Shedeur Sanders Will Not Throw At Combine
A number of high-profile prospects have opted against taking part in on-field drills during the annual NFL Combine. In the case of quarterbacks, that has become increasingly common over time. 
The trend of signal-callers electing not to throw during the Combine will see at least one of the 2025 class’ first-round talents follow suit. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Shedeur Sanders will not throw in the coming days, preferring only to meet with interested teams. Sanders will wait until Colorado’s Pro Day to take part in drills.
[RELATED: Sanders Schedules Visits With Browns, Giants]
This news comes as little surprise given recent trends amongst top quarterback prospects. Many passers have opted out of throwing in lieu of focusing on interviews during the Combine while waiting for Pro Days and individual workouts with teams to do so. Last year, eventual No. 1 pick Caleb Williams skipped the Combine altogether while Jayden Daniels (who went second overall) and Drake Maye (third) attended but did not take part in drills.
On the other hand, Sanders did not participate in the Shrine Bowl, taking the advice of several NFL teams to instead only take part in interviews. The Combine therefore would have provided him with the opportunity to perform in front of general managers and scouts in Indianapolis, but instead that will again not be the case. Sanders’ impression over the coming days and weeks will be key in establishing his draft stock, something which of course will supplement his statistical output during his four-year college tenure.
Working under his father Deion at Colorado for the past two seasons, Sanders racked up 64 touchdowns and 13 interceptions during that span. The 2024 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year’s 74% completion percentage and 8.7 yards per attempt average indicate his floor as a passer at the NFL level, although many see fellow Day 1 lock Cam Ward as having a higher athletic ceiling. It will be interesting to see if Ward throws at the Combine or takes the same approach as Sanders, something which would open the door for the other (and much less acclaimed) passers in the 2025 class to showcase themselves.
S Keanu Neal Retires
Keanu Neal did not play in 2024, and he will not make a return next season. The veteran safety announced his retirement on Sunday. 
“20 years ago, I started this journey,” Neal’s announcement reads in part. “Today, I am retiring from the NFL… I am incredibly grateful for the coaches and teammates I had the privilege of working with along the way… All the lessons learned through the game has helped mold me into who I am today.”
A first-round pick of the Falcons in 2016, Neal entered the league with high expectations. He had a strong start to his Atlanta tenure, recording 100-plus tackles in each of his first two seasons and earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2017. Neal’s first playoff run saw him make 30 tackles en route to a Super Bowl appearance.
Across the 2018 and ’19 campaigns, however, the Florida product played a combined total of only four games. Neal returned to full health during his final Falcons campaign, but he was unable to land a notable commitment from any suitor during his free agent spells. A one-year Cowboys contract (which saw him spend time at middle linebacker) was followed by a return to the NFC South in 2022 with Tampa Bay.
After serving as a part-time Buccaneers starter, Neal inked a two-year free agent pact with the Steelers. Early in his Pittsburgh tenure, he served as a key member of the secondary with eight starts, 50 tackles and an interception. A ribs injury ended Neal’s campaign, though, and he was released last March. After failing to land a deal on the open market in 2024, he will turn his attention to his post-playing days.
In all, the 29-year-old made 94 combined regular and postseason appearances during his time in the NFL, starting 74 of them. Thanks in large part to the size of his rookie pact, Neal amassed roughly $25.5MM in career earnings.
Brian Gutekunst Addresses Packers’ Free Agent Outlook
Last offseason, the Packers were active on the free agent market. Big-ticket deals for running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney helped lead the team to a record of 11-6 and a playoff berth in 2024. 
Given the number of core players Green Bay has attached to a rookie contract at the moment, the team currently sits in the top half of the league in terms of spending power with nearly $50MM in available funds. A portion of that figure will of course be needed for retaining in-house free agents and signing the Packers’ incoming draft class, but room for a notable move exists. As things stand, though, one should not be expected.
“I view every offseason that we have to attack it aggressively,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said (via Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal). “Every year there’s not going to be a Josh Jacobs or a Xavier McKinney out there to go get… If it’s right for us, then we’re going to attack it. If they’re not there, it’s not there.”
During Gutekunst’s tenure, the Packers have generally not been known for taking large swings in free agency. Especially after the team made a combined $35.5MM commitment in terms of guaranteed money to McKinney and Jacobs in 2024, it would come as little surprise if Green Bay had a quieter March this time around. Few pending free agents of note are on track to depart, although kicker Brandon McManus represents a priority as the new league year approaches.
