RB Ashton Jeanty Opts Out Of On-Field Combine Drills
It was learned yesterday that quarterback Shedeur Sanders will attend the upcoming NFL Combine but will not throw at the event. Several other players will no doubt do the same, and the top running prospect in the 2025 class is among them. 
Ashton Jeanty will not participate in on-field work during the Combine, per an announcement from his agency (via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network). He will instead focus on interviews and medical checks over the coming days. Jeanty will then perform workouts during Boise State’s Pro Day.
In recent years, many of the top prospects have opted out of on-field work at the Combine and turned their attention to individual workouts later in the pre-draft process. Taking that route will likely have no ill effect on Jeanty’s stock based on his level of play during his college tenure. He enters the build-up to the draft as the consensus top RB in the class.
Across his three seasons with the Broncos, Jeanty produced several major statistical feats. He enjoyed a stellar 2024 campaign, averaging 7.0 yards per carry and racking up 2,739 scrimmage yards as the focal point of Boise State’s offense. Jeanty’s 30 total touchdowns brought his career mark to 56 and helped him earn All-American honors. The Heisman runner-up cemented his status as the No. 1 option at the running back position in a year where several other prospects are highly acclaimed.
Jeanty has spoken publicly about his desire to play for the Cowboys; Dallas owns the No. 12 selection, and it would come as no surprise if he were hear his name called near the middle of the first round. As Jeanty elects not to participate in the Combine, it will be interesting to see if some of the other running backs who received an invite do so in a bid to help their draft stock.
Raiders Re-Sign S Isaiah Pola-Mao
Isaiah Pola-Mao was on track to be a restricted free agent this offseason, but that will not be the case. The Raiders safety signed a new deal on Monday, per a team announcement. 
Providing details on the pact, Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report this is a two-year deal. The maximum value of the contract is $8.45MM, making this a notable raise compared to Pola-Mao’s previous deals. The former UDFA has spent each of his first three years with the Raiders.
Pola-Mao did not log any starts during his first two seasons with Vegas, operating instead as a key special teams presence. The USC alum’s third phase success made it little surprise when he was re-signed last March. That move set up the potential for an RFA tender being necessary this spring, but such a scenario has now been avoided. Pola-Mao will be able to continue as a first-team presence on defense, a role he took on in 2024.
The 25-year-old started 14 of the Raiders’ 17 games last season, and to no surprise he set career highs across the board from a statistical standpoint. Pola-Mao totaled 89 tackles, five pass deflections and a pair of forced fumbles in 2024. While his performance in coverage (129.6 passer rating and three touchdowns allowed as the nearest defender) left plenty to be desired, it comes as little surprise the Raiders have opted to keep him in the fold for the next two years.
Tre’von Moehrig has operated as a full-time safety starter during his time with the Raiders, and he enjoyed a career-year in 2024. A lucrative free agent deal sending him to a new team in free agency is therefore on the table, and it will be interesting to see if Vegas’ new regime looks to keep him in the fold. Regardless of what happens on that front, Pola-Mao will remain in the team’s plans moving forward.
RB James Cook Addresses Asking Price On Bills Extension
Earlier this month, James Cook hinted at an asking price of $15MM per season on an extension. The Bills’ top running back has since spoken about his extension situation. 
“I just feel like we’re deserving of it. Like, why not? We work all of our life to get paid. Feed me the big bucks,” the former second-rounder said during an appearance on Nightcap with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson (video link). “I’m going to stand on what I stand on.
“And I don’t want to feel like a cancer at all. Because I don’t like all that attention and all that… I just want to get what I deserve. That’s all. I just want to get what I ask for.”
Christian McCaffrey leads the way in terms of annual average value at the running back spot at $19MM per season. Four other backs currently have an AAV of $12MM or more, with Jonathan Taylor currently sitting second in the position’s pecking order ($14MM). Cook’s target would supplant him as the No. 2 backfield earner in the league if he were to hit it on a long-term pact. One year remains on the Georgia product’s rookie deal, but the Bills could attain long-term certainty in the backfield with a lucrative Cook commitment.
