Bears Could Attempt To Work Out Kyler Gordon Extension This Offseason
Last offseason, one of the Bears’ top priorities was working out a deal with cornerback Jaylon Johnson. After applying the franchise tag, a four-year, $76MM extension was signed; 2025 could see another long-term commitment made at the position. 
As a 2022 draftee, Kyler Gordon is now eligible for a new deal. He is still attached to his rookie contract for 2025, but without a fifth-year option being in place, it would be feasible for the Bears to negotiate an extension this spring. Indeed, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes it would not come as a surprise if Gordon were to be among the team’s top financial priorities.
The 25-year-old has started 34 of his 42 games with Chicago, operating as a key figure in the team’s secondary. Gordon has settled into a full-time role as slot corner, and he has amassed 17 pass deflections and five interceptions during his three years in the league. While high-end producers on the perimeter have landed lucrative deals in recent years, the top of the market for slot CBs has not enjoyed the same forward momentum. Gordon – who has played all-but exclusively on the inside the past two seasons – could look to close the gap on an extension.
“That [pay difference] is crazy because to me I feel like I play three positions, really four positions almost,” the former second-rounder said. “I feel like I play linebacker, safety, nickel and corner. It’s crazy to think that doesn’t get incorporated. That’s just what the business is.”
11 corners (including Johnson) are currently averaging at least $19MM per season on their contracts. With respect to players who primarily (or entirely) play in the slot, though, the top of the market is $10.25MM. That is the average annual value of Michael Carter II and Taron Johnson‘s extensions signed last year with the Jets and Bills, respectively. As a result, any new Gordon pact will likely check in near that figure.
Chicago already has Johnson in place as a long-term commitment, and safety Jaquan Brisker is also eligible for an extension. Tyrique Stevenson, meanwhile, will be in the same position one year from now, so the Bears’ secondary will soon become much more expensive if it is to remain intact beyond the next few seasons. A key factor in determining whether or not that will be the case will of course be how the team proceeds with Gordon.
Jaguars Request GM Interview With Rams’ James Gladstone
The list of candidates for the Jaguars’ general manager position continues to grow. Several interview requests went out on Monday, but the team is not done on that front.
[RELATED: Jags Name Tony Boselli VP Of Football Operations]
Jacksonville hopes to speak with James Gladstone for the GM position, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. He has spent his entire career with the Rams, and he currently holds the position of scouting director. New head coach Liam Coen worked alongside Gladstone during his two stints (2018-20 and 2022) in Los Angeles.
The Rams have produced a strong track record in the draft over recent years, and as Gladstone has worked his way through the ranks he has become a key figure alongside general manager Les Snead. Los Angeles has managed to re-tool on defense in particular over the past two seasons in large part due to the team’s success in the draft. Expectations would be high for the Jaguars in that department if Gladstone were to be hired.
Despite his status as a rookie head coach, Coen is set to have a major role in deciding on Jacksonville’s new GM. The team was set to continue with Trent Baalke in that role until an abrupt change was made immediately before Coen was hired. That move came as little surprise given the extent to which Baalke’s presence turned other candidates off of the position, but it added to the unorthodox nature of the situation. In any case, it will be interesting to see how this Coen-driven process plays out over the near future.
Via PFR’s general manager tracker, here is an updated look at where things stand with Jacksonville:
- Chad Alexander, assistant general manager (Chargers): Interview requested
- Brandon Brown, assistant general manager (Giants): Interview requested
- Trey Brown, senior personnel executive (Bengals): Interview requested
- Ian Cunningham, assistant general manager (Bears): Interview requested
- James Gladstone, scouting director (Rams): Interview requested
- Mike Greenberg, assistant general manager (Buccaneers): Interview requested
- Jon Robinson, former general manager (Titans): One of top candidates?
QB Jameis Winston Open To Giants Deal
During the events of Super Bowl Media Day, Jameis Winston assumed the role of past-time correspondent. That produced a notable interaction with Eagles running back Saquon Barkley in which the veteran passer spoke about his future. 
Winston is a pending free agent, and the Browns may look elsewhere for help under center on the open market or during the draft. The former No. 1 pick could still have a number of suitors, though, given the excess of demand at the position relative to supply (especially given this year’s group of QB prospects). One team in need of a new quarterback is the Giants.
Barkley mentioned his former team when speaking to Winston about the latter’s options on the open market this spring. New York moved on from Daniel Jones midway through the 2024 campaign, ending his time with the franchise not long after he inked a four-year, $160MM extension. Drew Lock is a pending free agent while Tommy DeVito‘s future is also uncertain. Using the No. 3 pick on a passer looms as an option, but bringing in a veteran like Winston could also be on the table. The 31-year-old would be on board with such a move.