Of course, Gutekunst and the Packers will need to look ahead on the extension front while mapping out their spending plans for the near future. Wilde notes 2022 first-rounders Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt could be in line to have their fifth-year options picked up based on how Gutekunst spoke after the season about the Georgia products. A call on both options will need to be made by May 1, but keeping one or both in the fold for 2026 could be followed by a long-term pact being worked out.
Elsewhere on the roster, starting offensive tackles Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom are currently on track for free agency next offseason. Committing to one or both (along with other members of the 2022 draft class) will be key for the Packers, and as a result saving funds for future deals would be a sensible move at a number of positions. As Gutekunst and the Packers look to take a step forward in the highly competitive NFC North next year, a splashy signing or two may not be in the cards.
Monti Ossenfort: Cardinals To Be ‘Active’ In Free Agency
Teams around the NFL recently received further clarity on where the 2025 salary cap is expected to land. This year’s increase will be higher than expected, giving those which were already on track to have plenty of space even more spending power. 
That list includes the Cardinals. Arizona is currently projected to hold the fifth-most space in the NFL with over $76MM available (h/t Over the Cap). As a result, Monti Ossenfort could be among the more active general managers in the league once the new league year begins in March. Veteran additions via the open market are clearly on the team’s radar.
“We are going to be active [in free agency],” Ossenfort said when speaking about the Cardinals’ offseason outlook (via the team’s website). “We’re going to look for every avenue to improve the team, but we have to be smart about not only this year’s team, but as we build for the future and our own players that we want to extend.”
Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon took on a rebuilding effort upon being hired in 2023. After improving from 4-13 during their first season at the helm to 8-9 in 2024, progress has been made in that process and the coming months will offer plenty of opportunities to take another step forward. Additions along the offensive line could be a priority, with the same being true along the edge and at the cornerback spot given the current makeup of Arizona’s roster.
Of course, in-house matters will be key this offseason as well. Working out an extension with Pro Bowl tight end Trey McBride is something the Cardinals were recently reported to be prioritizing; Ossenfort said work on that front will take place “as it comes up.” A McBride raise granted through a long-term deal will still leave plenty of resources to supplement the team’s draft additions of the past two years.
The NFC West was wide open throughout the 2024 campaign, and continued development on the part of the Cardinals could make at least a wild-card berth a realistic target for next season. Free agency will provide Ossenfort and Co. with the first opportunity to make a notable move, and it will be interesting to see if a lucrative addition is made soon.
NFL, Owners To Discuss 2028 Olympic Participation In March
March will bring about the franchise tag deadline and, shortly thereafter, the start of the new league year. The next league meeting is also upcoming, and it will provide the NFL and its owners the opportunity to discuss the potential of participating in flag football during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. 
Shortly after it was confirmed flag football will make its Olympic debut in 2028, it was confirmed to no surprise that the NFL and NFLPA opened discussions about the possibility of NFL players taking part. Further developments on that front could be coming soon. The league is set to make a full presentation about Olympic participation during the March meeting, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports.
A vote could take place in the near future as a result, but that would come as a surprise. A number of issues related to finances, logistics and insurance will need to be sorted out if any agreement is to be reached allowing NFL players to take part. Nothing in the current CBA covers international competitions, so an amendment would need to be added relating to the 2028 Olympics and future games. As Jones notes, the NFL has a “strong desire” to make flag football a permanent Olympic event beyond the Los Angeles debut. High-profile players such as Tyreek Hill have previously expressed interest in taking part, and he is not alone in that respect.
“Most likely I’ll be retired by 2028,” Buccaneers wideout Mike Evans said (via ESPN’s Jenna Laine). “I don’t know. But if I am retired, I would definitely like to play in the Olympics.”
In other flag-related news, commissioner Roger Goodell said in advance of the Super Bowl that the creation of a professional flag football league is under consideration. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports work is already underway on that front, which should should not come as a shock. The NFL has made a highly public effort in recent years to promote and develop flag football at the youth level in particular, so establishing a pro league represents a logical next step.
The league’s international calendar has expanded recently and regular season games played abroad is set to become an increasingly frequent staple of the league moving forward. Pairing a growing presence abroad with Olympic participation is something the NFL and NFLPA would welcome, and it will be interesting to see if progress toward that goal will be reached in the near future.