After a rookie campaign which featured only 89 carries, Buffalo has leaned on Cook with over 200 attempts each of the past two seasons. The 25-year-old recorded over 1,500 scrimmage yards in 2023 and then tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns (16) this past campaign. With 883 yards and seven scores in the passing game to date, Cook figures to be a prominent two-way producer for years to come.
Of course, that does not mean Buffalo will be willing to make him one of the league’s highest earners at the running back spot. The team used a fourth-round pick on Ray Davis last April, and the Kentucky product (along with quarterback Josh Allen, of course) represents a short-yardage option for 2025 and beyond. It will be interesting to see if the Bills take that into account as a potential mitigating factor in Cook’s asking price.
If contract talks take place in the near future, a lack of progress could leave the door open to a holdout during the spring and/or missed on-field work in training camp. Plenty of time exists before such a scenario could come into play, though, and if negotiations take place soon clarity on where things between team and player stand could emerge.
Cowboys Begin Negotiations With Osa Odighizuwa; Team Hopes To Retain Jourdan Lewis, Rico Dowdle
Much of the Cowboys’ offseason will center on the Micah Parsons extension situation. The team has other priorities as the new league year approaches, though, and that includes talks with a number of pending free agents. 
One of those is Osa Odighizuwa. The former third-rounder is currently set to be one of the top defensive tackles in free agency, but there is still time for the Cowboys to work out a deal preventing him from reaching the market. COO Stephen Jones recently made it clear talks have begun on a second contract for Odighizuwa.
“We have had negotiations with Osa,” Jones revealed during an interview with David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. “I just think Osa is a really good football player. He’s an important piece.”
The 26-year-old has started all but four of his 67 career games, collecting 13.5 sacks to date. Improving against the run is a key need for the Cowboys this offseason, and multiple changes in the front seven could be in store as a result. With the chance of a departure to Washington (and thus a reunion with Dan Quinn) looming, it will be interesting to see if an agreement can be reached before the start of the new league year in March.
As for other roster priorities, Jones noted the Cowboys also hope to retain slot corner Jourdan Lewis and lead running back Rico Dowdle. Lewis has spent his entire eight-year career in Dallas, playing out his rookie contract, a three-year deal worth an average of $4.5MM per year and the less lucrative one-year accord signed last March to keep him in place. Approaching his age-30 season, Dallas could make another short-term commitment while DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs remain perimeter starters.
The Cowboys opted for a committee approach early in the 2024 season in particular, and it did not go according to plan. The shift in approach later in the year allowed Dowdle to surpass 1,000 rushing yards while handling by far the heaviest workload of his career, though, something which could help his market value. Dallas ranked 27th on the ground last year, and improving in that department could involve selecting a running back in April’s draft, one which is viewed as being deep at the position. Re-signing Dowdle would nevertheless allow for backfield continuity and at least provide the team with an experienced backup.
Jones added the Cowboys are awaiting a decision from defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence on his future. The 33-year-old was limited to just four games last year and is a pending free agent. Lawrence received the franchise tag twice, and his career earnings also include the five- and three-year Cowboys pacts he has played on. After seeing that fellow 2014 draftee Zack Martin intends to retire, Lawrence could do the same; taking that path would leave Dallas in need of at least a depth addition along the edge.
As for Parsons, Jones declined to give a firm timeline on when negotiations for his pending mega-extension will begin. He did say, though, that talks will pick up over the coming weeks as the team navigates the lead-in to free agency while preparing for the draft. Parsons has a case to become the league’s highest-paid defensive player, but before a deal reaching (or approaching) that mark is worked out the Cowboys will look to attain clarity on how their 2025 roster shapes up at several positions.
Browns To Release S Juan Thornhill
After a pair of seasons with the Browns, Juan Thornhill is set to be on the move. The veteran safety will be released, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. 
As Garafolo notes, team and player discussed the situation in recent days with the decision being made to part ways. Now, Thornhill and his camp will begin searching for suitors. Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot adds this will be a post-June 1 release.
