Bengals Resume Extension Talks With DE Trey Hendrickson
One of the NFL’s top remaining contract sagas came to an end earlier today with Terry McLaurin and the Commanders reaching an extension agreement. No such deal is imminent in Trey Hendrickson‘s case, but efforts to work one out are again underway. 
Negotiations between the Bengals and Hendrickson’s camp have resumed, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. As of last weekend, a continued lack of traction in extension talks led to a new round of trade calls coming in. A swap would come as a surprise this late in the offseason, of course, so attention is still aimed at the ability of both parties to reach at least a short-term compromise.
With guarantees beyond Year 1 of any long-term extension remaining a sticking point from Cincinnati’s perspective, a “unique” arrangement could be in store. Per Schultz, discussions have taken place about a raise covering 2025 which would still allow for Hendrickson to reach free agency next spring. As things stand, the reigning sack leader is owed $16MM on the final year of his pact.
In 2023, Hendrickson agreed to a bump in pay which came about with one new year being added to his pact. That arrangement has been followed by multiple unsuccessful attempts to secure a long-term accord, however, and last offseason the Bengals rejected efforts to seek out a trade. That stance shifted in 2025, with conflicting reports emerging last week about whether or not the team’s trade price has been lowered recently. The Patriots have been named as a team to watch on that front, although New England is not believed to be actively pursuing a deal.
The length and total value of a new pact has long been agreed to between Hendrickson and the Bengals. Cincinnati appears willing to move near the top of the EDGE market in terms of AAV to keep the 30-year-old in the fold. Locked-in compensation has been the source of a lengthy stalemate, with the team not looking to break with organizational precedent (as it did with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase) by guaranteeing money past the first year.
With that stance in mind, a top-up for 2025 which does not include any new term could be feasible. Coming off his fourth straight Pro Bowl campaign – and first as an All-Pro performer – Hendrickson could set himself up for a considerable payday on the open market next spring with another productive season. A short-term agreement would also likely be sufficient to end his hold-in and ensure the threat of missed regular season games does not come to pass.
Cowboys Begin Roster Cuts
Monday has seen the Cowboys make a number of roster moves. Several further cuts are needed before tomorrow afternoon, but these eight players have officially been let go:
Waived:
- G Nick Broeker
- DT Denzel Daxon
- WR Josh Kelly
- TE Tyler Neville
- CB Troy Pride
- TE John Stephens
Released:
Waived-injured:
Collins was informed of his release yesterday. The move ends his second Cowboys stint, one which began earlier this month. The 32-year-old made 71 starts during his first run in Dallas, but after spending 2022 as the Bengals’ right tackle he has has yet to make a regular season appearance. That is set to continue into the coming campaign.
Pride played two games for the Cowboys last season and represented a depth option at the cornerback spot given the team’s numerous injury issues at the moment. That group received a boost with yesterday’s news that Trevon Diggs has been activated from the PUP list, however, allowing him to begin the year on the active roster. Pride could be retained as depth on the practice squad if he clears waivers.
Matthew will revert to injured reserve once he passes through waivers. He is likely to be released via an injury settlement once that takes place. That would allow the 28-year-old to sign elsewhere once he is healthy.
Buccaneers To Release LB Anthony Walker
Anthony Walker‘s brief time with the Buccaneers is coming to an end. The veteran linebacker is among Tampa Bay’s roster cuts, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
Walker signed with the Bucs in March, seemingly setting him up for a spot with his latest team. The 30-year-old has 99 appearances and 83 starts to his name, but those totals will not increase with Tampa Bay. Walker was injured through all of training camp, Greg Auman of Fox Sports notes. This move takes the place of a reserve/NFI list designation as part of the Buccaneers’ roster moves.
Per Schefter, Walker is now healthy. That could prove to be a key factor in determining his future. The former Colts, Browns and Dolphins contributor has topped 100 tackles three time in his career, and last season he added 68 stops to his total while logging eight starts. While his first-team role in Miami was lost midway through the campaign, Walker could offer expected production at the second level of an interested team’s defense.