John Schneider Addresses Seahawks’ Offseason Approach
Year 1 of the Mike Macdonald era as head coach of the Seahawks produced a 10-win campaign but not a playoff berth. Changes on the sideline have been made, with Klint Kubiak now in place as offensive coordinator while the team contemplates its upcoming offseason moves. 
General manager John Schneider has work to do in the near future for the Seahawks to achieve cap compliance. Once that happens, he and the front office will set out to improve a roster which proved to be lacking along the offensive line in particular in 2024. As Schneider’s comments on the matter demonstrate, there is a roadmap in place.
“We know exactly what our deficiencies are,” he said during an appearance on Seattle Sports’ John Schneider Show. “We can all see it, right? And we have a plan to address everything.”
With and without lead back Kenneth Walker in the lineup, the Seahawks struggled on the ground in 2024. The team finished 28th in the league in rushing, something which put added pressure on the passing attack. Seattle allowed 50 sacks, something which contributed to a drop in production on the part of quarterback Geno Smith and the team’s second straight failure to make the playoffs.
To no surprise, then, upgrading up front is widely seen as a top priority for the Seahawks. As Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times notes, offensive line is a very popular position for the team in mock drafts. With the No. 18 pick in April’s draft, Seattle will have the opportunity to add a starting-caliber guard or competition for right tackle Abraham Lucas, who has struggled with injuries each of the past two years. The draft will represent a prime opportunity to help address needs along the offensive and defensive lines, but Schneider cautioned that a lucrative free agent splash should not be expected.
“You can’t just throw money at something to fix it, to fix a perceived need,” he added. “We’ve made mistakes there in the past and we’re not try not to repeat the mistakes we made.”
Seattle is among the teams currently projected to be above the cap, but moves like releasing Tyler Lockett can be used to free up finances ahead of free agency. The coming months will be key for the Seahawks at the line of scrimmage in particular as they look to implement Schneider’s plan
Robert Woods Wants To Re-Sign With Texans
Robert Woods has spent the past two seasons in Houston, seeing his usage rate drop compared to earlier in his career along the way. The pending free agent receiver is not looking for a change of scenery this spring, however. 
“Feeling good, kind of getting ready to revamp and go another year again,” Woods said when providing an update on his health and speaking about his future (via KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson). “I had a great time here in Houston, loved being with C.J. [Stroud], a great quarterback, loved our receiver room, our coaches. We’ll see how it goes in free agency.
“You know how free agency is. Whatever is best for me and my family and my football career. If that’s in Houston, however it goes, we’ll look to that.”
Woods’ best campaigns came during his five year run with the Rams (2017-21). That span included the two times the former second-rounder surpassed 1,000 yards, but it ended with a campaign in which he was limited to only nine games. Woods was traded to the Titans during the 2022 offseason, although after one year in Tennessee he was released; that allowed him to join the Texans on a two-year, $15.25MM deal.
Operating as an experienced depth contributor in Houston, the USC product totaled 629 yards and just one touchdown while playing out that pact. Woods logged a 70% snap share in 2023, but this past season he saw his playing time plummet to 37%. Considering Stefon Diggs and, later, Tank Dell suffered ACL tears in 2024, that usage rate is an indication the Texans will not match Woods’ desire to work out a new deal this offseason.
General manager Nick Caserio recently said he is open to re-signing Diggs, while Dell and Nico Collins are on the books for next season and beyond. The team also has the likes of John Metchie, Xavier Hutchinson and Jared Wayne attached to their rookie contracts, so Woods may very well have to look elsewhere if he reaches free agency. Approaching his age-33 season, Woods will not have a strong market in that event, but his remarks make it clear he intends to keep playing in 2025.
Panthers Release CB Dane Jackson
Dane Jackson joined the Panthers in free agency last offseason, but his time in Carolina has come to an end. The veteran corner was released on Friday, per a team announcement. 
Having spent his first four seasons with the Bills, Jackson represented a familiar face for Panthers general manager Dan Morgan. A two-year, $8.5MM deal was worked out early in free agency, and as a result expectations were in place for a first-team role opposite Jaycee Horn in 2024. Jackson’s debut with his new team was delayed due to a hamstring injury, however.
After being activated in October, the 28-year-old wound up making nine appearances. Only three of those were starts, and his 43% defensive snap share marked the smallest workload of his career. The Panthers released veteran slot corner Troy Hill midway through the campaign in a bid to open up more playing time for their younger options. The same line of thinking resulted in Jackson’s time being reduced when healthy. The former seventh-rounder allowed a completion percentage of 75.9% and a 123.6 passer rating in coverage this season; both figures were the worst of Jackson’s career.
