Commanders Do Not Intend To Trade WR Terry McLaurin
In the absence of progress at the negotiating table, Terry McLaurin went public with a trade request on Thursday. The chances of the Commanders dealing him away have long been viewed as low, and that remains the case at this point. 
A number of teams inquired with Washington about McLaurin prior to the news of his trade request. As Nicki Jhabvala and Dianna Russini of The Athletic report, though, the Commanders informed suitors they have no plans of moving on from the two-time Pro Bowler. The sides remain at an impasse regarding extension talks, so interest on the trade front will no doubt continue until and unless an agreement is reached.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes a number of issues (including overall value and guarantees) are yet to be resolved in McLaurin’s case. That differs from, for instance, the case of Trey Hendrickson and the Bengals. The AAV of a new Cincinnati agreement appears to have been hammered out, but the sides are at an impasse with respect to guaranteeing more than the first year of any new pact. It remains to be seen general manager Adam Peters and the Commanders will be willing to reach or surpass $30MM per year on a long-term contract.
While remarking on the situation, one general manager told Russini they liken this case to that of Haason Reddick from last year. Reddick engaged in lengthy holdout with the Jets while seeking an extension following his trade from the Eagles. In the end, a short-term compromise was made but Reddick’s debut was delayed until Week 8 and he departed in free agency after an underwhelming campaign. Any similar absence through the regular season – something which, to be clear, McLaurin has not yet threatened – would of course be highly detrimental to a Commanders team aiming to duplicate last year’s run to the NFC title game.
During a Friday appearance on the Rich Eisen Show (video link), NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said a trade cannot completely be ruled out at this point. The Patriots are known to be a potential suitor in the event Peters’ approach changes and consideration is given to a swap. Such a move would leave Washington with trade acquisition (and pending 2026 free agent) Deebo Samuel atop the WR depth chart.
However, the Commanders have a star quarterback on a rookie contract, opening up a clear competitive window for them to build around Jayden Daniels before he commands a market-level salary. That would seem to include investing in a perennial thousand-yard threat like McLaurin – who already has an impressive rapport with his young QB. Coming to an agreement with the soon-to-be 30-year-old feels like an inevitability, whether it be before Week 1 or partway into the regular season.
Micah Parsons Considering Trade Request From Cowboys
The latest update in the Micah Parsons saga further illustrates the tensions between his camp and the Cowboys. With no active extension talks ongoing, an escalation could soon take place. 
Parsons is now “considering drastic measures” as it pertains to his future, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. That could include a trade request or a decision to cut ties with the Cowboys altogether. The latter step would be rather difficult since the four-time Pro Bowler is under contract with Dallas for 2025, but a public request to be dealt would of course fall in line with standard practice for a number of players dissatisfied with their situation.
Since a face-to-face summit with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones took place in the spring – during which the framework of an agreement was worked out – things have spiraled in this case. The top of the edge rush market has swelled multiple times in 2025, as expected. T.J. Watt now leads the way as a result of his $41MM-per-year Steelers pact, but Parsons has long been expected to surpass that figure based on his age.
The 26-year-old originally targeted the start of free agency as the timeline for a new deal before shifting that to the beginning of training camp. With both artificial deadlines having come and gone, Parsons has grown increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress at the negotiating table. The price of a second Dallas contract – presuming one eventually gets signed – will no doubt be higher than it would have been had the parties consummated a deal before the Watt agreement. Public comments made recently on both sides have heightened speculation this situation may not result in the long-term pact many have long expected would be the case.
Prior to Russini’s report, Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS confirmed on Friday morning that the narrative of tension between Parsons and the Cowboys has a strong foundation. He added that, in addition to issues of term length and compensation, “feelings” are among the issues yet to be resolved in this saga. An asking price beyond what was already (informally) agreed to this spring would be an understandable cause for consternation on the part of the Cowboys. Likewise, seeing his extension talks drag out in a similar fashion to those of Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb last year has unsurprisingly irked Parsons and his representation given their desire to work out a deal as early as 2024.
Having earned a spot on the first or second All-Pro team during each of his four seasons to date, Parsons has a strong case to move the EDGE market to a new financial position. The Penn State product has amassed 52.5 sacks to date and will be counted on to lead the way in the pass rush department for Dallas in 2025 and (theoretically, at least) beyond. No agreement being struck in this case could lead to a free agent departure next spring or, more likely, a decision from the Cowboys to apply the franchise tag.
Agent David Mulugheta has been in contact with Adam Prasifka, who regularly has a strong role in player contract talks. Neither Jerry nor COO Stephen Jones has spoken with Mulugheta to date, however, and it would come as a surprise if any positive movement were to come about until and unless that changes. For now, attention will turn to Parsons and his willingness to take things a step further in the absence of traction on the negotiating front.