“Would I really sign with the Giants? Absolutely!” Winston said when speaking with Ryan Novozinsky of NJ.com. “I want to keep playing and do what I do best.”
After a five-year run with the Buccaneers, Winston spent four seasons in New Orleans. That spell included 10 starts, and the Florida State product made it clear he still viewed himself as being capable of handling QB1 duties. In 2024, he found himself making seven starts in the wake of Deshaun Watson‘s Achilles tear, although Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe also saw time atop the depth chart at the end of the campaign.
Watson is set to miss some (potentially all) of the 2025 campaign in the wake of his second Achilles tear, and Thompson-Robinson’s time as a starter has not been sufficient to ensure competition will not be brought in. Winston could be retained on a another one-year deal, but outside suitors could be willing to bring him in as veteran insurance. It will be interesting to see if the Giants prove to be one of them. In any case, Winston is clearly intent on continuing his NFL career in 2025.
Browns’ Myles Garrett Requests Trade
The Browns have no plans of trading Myles Garrett, but the latest development in his situation has again raised the possibility of such a move taking place. The perennial All-Pro edge rusher has formally requested a trade. 
“As a kid dreaming of the NFL, all I focused on was the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl — and that goal fuels me today more than ever,” a statement from Garrett reads (h/t Ian Rapoport of NFL Network). “These past eight years have shaped me into the man that I am today. While I’ve loved calling [Cleveland] my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allow me to be complacent.
“The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl. With that in mind, I have requested to be traded from the Cleveland Browns.”
[RELATED: Browns Offseason Not Expected To Change Garrett’s Stance]
This scenario became a talking point at the end of the campaign, one in which the Browns finished 3-14. Garrett made it clear he would be seeking clarity on the franchise’s long-term plans regarding a potential rebuild, something the former Defensive Player of the Year has no interest in. While the Browns do not intend to embark on an organizational reset, questions at the quarterback position in particular leave them with a murky outlook with respect to Super Bowl contention in the near future.
Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry – who, along with head coach Kevin Stefanski signed an extension last offseason and will remain in place for 2025 – has been adamant no consideration will be given to dealing Garrett. He said after the end of the campaign the Browns expect the former No. 1 pick to retire with the franchise, adding less than one week ago that an offer including two first-round picks would not be enough to entertain the thought of a trade.
To no surprise, then, Rapoport adds the Browns’ stance on this matter has not changed. Still, teams will no doubt make calls gauging the team’s willingness to part ways with Garrett. The Texas A&M product has posted no fewer than 10 sacks in each of the past seven seasons, earning six Pro Bowl nods and being named first-team All-Pro four times so far in his decorated career. Garrett is comfortably Cleveland’s all-time sack leader, and with 2025 representing his age-29 season he has plenty more to offer the Browns or another team.
On only two occasions during his Cleveland tenure has Garrett reached the postseason. His time with the franchise included the Browns’ 0-16 campaign during his rookie year along with multiple coaching changes. The arrival of Stefanski brought about a run to the divisional round of the playoffs in 2020, but since then the team has only reached the postseason once more (a wild-card loss to the Texans last season). With an unclear outlook under center and a long list of AFC contenders to deal with regarding a Super Bowl run, Garrett’s desire to move on can be easily understood.
Two years remain on Garrett’s current contract, a $125MM extension which has proven to be a worthwhile investment on the team’s part. Berry has said he is open to working out another extension this offseason, one in which the top of the edge rush market could change dramatically. Trey Hendrickson and T.J. Watt join Garrett as veterans in line for new deals, while Micah Parsons‘ pending extension is also likely to challenge Nick Bosa‘s $34MM AAV. Before agreeing to a new Garrett pact, though, the Browns will now have to deal with this trade request.
Players who ask to be dealt quite often wind up remaining on their teams through a new contract. Still, this escalation is a notable chapter in the Garrett-Browns relationship as the team prepares for a crucial offseason. Cleveland is currently on track to be over the cap in 2025, thanks in no small part to the nearly $73MM hit Deshaun Watson is set to account for. The former Texans Pro Bowler has not met expectations during his three Cleveland campaigns, and his second Achilles tear threatens to keep him off the field for most, if not all, of the coming campaign. A free agent QB acquisition will certainly be challenging given the team’s financial situation.
Of course, the Browns own the No. 2 selection in this year’s draft. That could give the team the opportunity to add a new franchise passer, although the presence of Penn State’s Abdul Carter could leave a major edge rush addition as a possibility. Whether or not that receives consideration will depend at least in part on how this Garrett saga unfolds.