This move will generate a dead money charge of $2.5MM but it will yield $3.35MM in savings for Carolina. The team was already mid-pack in the NFL in terms of spending power as free agency approaches, but additional funds will help Carolina’s efforts in improving a defense which ranked 23rd against the pass in 2024. Jackson, meanwhile, is now free to find a new team prior to the start of free agency (although his market will no doubt be a tepid one).
The Panthers hope to work out an extension with Horn this offseason, and keeping fellow starter Michael Jackson in the fold on a new pact is also a priority. Cornerback could be a position to watch with respect to at least one notable addition over the coming months, but in any case Dane Jackson will not be part of Carolina’s plans.
Ravens’ Kyle Van Noy Plans To Play In 2025
After playing on four teams across his first nine years in the NFL, Kyle Van Noy has found himself in a productive environment with the Ravens. The veteran pass rusher faces questions about his long-term future given his age, but he intends to keep playing for at least one more year. 
“My want to is still there, that’s for sure,” the 33-year-old said (via Brian Wacker of the Baltimore Sun). “I can still play at a high level. But it’s something where they have to make a decision, too.”
Van Noy is under contract for 2025, but his remarks suggest he could look to secure an extension this offseason. The two-time Super Bowl winner noted he and general manager Eric DeCosta will speak “at some point” to discuss the future. It would come as no surprise if a new deal were to be worked out given how effective Van Noy has been across his two Baltimore campaigns. After setting a new career high in sacks with nine in 2023, the former hybrid linebacker increased his output once again this past season with 12.5.
That 2024 figure led the team and resulted in the first Pro Bowl nod of Van Noy’s career. He is currently on track to receive $3.75MM next season with a cap hit of $6.13MM. Both of those numbers constitute a bargain from the Ravens’ perspective, and committing to a raise (while challenging given the team’s limited cap space) would be a sensible move.
Baltimore has Odafe Oweh set to play on his fifth-year option in 2025, and he is due $13.25MM as a result. The Penn State product reached double-digit sacks for the first time in his career this past season, and at the age of 26 a multi-year commitment from the Ravens would come as no surprise. The team’s depth (recent draftees David Ojabo, Tavius Robinson and Adisa Isaac) could stand to see at least one addition through free agency or the draft this offseason, but Oweh and Van Noy will be counted on to remain starters moving forward.
The latter landed a $51MM Dolphins deal in 2020, but after only season in Miami he has been unable to secure a contract of similar value. At this stage of his career, Van Noy should not be expected to command a lucrative pact but it will be interesting to see if he and the Ravens work out an extension this offseason.
Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux Does Not Expect To Conduct Extension Talks This Offseason
With the first three years of his career in the books, Kayvon Thibodeaux is eligible for an extension. While the Giants contemplate picking up his fifth-year option, the former No. 5 pick is not anticipating talks on a long-term deal to take place this offseason. 
“Of course,” Thibodeaux said when speaking about the assumption no negotiations will occur in 2025 and the reason why (via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post). The 24-year-old had a strong showing in 2023, racking up 11.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. This past campaign did not yield a similar showing, however, with Thibodeaux’s sack total dropping to 5.5 in 12 games.
Given the inconsistent nature of his play so far, it would come as no surprise if the Giants were to remain hesitant on the extension front in Thibodeaux’s case. The team is expected to exercise his option for 2026, which would check in at a cost of $16.06MM; a decision in that regard will need to be made by May 1. Of course, making any kind of commitment to the Oregon product would result in an expensive edge rush tandem alongside 2024 trade acquisition Brian Burns for New York.
“Super-excited man, love the Giants,” Thibodeaux added when speaking about his future. “Obviously, I hope I can continue to be here. The future’s in their hands, obviously, but I’m super-excited. I think I’ve put decent film out. I won’t say it’s my best, I won’t say it’s my worst. But I know the ceiling is a lot higher.”
Burns posted 8.5 sacks along with 34 pressures (the second-highest total of his career) during his debut Giants campaign, and he is under contract through 2028. Azeez Ojulari has handled a notable workload at times while playing out his rookie contract, but he is on track to depart in free agency leaving the Burns-Thibodeaux tandem to remain a key element of the Giants’ defense. That partnership will be intact for one more year at a minimum, and picking up Thibodeaux’s option could allow the team to wait even longer on an extension decision. It will be interesting to see how the Giants proceed if and when consideration for a long-term pact is given.