The practice squad represents an option in Walker’s case, depending on his Tampa Bay views his health status. Once his release is official, he will be free to sign elsewhere if no Bucs agreement is reached. This move will create $530K in cap space while generating a dead money charge of $668K.
Tampa Bay’s linebacking corps will once again be led by Lavonte David in 2025. With Walker out of the picture, fellow veteran Deion Jones remains on track to play at least a part-time role. Younger options on the depth chart are also now in a stronger position to survive the team’s remaining cuts.
Dolphins To Release CB Mike Hilton
Mike Hilton‘s lengthy free agency ended with a Dolphins agreement. The veteran corner is not in position to spend the 2025 season in Miami, however. 
Hilton was informed of his release by the Dolphins today, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. After signing in July, the former Steeler and Bengal seemed to be slated for a notable role in the slot. Barring a return via a practice squad agreement, though, that will not be the case.
Cornerback has been a question mark for Miami throughout the offseason, one in which Kendall Fuller was released before Jalen Ramsey was traded away. Season-ending injuries to Kader Kohou and Artie Burns added further urgency to the need for summer additions, and Hilton was signed alongside Jack Jones. That pact came after Hilton spoke with the Dolphins earlier and the 31-year-old noted he expected to wind up in South Beach.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes Hilton was listed as a starter on the Dolphins’ depth chart upon arrival. He did not spend much time with the first-team defense during practice, however, something which could help explain today’s move. Fifth-round rookie Jason Marshall is now in position to handle starting slot duties.
Hilton received a $168K signing bonus when he joined the Dolphins. Miami will thus generate a dead money charge of that amount with this release. The team will create $1.03MM in cap space by cutting Hilton, though. It will be interesting to see how Miami approaches the next few days at the cornerback position.
Once Hilton’s release is official, he will reach free agency. The eight-year veteran has 56 starts to his name, so a market could exist for his services as teams arrange their depth charts in advance of Week 1.
Titans RB Tyjae Spears Could Begin Season On IR
Tyjae Spears‘ 2025 debut could be delayed by at least one month. The third-year running back is a candidate to begin the season injured reserve, TitansInsider’s Terry McCormick reports. 
The designated for return distinction is still in play after it was introduced for roster cutdowns in 2024. As a result, teams can place as many as two players on injured reserve without the move ending their seasons. Any player given the designation is required to miss at least the first four weeks of the campaign, though.
Spears exited Tennessee’s first preseason game with a high ankle sprain. He has yet to practice since then, so it would come as a surprise if he were to be back at full strength in time for Week 1. The IR-designated for return path would thus be a sensible one to take for the Titans. Tony Pollard is set to handle lead back duties once again this season, and missed time in Spears’ case would add to his workload in September.
Tennessee also has fourth-year reserve Julius Chestnut along with sixth-round rookie Kalel Mullings as depth options in the backfield. Spears moving to IR would obviously help their chances of making the Titans’ 53-man roster. Still, it would deal a blow to Tennessee’s offense. Spears has been a key rotational figure on the ground over his first two seasons, and he has totaled 82 catches in the passing game. The Tulane product’s absence will be felt provided he does wind up missing notable time early on.
Two years remain on Spears’ rookie contract. He missed five contests last season after a full run of availability as a rookie. Adding further to his time on the sidelines will not help the chances of an extension being worked out in the 24-year-old’s case, although that cannot happen until next offseason at the earliest. For now, his immediate future will be determined by how the Titans handle his roster spot over the coming days.
49ers Unlikely To Pursue K Addition
Jake Moody remains in position to handle kicking duties for the 49ers in 2025. The former third-round pick’s up-and-down performances have continued this summer, leading some to speculate about a move being made at the position. 
That should not be expected, however. In the wake of San Francisco’s preseason finale – a game in which Moody missed an extra point – head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked whether the team would consider bringing in competition ahead of Week 1. He did not entirely close the door to an addition, but Shanahan offered a vote of confidence for Moody.