As a result, the Browns will generate $3.4MM in cap savings and a dead money charge of $2.28MM for 2025. The move cannot be made until the new league year begins, though, and the money it frees up will not be available until June 2 (Cleveland will have his $5.68MM cap charge on the books until that point). One year remained on Thornhill’s pact, with a $2MM option bonus due in August; instead of retaining him and paying out that money as part of the $7MM he was owed, the Browns will look for a safety replacement this offseason.
Thornhill spent his first four seasons with the Chiefs, serving as a key starter during the first and final years of his rookie contract in particular. The former second-rounder earned a Super Bowl ring during his Kansas City tenure before landing a three-year, $21MM deal on the open market. That pact set him up to operate as a full-time starter in Cleveland, although in 2023 and again in ’24 Thornhill was limited to 11 games. After racking up eight interceptions as a Chief, the Virginia product was held without one as a Brown.
The safety spot has not seen the upward movement of many other positions in recent years, something which will hinder Thornhill’s market (especially given his missed time). At the age of 29, though, he could still land a multi-year offer from a team seeking a veteran starter in the defensive backfield. While he will not reach free agency until next month, Thornhill will be able to gauge his market over the coming weeks.
Cleveland has Grant Delpit on the books through 2026, but Thornhill’s departure will create the need for a first-team replacement at the other safety spot. Veteran Rodney McLeod made it clear last spring he viewed the 2024 campaign as his last, so barring a change of heart he will not be in the fold moving forward. The Browns will need to make multiple additions at the position this spring.
Panthers Will Not Re-Sign Shaq Thompson
Clarity has emerged regarding Shaq Thompson‘s immediate future. The veteran linebacker will not be back with the Panthers, the team announced on Monday. 
“We appreciate Shaq’s leadership and dedication over the past 10 seasons,” a statement from general manager Dan Morgan reads. “Always a source of passion and enthusiasm, he was committed to this organization on and off the field, poured into his teammates, and strived to bring out the best in them. We wish Shaq the best as he moves forward with his career.”
Selected in the first round in 2015, Thompson has been a mainstay on the Panthers’ defense since his career began. He took on a full-time starting role during his second season, and for a stretch of four consecutive years (2019-22) he topped 100 tackles. Over the past two campaigns, however, Thompson has played a total of only six games.
In the wake of a broken fibula (2023) and an Achilles tear (2024), the 30-year-old admitted he could be on the move this offseason when speaking about his situation last month. Now, Thompson has been made aware of the fact he will hit the open market in March. Since this is not a release, he will need to wait until the start of the new league year to sign with a new team.
Still, today’s news means Thompson and his camp can begin gauging the market for his services. Given his age and missed time over the past two years, suitors will no doubt be hesitant to make a multi-year commitment in free agency. The Washington product is, however, a veteran of 127 combined regular and postseason games in his career, and he could provide a veteran presence in the second level to any number of contenders. Having made the playoffs only twice to date, Thompson will presumably be interested in taking a pact with a team eyeing a Super Bowl run in 2025.
Carolina will move forward after Thompson had previously accepted a pay cut to remain in place. The team has 2024 free agent signing Josey Jewell along with Trevin Wallace (selected in the third round of last year’s draft) atop the linebacker depth chart for 2025 and beyond. Thompson will now turn his attention to free agency for the first time in his career.
Rams Seeking First-Round Pick For Matthew Stafford; Raiders Could Show Interest?
As uncertainly looms over the future of Matthew Stafford, speculation about a potential trade will no doubt continue to intensify. The veteran quarterback’s camp has permission from the Rams to gauge his market value, and a degree of clarity on the asking price for any potential deal appears to have emerged. 
Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the Rams will alter the trade cost in a swap depending on how much money an acquiring team is willing to take on. Stafford and Los Angeles reached a one-year agreement on a revised deal last offseason, but the acceleration of money into 2024 left team in player in a similar situation for this spring. The 37-year-old will play in 2025, and the Rams have made it clear they are on board with keeping him as their starter as long as his career continues.