Louis Rees-Zammit To Return To Rugby
Rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit made an attempt at an NFL career last year. While he did not play in any regular season games, he noted in June his intention of continuing to push for a roster spot through at least the 2025 campaign. 
A change of heart has since taken place, however. Rees-Zammit – who began with the Chiefs but spent the 2024 campaign on the Jaguars’ practice squad – announced on Friday that he is returning to rugby. His NFL tenure thus comes to an end after three preseason appearances with Kansas City.
“It’s been a great experience but it’s time to come home,” the 24-year-old wrote on Instagram. “I’ve decided that this is the best time to make this decision to give myself time to get everything in place for next season.”
Rees-Zammit’s attempt to break through in the NFL came amidst questions about his best position. Time spent at both receiver and running back did not yield a clear path to a roster spot with the Chiefs, and he was among the team’s final roster cuts. Immediately after being waived, the Welshman joined the Jaguars via a practice squad deal. After not seeing any game time, he landed a contract on Jacksonville’s active roster in February (as opposed to a reserve/futures pact) and later received a roster exemption through the International Player Pathway.
As a result, waiving Rees-Zammit or placing him on the reserve/retired list in the wake of today’s decision will not alter the Jags’ outlook heading into the final month of the offseason. If the team elects to make a skill position addition at some point over the coming weeks, Jacksonville will be able to afford one with nearly $19MM in cap space.
CB Greg Newsome Hopes To Finish Career With Browns
Greg Newsome has frequently been mentioned in trade talks, but he is set to remain with the Browns for 2025. As he enters what could be a make-or-break Cleveland season, the former first-round corner aims to land a new commitment from the team. 
The Browns exercised Newsome’s fifth-year option last spring. As a result of the move, he is due $13.38MM for 2025, a season in which a starting role on the outside should await him. The Achilles tear suffered by Martin Emerson this week will sideline him for the 2025 season and leave Cleveland without a full-time CB starter. Denzel Ward will remain in place as a perimeter starter, but in Emerson’s absence Newsome should move from the slot to the boundary.
A strong campaign in that role would help Newsome’s value on his second NFL contract, regardless of where it comes from. The 25-year-old saw a notable decline in playing time and struggled in coverage last season before landing on injured reserve. In the wake of those developments – along with a looming Emerson raise provided he lands a new Browns pact – Newsome has long been connected to trade rumors. If the Northwestern product has his way, though, he will remain in Cleveland through the remainder of his career.
“I’ve said it since the day I was drafted, I want to be a Brown for life, and in order to do that I got to hold [up] my end of the bargain,” Newsome said when asked about his future (via Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal). “The good thing is I’m starting this training camp healthy so I’m able to get out there and get the reps in before the season starts, and that’s my main goal. It’s always been my goal is to be a Brown for life, so I got to hold up my end of the bargain.”
Newsome has 54 games and 42 starts to his name, but he will look for a healthier and more productive 2025 than his previous campaign (in which he was charged with four touchdowns and a passer rating of 112.5 allowed in coverage). While the Browns struggled in total defense last season, they ranked 12th against the pass. Improvement in both areas will be difficult without Emerson, but Newsome figures to have a notable role in the effort to take a step forward.
Given his age, Newsome would be at least an attractive depth option for contending teams leading up to the trade deadline. An encouraging season would also boost his free agent stock, but it will be interesting to see if the Browns show a willingness to authorize a long-term pact in the event they retain him through the regular season.
Falcons Host CB C.J. Henderson
Safety Jordan Whitehead lined up a Falcons visit shortly after receiving medical clearance. He is not the only free agent defensive back on Atlanta’s radar. 
Cornerback C.J. Henderson worked out for the Falcons today, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. No deal is imminent at this time, he adds. Today’s news marks the first known visit this offseason in the case of the former top-1o pick.
Expectations were high for Henderson upon arrival with the Jaguars in 2020. Things did not go according to plan, however, and after struggling in a starting role with Jacksonville he was traded to the Panthers early in his second season. Over the course of 39 games with Carolina, the Florida product started 22 games but consistently struggled in coverage. Henderson joined the Texans last spring but failed to survive roster cuts.
That was followed by a stint on the Steelers’ practice squad, although a neck injury contributed to the 26-year-old never making an appearance. Henderson understandably remains unsigned well into training camp, but that could soon change based on how today’s workout went. Atlanta currently sits near the bottom of the NFL in terms of cap space; with roughly $4.9MM available, though, a league minimum pact would be affordable.
The Falcons added Mike Hughes in free agency as a starter to complement A.J. Terrell. Dee Alford and Clark Phillips remain in place from last year, but Henderson could be a candidate for a spot on the end of the roster in the event he were to sign. Failing that, his attention will again turn to finding a gig in 2025.