“I don’t know. I thought he had one of the best games I’ve ever seen a guy have last week,” Shanahan said (via 49ers WebZone). “I know he missed an extra point today, which definitely doesn’t make us happy. But, we’ll see how it goes in the year. I know he is a talented kicker. I know he has done some really good things for us. He had a rough last seven games last year, but I think he’s had a really good offseason and a really good preseason also.”
To Shanahan’s point, Moody connected on a game-winning 59-yard field goal during the 49ers’ second preseason contest. The Michigan product showed his potential during a strong rookie campaign, but things did not go according to plan last season. Moody missed three games due to injury and upon returning he missed nine field goal attempts in a nine-game span. During the early portion of that inconsistent stretch, Shanahan voiced his support for the 25-year-old.
During the spring, though, veteran Greg Joseph was brought in as a potential Moody replacement. That proved to be short-lived, as Joseph was released earlier this month. Moody is thus the 49ers’ only kicker on the roster at this point. Things could change at the position over the coming days, but for now another year relying on him in the kicking game is in store.
Pete Carroll: Raiders Exploring QB Addition
As a result of Aidan O’Connell‘s wrist fracture, the Raiders will be shorthanded at the quarterback position to begin the season. Acquiring depth represents a priority over the coming days. 
[RELATED: Recapping Raiders’ Offseason]
“All possibilities are available right now,” head coach Pete Carroll said on Sunday when asked about the team’s QB plans (via ESPN’s Ryan McFadden). ” I mean, wherever they come from, and we’re looking everywhere to see [if] we find the best guy that fits us.”
With teams beginning the process of reaching 53 on their respective rosters, plenty of players have become available recently. That includes a few quarterbacks. Earlier today, the Vikings released Brett Rypien as part of their shake-ups at the position. Since then, the Browns have made the expected move of cutting Tyler Huntley. Both veterans will immediately reach free agency (without needing to clear waivers first).
The Raiders have Geno Smith atop the depth chart for 2025, and undrafted rookie Cam Miller is in the fold as a depth option. Fellow UDFA Tommy Mellott played quarterback in college, but as expected he has worked as a receiver upon entering the NFL. For at least as long as O’Connell is unavailable, the team could benefit from having a veteran presence behind Smith.
Indeed, Carroll noted experience is a factor which will play an important role in the team’s search process. For that reason, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal names Ryan Tannehill as a potential target. Tannehill did not play last year, but with 151 starts to his name the 37-year-old would certainly qualify as a veteran QB2 option.
With nearly $35MM in cap space, the Raiders will not have a problem affording any short-term addition which winds up being made in time for Week 1. Free agency (amongst the signal-callers already cut) and/or trades represent avenues for a new passer to be brought in. The waiver wire will also be busy over the coming days, and Vegas could elect to take that route instead.
Eagles Unlikely To Retain LB Nakobe Dean Beyond 2025?
2025 marks the final year of Nakobe Dean‘s rookie contract. No extension is viewed as likely for the Eagles linebacker, meaning a trip to free agency next spring is currently on track to take place.
Dean’s production in college was insufficient to prevent a drop down the order during the 2022 draft. Injury concerns resulted in a fall to the third round, although he did not miss a regular or postseason game as a rookie. The following campaign saw Dean limited to only five contests, however, and a torn patellar tendon suffered in this year’s wild-card game figures to leave him sidelined at the outset of the 2025 season. Given how late he went down last season, he could spend a significant portion of the year on the physically unable to perform list.
In no small part due to his injury history, PhillyVoice’s Geoff Mosher writes this will “probably” be Dean’s final year with the Eagles. They signed Zack Baun to a three-year, $51MM extension in March and drafted Jihaad Campbell in the first round of April’s draft, signaling that Dean is not a part of their future linebacker plans. Recent Day 3 picks Jeremiah Trotter (2024) and Smael Mondon (2025) have impressed as well, per Mosher, potentially giving Philadelphia cheap, young backups for the next few years.