Considering the updates which have emerged in recent days on this situation, it would come as no surprise if a firm asking price were to emerge from the Rams. Per Bonsignore, Los Angeles would look to collect a first-round pick and more in a Stafford swap. He notes suitors will attempt to drop the cost to a package built on a second-round selection. Depending on how strong Stafford’s market proves to be, Los Angeles could be in line to receive notable draft compensation in the event efforts to work out another restructured pact fell through.
The two-time Pro Bowler is currently owed $32MM in 2025 and $31MM during the final year of his pact. Only roster bonuses totaling $4MM this year and $5MM next represent locked in compensation, however, so new guarantees (along with at least a modest raise) will be needed for an arrangement to be made. The Rams are currently mid-pack in terms of projected cap space and the team does not have a quarterback successor in the fold as things stand.
Those factors could very well help the team repeat its efforts from 2024 and grant Stafford another one-year bump in pay. If the Rams receive viable trade offers, on the other hand, they could elect to move on and start over at the position (as they will need to in the near future anyway). The former Lion has generally provided strong play during his four years in Los Angeles, although injuries and the threat of declining production represent obvious reasons for any team to hesitate regarding a lucrative commitment.
To little surprise, Bonsignore names the Raiders as a potential player in the Stafford sweepstakes. New owner Tom Brady has proven to be a highly influential voice in the organization, having played a central role in the hiring of John Spytek as general manager and Pete Carroll as head coach. Vegas is among the teams in need of a new long-term answer at the quarterback spot, but both of the two passers seen as being worthy of a Day 1 selection in this year’s draft could be off the board by the time the team is on the clock at No. 6.
Adding a bridge starter would help the Raiders’ outlook for 2025, and with a Gardner Minshew release expected, they will be in the market for a veteran. The likes of Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson could be targets in free agency provided they become available, but a trade for Stafford would provide Vegas with a short-term upgrade. Whether or not the Raiders or any other interested party will be prepared to meet the Rams’ asking price will make for one of the league’s top storylines over the near future.
Re-Examining Jets’ Aaron Rodgers Addition
When the Jets traded for Aaron Rodgers, the move was known to be a short-term acquisition. Still, the future Hall of Famer’s abbreviated tenure in New York took a form neither he nor the team anticipated and both sides are now moving on. 
In the spring of 2023, the Jets faced the task of once again attempting to find a feasible solution at the quarterback spot. The Sam Darnold selection (third overall, 2018) did not work out as planned, and the decision to trade him to the Panthers after three seasons as a starter signaled another reset at the position. Zach Wilson (second overall, 2021) underwhelmed during his first two years atop the depth chart and was ultimately traded away like three of the other passers taken on Day 1 from his draft class.
After inheriting Darnold, general manager Joe Douglas was tasked with moving on and finding a suitable replacement. The Wilson selection did not meet that goal, and in 2023 adding an established signal-caller represented an obvious priority. A roster featuring former Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year (Garrett Wilson, Sauce Gardner) on their initial contracts offered intriguing potential with stable quarterback play. With a Rodgers-Packers separation on the table, the possibility of a trade increased.
Rodgers made public his desire to continue his decorated career with the Jets, and a swap was ultimately worked out in April. Two of his four career MVP awards came in the 2020s, so expectations were high upon arrival in New York for a stretch atop the depth chart with Wilson serving as an understudy. That plan was of course altered right away as a result of Rodgers’ Achilles tear four snaps into his Jets debut. Wilson and Co. struggled on offense en route to a 7-10 record.
By the time Rodgers was back on the field, Wilson had been dealt to the Broncos while Douglas, head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett remained in place after receiving a mulligan from ownership. Issues on offense persisted early in 2024, however, and in the midst of what became a five-game losing streak Saleh was fired. That move was accompanied by Hackett (who worked with Rodgers in Green Bay and was added to the staff not long before the trade was made) being demoted, something Saleh contemplated during the offseason.