Patriots To Hire Todd Downing
Another ex-colleague of Mike Vrabel‘s is set to reunite with him in New England. The Patriots are hiring Todd Downing to be their receivers coach, as first reported by Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal. 
[RELATED: Patriots Add Ashton Grant, Others To Staff]
Downing’s NFL coaching career dates back to 2003, although he has never worked as a WRs coach to date. Still, this move comes as little surprise given his history with Vrabel. When the latter was head coach of the Titans, Downing worked alongside him (including two years as a play-calling offensive coordinator). The Patriots will – once again – have Josh McDaniels handling OC duties for 2025, but Downing represents an experienced addition to their staff.
The 44-year-old was fired after the 2022 season, one which he was arrested for DUI. Tennessee’s offense ranked 15th in scoring during Downing’s first year at the helm, but the unit regressed to 30th in that regard the following year. He did not need to wait long to find a new opportunity, though, joining the Jets as their pass-game coordinator in 2023.
Nathaniel Hackett‘s tenure as New York’s OC did not go as planned, and part of the team’s midseason coaching shakeup included a plan from Robert Saleh to demote Hackett and install Downing as play-caller. Saleh was fired before he could do so, but interim HC Jeff Ulbrich followed through with the plan. The Jets did not rebound as hoped on offense, generally speaking, after that move was made. Especially with a new coaching staff being brought in, it comes as no surprise Downing will be moving on in 2025. It will be interesting to see how he fares with a Patriots WR corps which could see several changes this offseason.
Prior to the news of Downing’s hire, ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported Wes Welker was among the staffers the Patriots considered for the role of receivers coach. Welker worked in that capacity with the 49ers from 2019-21 and followed Mike McDaniel from San Francisco to Miami. The 43-year-old was let go at the end of the campaign, though, leaving him in need of a fresh start. Welker’s career included six seasons with the Patriots playing under McDaniels and his coaching tenure started with the Texans while Vrabel was the team’s defensive coordinator.
In other staff news, Reiss adds that Matthew Slater will not be back with New England in 2025. The longtime special teams ace held the title of special assistant to head coach Jerod Mayo last season, but with Mayo no longer in place that role will not exist under Vrabel. Slater will need to head elsewhere if he is to continue his coaching career.
Giants Likely To Exercise OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux’s Fifth-Year Option?
Kayvon Thibodeaux joined the Giants amidst major expectations in 2022. The former No. 5 pick has certainly shown flashes of his potential since then, although further development would certainly be welcomed over the coming years. 
As a former first-round pick, Thibodeaux is eligible for to have his fifth-year option picked up. A decision on that front will need to be made this spring as the Giants plan their edge rush outlook for the future. While labeling the call a “tricky one” for New York, Dan Duggan of The Athletic writes it can be expected Thibodeaux’s 2026 option will be picked up (subscription required).
The 24-year-old immediately took on a starting role as a rookie, notching four sacks and 18 pressures. Thibodeaux took a notable step forward in Year 2, increasing those figures to 11.5 and 35, respectively. The Giants added to their OLB contingent last offseason by trading for Brian Burns, an accomplished sack artist who added to his total in that department with 8.5 in 2024. Thibodeaux’s output regressed compared to last year, although being limited to 12 games obviously played a role in that.
Without a Pro Bowl to his name, the Oregon product would be in line for $16.06MM in 2026 in the event the Giants picked up his option (h/t Over the Cap). That figure would be fully guaranteed, but it would fall well short of where many of the league’s top edge rushers will find themselves in terms of annual compensation by that point (especially considering where the market is likely headed this offseason). Still, such a commitment would be much easier on the team’s part if Thibodeaux had managed to make a larger impact in the early stages of his career.
New York has had Azeez Ojulari in the fold for the past four years, but given the presence of Thibodeaux and Burns, he was considered a logical trade candidate at the deadline. The Giants elected to retain Ojulari, although he is still in position to depart on the open market in pursuit of a larger role on a new team. Provided that takes place, Thibodeaux will be in line to remain a key starter for years to come and exercising his option would no doubt become an easier decision for the Giants.
Teams have until May 1 to pick up or decline the options on their 2022 first-round picks. Plenty of time therefore remains for the Giants to contemplate Thibodeaux’s future with free agency and the draft approaching. Still, his situation will be one to monitor as the offseason unfolds.
Ravens, OC Todd Monken Finalize Extension
FEBRUARY 3: The extension is now in place, per a team announcement. Monken will remain with the Ravens for at least one more year, and expectations will again be high for the team’s offense in 2025.