If Dean were healthy, the Eagles’ linebacker depth might have made him a trade candidate, according to Mosher, but his inability to pass a physical would likely be an insurmountable obstacle to such a deal. Instead, he will start the year on the sidelines, and by the time Dean gets back on the field – if at all – there may not be a role for him in Vic Fangio‘s defense.
Beyond contributing in 2025, a full recovery will obviously be paramount in determining Dean’s free agency value next offseason. Teams will be unlikely to commit significant long-term money, so, like many players coming off a major injury, he may have to take a shorter ‘prove it’ deal and rebuild his stock for the 2027 offseason.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this article.
Bills To Reunite With DT Jordan Phillips
Jordan Phillips is set to once again find himself in Buffalo. The veteran defensive tackle visited the Bills today, and a deal is expected. 
[RELATED: Reviewing Bills’ Offseason]
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports Phillips is set to sign with Buffalo later this week. That will presumably mean a practice squad agreement, in which case this deal will not be official until at least Wednesday. In any event, a fourth Bills stint is on tap in this case.
Phillips has spent all or part of the 2018, ’19, ’22, ’23 and ’24 campaigns in Buffalo. The 32-year-old is also a veteran of time with the Dolphins, Cardinals and Cowboys, but his most common playing situation has been as a member of the Bills. Phillips has made 129 regular season appearances in the NFL; nearly half of those have come with Buffalo.
In recent years, the former second-rounder has seen a notable drop in playing time. A notable uptick in workload should of course not be expected considering his time spent in free agency this offseason. Nevertheless, Phillips will give the Bills a familiar and highly experienced depth option along the defensive line. That unit saw draft additions in the second (T.J. Sanders) and fourth (Deone Walker) rounds, and Sanders in particular has drawn strong reviews for his work in training camp.
In part as a result of that development, veteran Larry Ogunjobi has emerged as a cut candidate. The free agent signing is facing a six-game PED suspension to begin the campaign, something which – coupled with an underwhelming showing this summer – could leave him on the outside looking in. It will be interesting to see if the Phillips reunion has an impact on Ogunjobi’s status.
The Bills entered Sunday with a league-low $1.87MM in cap space. That figure will change considerably in the coming days, but regardless of where it lands after roster cuts Phillips will not require a notable investment to return to Buffalo.
Patriots To Add QB; Vederian Lowe, Demontrey Jacobs Seen As Trade Candidates
As things stand, the Patriots’ quarterback depth chart solely consists of Drake Maye and Josh Dobbs. The team cut Ben Wooldridge shortly after the preseason wrapped up. 
As a result, the expectation exists New England will be in the market for an addition under center in the coming days. Indeed, head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss) the Patriots will add a quarterback shortly. The new arrival will likely be headed to the practice squad, but nothing will be certain on that front until later this week.
Dobbs’ hold on a roster spot has been questioned, but at this point the veteran is set to operate as New England’s backup. Whether or not a replacement is sought out, finances will not be a challenge. The Patriots entered Sunday with a league-leading $60MM in cap space.
In other Pats news, Reiss’ colleague Jeremy Fowler notes trades involving one or more offensive linemen could be in store soon. That position group is one which often sees movement at this time of year as teams aim to acquire veteran depth in time for the regular season. Specifically, Fowler names Vederian Lowe and Demontrey Jacobs as players viewed as being available in a swap.
Lowe was drafted by the Vikings in 2022, but he has spent the past two seasons with New England. That span included eight starts in 2023 and another 13 last season. After the Patriots made several changes up front this spring, however – including the arrival of a new tackle tandem in the form of Will Campbell and Morgan Moses – Lowe could find himself on the move in the event of a trade.
Jacobs made 13 starts in 2024, but he too is a candidate for a reduced role under Vrabel if he remains in New England. Depending on how trade talks shake out over the next few days, one or more deals could be worked out along the O-line as the Pats try to take a much needed step forward in that respect this season.