14, and Parsons attending could represent another sign an agreement is close.
NFL Owners Approve Expanded Replay Assist, Amended OT Format
Tuesday brought about a number of rule changes to be enforced starting in 2025. Among them are an expansion to the use of replay assist, along with a tweak to the overtime format. 
It was known well in advance of this week’s league meetings that consideration would be given to broadening the use of replay assist. To no surprise, then, the league has committed to doing so. Expanded use of video replay to help on-field officials was experimented with in 2024, and that will continue next year, as detailed by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
As a result, penalties issued for calls such as roughing the passer, intentional grounding and unnecessary roughness are now subject to review (without a coach’s challenge being needed). Video officials can correct calls by nullifying penalties when clear evidence overturning the original decision exists. With that said, today’s changes do not allow for penalties to be issued upon review for plays where no flag is thrown.
The NFL recently amended playoff overtime rules to ensure both teams receive the ball at least once in the extra frame. That change brought about the expectation it would soon be duplicated in the regular season. Indeed, Dianna Russini of The Athletic notes both teams will have possession even in the event of a touchdown being scored by one of them in regular season contests.
In spite of that tweak, OT during the regular season will still consist of a 10- (rather than 15-) minute quarter. That could result in time constraints for the second team to receive the ball depending on how long the first team’s touchdown drive lasts. Nonetheless, the result of the coin toss at the beginning of the extra frame will carry less weight in the wake of today’s change.
These two changes come on the same day that the NFL’s dynamic kickoff was approved on a full-time basis (with touchbacks being moved up five yards to encourage further upticks in the rate of returns). Consideration to amending onside kicks will take place later this offseason; the same is also true of the tush push play.