JANUARY 27: For the second straight offseason, Todd Monken drew head coaching interest around the NFL. Once again, though, the in-demand offensive coordinator is set to remain in Baltimore. 
Monken and the Ravens are finalizing an extension, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. He has been at the helm of the team’s offense for the past two years, a stretch which has seen notable production and balance. Monken met with the Panthers and Chargers regarding their head coach openings last offseason, and this time around he spoke with the Jaguars and Bears while also receiving an interview request from the Raiders.
The latest update on his status noted Monken did well in his interviews, but only one HC opening remains at this point and the Saints did not have him on their radar. As a result, the door has remained open for a new Ravens commitment and, shortly after the team’s divisional round exit, one is on tap. Head coach John Harbaugh recently expressed optimism for the team’s offense for 2025 and beyond.
“He’s an old-school football coach with kind of a new-school and creative mind,” Harbaugh said of Monken (via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley). “I really am excited about 3.0, that iteration of this offense going forward, because we found ourselves through the last offseason and into this season, in terms of how we want to organize the offense and tie it all together and use the different platforms that you can use.”
For the first four seasons of Lamar Jackson‘s tenure as the Ravens’ full-time starting quarterback, Greg Roman was in place as Baltimore’s OC. The team’s run game was among the league’s best during that span, but the decision to part ways after 2022 and bring in Moken was aimed at elevating Jackson’s ceiling as a passer. In 2024 in particular, that goal was achieved.
Jackson set career highs in passing yards (4,172) and touchdowns (41) while posting the lowest interception rate (0.8%) of his career. The two-time MVP topped the NFL in yards per attempt, passer rating and QBR en route to leading the Ravens to a first-place finish in total offense during the regular season. While the team’s inability to get over the playoff hump continued, it comes as little surprise Monken will receive a new commitment keeping him in Baltimore.
The Ravens endured several notable losses on their defensive staff during the 2024 hiring cycle, but after his first year as DC Zach Orr is set to remain in place for 2025. Continuity will also be seen on offense as the Ravens prepare for the coming offseason.
Colts C Ryan Kelly Will Reach Free Agency
Ryan Kelly has spent his entire career with the Colts, but his next deal may very well come from a different team. The veteran center recently confirmed he will test the open market this spring. 
“Never been a free agent,” Kelly said (via Mike Chappell of Fox59), “so I’m excited to see what’s out there. My plan is to see what’s out there on the market. Indy can always match it. I’ll miss it, if that’s it. It was a good run for nine years.”
Kelly, 31, has started all 121 of his appearances with Indianapolis, providing the team with a consistent presence in the middle over that span. The four-time Pro Bowler made it clear after the end of the 2024 season that his preference is to remain with the Colts, although he is aware he will likely need to be on the move in March. Indianapolis did not include Kelly in the team’s long list of in-house players who were extended or re-signed last offseason, a strong sign a 2025 departure will take place.
The Colts selected a potential Kelly replacement in the form of Tanor Bortolini during last year’s draft. The Wisconsin product made 12 appearances and five starts as a rookie, filling in at center when Kelly missed time with a knee injury. Bortolini could serve as a cost-effective replacement for Kelly over the remainder of his rookie contract, allowing the Colts to focus on other positions with respect to free agent spending.
Kelly has remained steady in terms of PFF evaluation over the course of his career, ranking in the top 10 amongst qualifying centers three times. The most recent of those occasions was in 2023, so the former first-rounder could generate a notable market in spite of his age. Kelly’s PFF grade from this past season (67) was still good enough for 12th at his position.
The Alabama product landed an extension averaging just over $12.4MM in 2020. Kelly will be hard-pressed to command a similar AAV on a new pact this March (especially if he secures a multi-year commitment), but he will have the opportunity to receive offers from suitors before deciding on a potential Indianapolis departure.
Free Agent Stock Watch: Tee Higgins
Plenty of time remains for the Bengals to prevent Tee Higgins from reaching the open market. As things stand, though, he is on track to be the top wideout available in free agency and one of the most in-demand players at any position in 2025. 
Higgins played out this past campaign on the franchise tag (making him the only recipient from 2024 who did not wind up signing a long-term deal). That is usually an indication a free agent departure is likely, and this case is believed to be no exception. Provided Cincinnati is unable to hammer out a big-ticket contract in the near future, Higgins will likely be in line for one of the league’s latest monster WR deals.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano reports an expectation is in place around the league that the 26-year-old’s next contract could be similar to those signed by Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins) and DeVonta Smith (Eagles) last spring. Waddle’s pact checks in at an annual average value of $28.25MM, while Smith’s contains a total guarantee of nearly $70MM (including $51MM in new locked-in compensation). Graziano notes Higgins could surpass those figures if he reaches the market and a bidding war ensues.