Raiders, Jakobi Meyers Discussing Extension
The Raiders kept a mainstay in the fold for the long term by working out an extension with left tackle Kolton Miller yesterday. Another key member of the team’s offense could also have a new deal in place soon. 
Receiver Jakobi Meyers is in talks with Vegas about an extension, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes (video link). The 28-year-old has one season remaining on his current deal and has made it clear more than once that he would welcome an extended stay with the organization. Meyers signed with the Raiders in free agency after playing out his Patriots rookie deal.
That $11MM-per-year pact has proven to be a strong investment for Vegas so far. Playing in multiple schemes and dealing with undesirable quarterback situations, Meyers has totaled 1,834 yards and 12 touchdowns on his second team. 2024 saw him set a new career high in receptions (87) while topping 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. Stability at the quarterback spot in the form of Geno Smith, along with revamped coaching staff featuring new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, could spark improvement moving forward.
Vegas has Tre Tucker in place as a fellow starter at the receiver spot, and the team invested second- and fourth-round picks in Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton during this year’s draft. Development from any or all members of that trio would be welcomed as the team looks to duplicate tight end Brock Bowers‘ historic rookie season. In any event, Meyers will be counted to serve as a focal point in the passing game for 2025. The former UDFA has drawn 235 targets over the past two years, and a similar showing this year could help his value on a new contract with the Raiders or a free agent suitor.
Of course, time remains for an agreement to be reached which would prevent Meyers from hitting the open market next spring. His scheduled cap charge of $14.96MM is certainly not burdensome for the Raiders, but an increase in pay from the $11MM Meyers is currently owed for 2025 along with a commitment for future seasons would be affordable based on the team’s current cap situation. It would also ensure stability atop the receiver depth chart for years to come.
Bucs CB Zyon McCollum Seeking Extension
Zyon McCollum has developed into a mainstay in the Buccaneers’ secondary while playing out the first three years of his rookie pact. The pending 2026 free agent is eligible for an extension, and that is his target. 
McCollum is seeking a second Tampa Bay contract, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes. He adds agent Drew Rosenhaus is at the team’s facility today to discuss an extension. The Bucs are no stranger to retaining in-house players under general manager Jason Licht, and it will be interesting to see if McCollum becomes the latest player to stay in place via a raise.
Joining the team as a fifth-round pick, McCollum primarily played on special teams as a rookie but he also handled a rotational role on defense. His workload increased dramatically the following season when he earned nine starts. In 2024, McCollum was on the field for over 1,000 defensive snaps and that is in line to continue this season and (provided a new pact can be worked out) beyond.
The 26-year-old notched the first two interceptions of his career last season, and his 17 pass deflections put him in a tie for third in the NFL in that department. McCollum was charged with four touchdowns surrendered in coverage by Pro Football Reference, but his completion percentage (57.4%) and passer rating (86.9) marked career bests. Further improvement would make a long-term pact a worthwhile investment from the Buccaneers’ perspective.
Tampa Bay has relied on Jamel Dean as a perimeter corner throughout his career, but the seventh-year veteran is in danger of losing his starting spot. Tykee Smith has seen time in the slot, but a transition to safety could allow for third-round rookie Jacob Parrish to handle starting duties on the inside. Dean being demoted to a backup would see Benjamin Morrison – taken in the second round of this year’s draft – work opposite of McCollum on the perimeter. Time in the slot has been floated as a possibility in McCollum’s case, but he has worked almost exclusively on the boundary during his career.
Derek Stingley Jr. and Sauce Gardner have taken the cornerback market to (and slightly beyond) $30MM per year with their respective extensions. McCollum does not have the same track record as those two, and any pact signed before the start of the 2025 season will no doubt fall short of that AAV figure. Still, a multi-year accord would make him the latest Bucs cover man to receive a second contract with the team if his desire to work out a deal is reciprocated.
UFL To Relocate Multiple Teams For 2026; League Eyeing Long-Term Expansion
2026 will mark the third consecutive year of operation for the United Football League. Changes with respect to some of the league’s markets will be in place by the time the campaign begins. 
Entrepreneur and co-founder of the likes of Vitaminwater, Smartwater and BodyArmor Mike Repole has joined the UFL’s investment group. He is now in control of the league’s business operations. Repole spoke about his intentions in an interview with ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.
Ahead of the 2026 season, at least two teams – and as many as four – will be based out of a different market. It is not yet clear which markets will be departing the league, but Repole noted Columbus will be among the new ones. The UFL will remain at eight teams for the coming season. If his vision for the league is fulfilled, though, that number will grow considerably. Repole aims for the UFL to have 10-12 teams within the next five years and 16 within the next decade.