While Rodgers managed to remain in the lineup for all 17 games, the staff changes and even the trade acquisition of longtime Packers teammate Davante Adams did not produce the desired results. After dismissing Douglas midway through the campaign, signs pointed to the Jets moving in a new direction once again this offseason. The new regime led by Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn will now take on the renewed task of finding a short- and long-term solution under center.
As that process unfolds, a look back on the price paid to add Rodgers reveals the extent of the commitment the Jets made in acquiring him. Here is the final breakdown of the trade with Green Bay which resulted in his New York arrival:
Jets received:
- Rodgers
- No. 15 pick in 2023 draft (used on DE Will McDonald)
- No. 170 pick in 2023 (subsequently traded for the selections used on S Jarrick Bernard-Converse and TE Zack Kuntz)
Packers received:
- No. 13 pick in 2023 draft (used on OLB Lukas Van Ness)
- No. 42 pick in 2023 (used on TE Luke Musgrave)
- No. 207 pick in 2023 (used on K Anders Carlson)
- No. 41 pick in 2024 (subsequently traded for the selection used on LB Edgerrin Cooper along with a collection of other Day 3 picks)
McDonald certainly enjoyed a much more productive Year 2 than Van Ness, but Cooper’s potential shown late in his rookie campaign in particular has him on track to operate as a key Packers defender for the foreseeable future. From Green Bay’s perspective, of course, the Rodgers swap also allowed the team to move out the remainder of his contract and marked the beginning of the full-fledged commitment to Jordan Love at quarterback. 
Rodgers accepted a considerable pay cut upon arrival with the Jets, agreeing to a new pact which took into account his intention of playing at least two years for his new team. Even with that move, he would up collecting $75.05MM for his pair of campaigns in New York. The Jets’ decision to move forward with a release will likely take the form of a post-June 1 cut, something which will generate a dead cap charge of $49MM spread across 2025 and ’26.
Of course, the Rodgers experiment also brought with it the acquisition cost for several of his former Packers teammates. That included the free agent signings of Allen Lazard (four years, $44MM) and Randall Cobb (one year, $3MM) in 2023. The latter retired after his one-and-done Jets campaign, while the former did not produce as expected even when Rodgers was healthy. A Lazard release is expected in the near future, and if the move does not carry a post-June 1 designation New York’s $6.63M in savings will essentially be balanced out by the dead money charge of $6.55MM.
As for Adams, the trade which brought him from the Raiders to the Jets cost a third-round pick (since the conditions required to upgrade it to a second-rounder were not met). The six-time Pro Bowler averaged over 77 receiving yards per contest and scored seven touchdowns in 11 games with New York, but with Rodgers on the way out he is likely to be cut. Moving on from Adams will create considerable savings for the Jets, but doing so before the start of the new league year will nevertheless generate $8.36MM in dead money.
While it is true the Jets would have made other additions at the receiver spot without Rodgers in place over the past two years, the team’s 2023 and ‘24 aggressiveness proved to be quite costly. Counting the Day 1 and 3 selections used in his trade as a wash while adding in the money and cap commitments also made to the Cobb-Lazard-Adams trio (plus the pick used to acquire the latter), the final tally stands at two second-rounders, one third-round selection, roughly $111MM in cash and nearly $64MM in dead money across the next two years. In all, the Jets went 12-22 in the Rodgers era.
In the wake of his split with the team’s new regime, it has been learned Rodgers still has the door open to continuing his career in 2025. Regardless of what happens on that front, it is clear Mougey and Glenn will hope to have better success at the quarterback spot than their predecessors.
WR Notes: Hill, Commanders, Jags, Thielen
Tyreek Hill played through a torn ligament in his wrist during the 2024 campaign. Surgery was put off to allow him to play for the Dolphins, but it appears a procedure has now taken place.
A video Hill recently posted on Instagram shows that his left wrist is heavily bandaged. That is a strong indication he underwent surgery to correct the issue, one which played a role in the five-time All-Pro posting less than 1,100 yards for only the second time since 2017. Immediately after Miami’s season ended with a playoff berth not coming to fruition, Hill made comments indicating he would prefer to be traded.