Taking things a step further, colleague Jeremy Fowler adds that many view the Clemson product’s ceiling as being at or above $30MM per year. A pact slightly outpacing Smith’s $25MM AAV is considered the starting point for a Higgins pact, but it would come as little surprise if the figure would up being notably higher. The 2025 free agent class is not teeming with young options at the WR spot in particular, so teams with excess cap space could make a serious run at signing him. The Patriots have already been named as a suitor to watch in that regard.
Higgins has surpassed 900 yards in four of his five Bengals campaigns, proving to be an effective Ja’Marr Chase complement along the way. The latter is in need of an extension, though, and resetting the receiver market (which Justin Jefferson moved to $35MM per year last offseason) may well be necessary to get a deal done. 2024 NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson is also due a raise, one the Bengals feel they are prepared to pay.
Taking care of those priorities while also managing the cap implications of Joe Burrow‘s $55MM-per-year extension and finding the funds for Higgins will be difficult. Burrow has repeatedly campaigned for the former second-rounder to be high on the team’s to-do list, and de facto general manager Duke Tobin recently spoke about keeping Higgins. Finding the “right number” for a pact to keep him in Cincinnati will – by Tobin’s own admission – be difficult considering the deal he could command from outside parties, however.
Jefferson and five other wideouts (CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Tyreek Hill and Brandon Aiyuk) are attached to a deal worth at least $30MM annually. Higgins’ track record does not place him in the same category as those All-Pros, and the fact he has missed five games in both of the past two years could give certain suitors pause this spring. Still, the opportunity to secure a genuine No. 1 wideout (as he would be expected to operate as) in his prime is one teams in need of upgrading through the air will have a hard time passing up.
Higgins’ 2024 tag was worth $21.82MM, so using a second tag would cost the Bengals $26.82MM. Without the ability of spreading out the cap hit generated by that move, it should be considered unlikely at this point. The Bengals have not engaged in negotiations in quite some time, and the most recent known offer fell short of $20MM per year. How high the team is willing to go in the coming weeks will make for an intriguing storyline.
Other pending free agents at the WR position include Stefon Diggs, Chris Godwin, Amari Cooper, DeAndre Hopkins, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Higgins stands out compared to each of those names in terms of earning potential, whether he manages to secure a multi-year Bengals commitment or one sending him elsewhere for the first time in his career. Especially if he can approach the top of the position’s market as many feel he will, Higgins will represent the centerpiece of an acquiring team’s free agent efforts.
Bears To Hire Eric Bieniemy
Eric Bieniemy is set to return to the NFL. The Bears are hiring him as their running backs coach, as first reported by CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. 
Bieniemy was out of the NFL in 2024, working as UCLA’s offensive coordinator. He and the team parted ways after a single season (in which the team’s offense did not produce as expected), however, opening the door for another opportunity in the pro ranks. Indeed, it became clear in December Bieniemy was aiming for an NFL gig during the 2025 hiring cycle.
Since then, it has been learned the 55-year-old interviewed with the Patriots for their offensive coordinator gig. Interest from other teams was expected, and now the Bears are set to proceed with a hire. This will be Bieniemy’s first position other than OC since 2017, dating back to his time with the Chiefs.
After a five-year stint in that role, Bieniemy took on offensive coordinator duties in Kansas City. Although he did not call plays during that time, his work as OC drew praise with the team ranking between first and sixth in scoring each of the five seasons he was in that role. In 2023, Bieniemy took the Commanders’ coordinator gig (one which included play-calling duties) but his Sam Howell-led unit did not post strong numbers. Only one year removed from that showing, though, he has rebounded with a notable role on Ben Johnson‘s staff.
Johnson and Bieniemy have not worked together in the past, but the latter represents another experienced addition to the former’s initial Chicago staff. Former Jaguars OC Press Taylor will work as the Bears’ pass-game coordinator, giving them another veteran coach who has called plays in the past. First-time offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, along with Johnson (who will call plays) will have another experienced staffer to lean on in 2025.
In other Bears coaching news, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports tight ends coach Jim Dray will be retained. As expected, several members of the previous staff – including interim head coach and defensive coordinator Eric Washington – were not kept in place upon Johnson’s arrival as head coach. With Dray sticking around, however, he will spent at least one season as part of Chicago’s new-look staff. The 38-year-old has been with the Bears since 2022.