“We’re going to be aggressive as far as being nimble and scrappy and gritty and making aggressive moves,” Repole said. “If by 2035, if we can’t have 16 teams, I’m going to consider it a personal failure. This is it. Other leagues didn’t have the capital that this league has, didn’t have the media giants that this league has, didn’t have the entrepreneurs that this team has.”
Investment from the likes of RedBird Capital along with league co-owners Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia, and broadcast partnerships with ESPN and FOX have allowed the UFL to operate so far. Repole rightfully noted that – with the exception of the St. Louis Battlehawks – attendance represents a key issue. St. Louis has averaged roughly 30,000 fans per home game, but that figure ranges from 5,000-12,000 on average for the UFL’s other markets. Relocation will be aimed at raising attendance levels while expansion receives consideration.
The UFL recently trademarked four team names which date back to the original USFL: the Oakland Invaders, the Philadelphia Stars, the New Jersey Generals and the Tampa Bay Bandits. Once more information about the upcoming changes becomes available, it would come as no surprise if one or more of those locations were to become new markets for a franchise.
RB Latavius Murray Retires
After being unable to find an NFL opportunity in 2024, Latavius Murray is hanging up his cleats. The veteran running back announced on Thursday that he is retiring at the age of 35 (video link via NFL insider Jordan Schultz). 
A sixth-round pick of the Raiders in 2013, Murray played on a rotational basis the following year before taking on starting duties. He recorded his first and only 1,000-yard campaign in 2015 and secured a Pro Bowl nod in the process. A career-best 12 rushing touchdowns during his final Raiders season set Murray up for a strong free agent market.
The UCF product landed a three-year, $15MM Vikings pact on the open market. Murray ended up spending a pair of seasons in Minnesota where he operated as part of a backfield tandem with Dalvin Cook. A similar setup was in place with New Orleans when Murray paired with Alvin Kamara for the 2019 and ’20 campaigns, during which he remained a consistent producer on the ground.
Murray caught on with the Ravens in 2021 shortly after being cut. As part of a Baltimore backfield ravaged by preseason injuries, he managed to handle a notable workload before finding himself on the move once again the following season. In 2022, Murray briefly returned to the Saints before signing from the practice squad to the Broncos’ active roster midway through the campaign. That decision set up a starting role to close out the season and helped earn him a Bills pact for 2023.
Logging a 32% snap share with Buffalo, Murray remained healthy but saw his yards per attempt average dip below 4.1 for the first time since 2017. That was a key factor in the Bills’ decision not to retain him, even though Murray was open to an extended stay with the team. After spending last season without a deal, today will mark the end of the line after 10 NFL seasons.
In all, Murray played 158 combined regular and postseason games over the course of his NFL tenure, totaling over 8,000 scrimmage yards and 61 touchdowns. He amassed more than $21MM in career earnings.
S Minkah Fitzpatrick Aiming For Long-Term Dolphins Tenure
Minkah Fitzpatrick is back where his career began thanks to the trade which sent him from Pittsburgh to Miami. In the wake of that deal, the All-Pro safety worked out a restructured contract with the Dolphins. 
As a result of the alterations to his pact, Fitzpatrick received a signing bonus to help take the place of money which was not previously guaranteed. No new years were added to his pact, though, so the decision to accelerate compensation for 2025 did not add any term to Fitzpatrick’s second Dolphins stint. The five-time Pro Bowler is currently set to see his contract expire after the 2026 campaign, but he is interested in a long-term Miami tenure.
“I know it was reported that I wanted a new contract,” Fitzpatrick said (via the Associated Press through Fox Sports), “but I just wanted to know that I was going to be here for more than a season and I got that. And now, I’m going to go out there, play All-Pro, Pro Bowl level and hopefully earn the respect of my teammates and the organization to have that long-term contract.”
The restructure created $11MM in immediate cap space for the Dolphins, a team in need of financial flexibility given its cap situation prior to the Fitzpatrick reworking and the growing need for healthy contributors in the secondary. Of course, the move will inflate Fitzpatrick’s cap charge for 2026, providing further incentive on the team’s part to work out a multi-year commitment. Efforts on that front will be tied to how the 28-year-old fares in his return to South Beach.
Fitzpatrick’s request to be traded during his second season resulted in the swap which sent him to the Steelers. Over the course of course of 88 regular season games with Pittsburgh, he amassed 18 interceptions and 45 pass deflections. The past two seasons have seen Fitzpatrick notch just one pick, however, and a return to his previous form will be needed if he is to secure another lucrative pact. With an AAV of $18.25MM at signing, his current deal ranks fourth amongst safeties. Another accord could be in store next spring depending on how things play out.