Those remarks have since been walked back, and the team is not looking to move forward with a trade. Nevertheless, it would come as little surprise if interest were to be shown this offseason. Obviously, Hill’s health will be key in establishing his market, although it is not certain at this point that he underwent surgery. The Dolphins declined to comment when asked by the Miami Herald to confirm the procedure.
Here are some other wide receiver notes from around the league:
- In the wake of Jayden Daniels‘ stellar rookie season, expectations are high for the Commanders and they have the cap space to make multiple splashes in free agency this offseason. While defensive upgrades will be targeted, adding a complementary receiver could be in play as well. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes there is an expectation amongst some in the NFL Washington will pursue a WR2 after using the likes of Noah Brown, Dyami Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus and rookie Luke McCaffrey as secondary options to Terry McLaurin in 2024. Noah Brown wants to re-sign with the Commanders, but even if he does the team will have room in free agency to add a wideout with more pedigree.
- In the same Fowler piece, he names the Jaguars as a team which could add at the receiver spot. In particular, a vertical threat appears to be on Jacksonville’s wishlist. First-rounder Brian Thomas Jr. had a Pro Bowl season as a rookie, averaging 14.7 yards per catch and scoring 10 touchdowns. Adding further speed alongside the LSU product would help the Jags’ offense, one which still has veteran Christian Kirk in the fold as things stand. Making a call on retaining or releasing the latter will be one of new general manager James Gladstone‘s early priorities.
- The Panthers saw quarterback Bryce Young show encouraging signs in the latter stages of 2024. Aiding his development will require adding further at the skill positions, and Joe Person of The Athletic writes adding a No. 1 receiver could very well be a goal for this offseason (subscription required). Adam Thielen has handled WR1 duties since arriving in Carolina in free agency, making 151 catches over the past two years. The former Viking gave thought to retirement after the campaign, but he will suit up in 2025. Person notes an extension is unlikely given the 35-year-old’s age and uncertain future, but a bump in immediate compensation could be in store. Thielen is currently due $6.75MM next year.
Commanders Could Release Jonathan Allen?
Beginning in 2017, the Commanders used a first-round pick on a defensive lineman for four consecutive years. The first player in that stretch – Jonathan Allen – has remained in Washington throughout his career. 
The veteran has been a mainstay along the defensive front since a rookie campaign which saw him limited to only five games. A pectoral tear led to a major absence in 2024, and even though Allen managed to return to the lineup when he was feared to be sidelined for the rest of the campaign, he now faces an uncertain future. The 30-year-old could find himself as a cap casualty.
Ben Standig of The Athletic writes it appears to be unlikely the Commanders and Allen will work out a restructure or extension which would lower his scheduled 2025 cap hit of $22.47MM (subscription required). One year remains on his pact, and none of his $15.5MM base salary for the coming campaign is guaranteed. An alteration could of course be on the table, considering Washington is near the top of the NFL in terms of cap space as free agency approaches. Failing that, however, the team could move on via a release.
Allen has produced at least six sacks in a season four times to date, and he earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2021 and ’22. His impact against the passer remained notable this past campaign (three sacks in eight games), but Washington already has Daron Payne under contract on a lucrative deal (which includes guarantees for 2025) for the next two years. The team also selected a potential Allen successor in the form of Johnny Newton last April.
The second-rounder battled an ankle injury which required multiple surgeries during his rookie campaign, but after logging a 51% snap share across 16 games he could take a step forward in usage and production in 2025. Moving on from Allen would set up a Payne-Newton tandem on the interior as the Commanders look to improve against the run this offseason. Of course, the regime led by general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn is not the one which was in place when Allen was drafted or extended in 2021.
Peters said last March he was not looking to trade the Alabama product, although the Newton selection led to renewed interest from teams shortly thereafter. Allen’s injury will hurt his market in the event he is cut, but his track record would no doubt allow for him to find a suitor relatively soon. The Commanders would generate $16.47MM in cap savings while incurring a dead money charge of $6MM by moving forward with a release.