Titans Waive WR Treylon Burks
JULY 29: Burks cleared waivers and heads to the Titans’ IR list, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. An injury settlement, removing Burks from IR, will be the likely next course of action. That would lead him to free agency.
JULY 28: Treylon Burks‘ tenure in Tennessee is on track to come to an end. In the wake of his latest injury, the former first-rounder has been waived. 
This move has come with an injury designation, which comes as no surprise given the broken collarbone Burks recently suffered in training camp. Injuries have plagued the 25-year-old throughout his brief NFL tenure, which began when Tennessee selected him with the No. 18 pick in the 2022 draft. That selection was acquired by dealing A.J. Brown to the Eagles.
Given the link between the two wideouts created by the trade, Burks’ evaluations have always been measured against Brown’s Philadelphia success. During each of his three seasons with the Eagles so far, Brown has earned a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro acclaim; the 28-year-old was also a key figure in the team’s Super Bowl success in 2025. Burks, by contrast, entered this summer on Tennessee’s roster bubble.
The Arkansas product managed a career-best 444 yards as a rookie while being limited to 11 games. Optimism was high that, with better luck on the health front, he could round out his game and develop into a regular on offense with the Titans. Staying on the field has proven to be an issue, however – Burks missed six games again in 2023 and an ACL tear limited him to five contests last season – and when available he has not managed to meet expectations. The collarbone injury accelerated the timing for what could have been a decision to move on from the Titans closer to the start of the regular season.
Tennessee’s receiver depth chart will once again be headlined by Calvin Ridley this season. Veteran Tyler Lockett was added in free agency, as was Van Jefferson. The Titans used the draft to add a pair of Day 3 prospects at the position (Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor), and they will look to handle backup roles during their rookie seasons. Tennessee entered Monday with nearly $30MM in cap space, so finances will not be an issue if one of the veterans still on the market is targeted in the wake of this move.
Burks is now headed to waivers, with all teams free to claim him. Provided he goes unclaimed, he will revert to injured reserve. Situations such as these often result in a release being worked out along with an injury settlement. If that proves to be the case for Burks, his Titans stint will end on an unwanted but unsurprising note.
Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs Aiming To Return By September
It remains to be seen when Trevon Diggs will be available to the Cowboys in 2025. Positive strides have been made in his recovery, though, and the sixth-year corner does not anticipate a long stretch of missed games to begin the campaign. 
Diggs has yet to receive clearance as he works his way back from an ACL tear, and an update from earlier this month confirmed some missed time during the regular is expected. The two-time Pro Bowler has long been seen as a candidate to start 2025 on the reserve/PUP list; that designation would ensure at least a four-game absence. However, Diggs said in an interview with Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS that he does not expect a stay on the PUP list to be necessary.
If that holds true, the Cowboys’ secondary would receive a boost early in the year. Diggs – who was recently fined $500K for not spending the mandated portion of his offseason rehab at the team’s facility – will be tasked with reprising his starting cornerback role once back in the fold. The Alabama product was limited to two games in 2023 before his latest injury cut last year’s campaign short. A clean bill of health would be key as Diggs looks to regain the ballhawking form shown early in his career.
“I’ll assure you that the minute that he’s able to go, I’m counting on him being a big addition,” owner Jerry Jones said when speaking about Diggs’ situation (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). For now, the 26-year-old resides on the active/PUP list. He can be activated at any time, but a decision will need to be made prior to final roster cuts on shifting him to the reserve list or carrying him on the active roster despite the risk of still being unavailable for Week 1.
Dallas currently has a number of injury concerns at the cornerback spot, so a positive update on the Diggs front will be welcomed. From a financial perspective, 2025 looms as a critical year in his case. Diggs has three years remaining on his contract, but none of his base salaries for 2026 or ’27 are guaranteed. Next offseason thus represents a potential out for the Cowboys, and deciding on retaining or moving on from the former second-rounder will depend in large part on his health and performances this season.
In other CB injury news, Archer reports Caelen Carson suffered a hyperextended knee over the weekend. As a result, a recovery timeline of four to six weeks is expected and the second-year cover man could be in danger of missing regular season time. The same remains true of Diggs, but his prognosis is currently in a good spot.
G Will Hernandez Receives Medical Clearance
Will Hernandez saw his 2024 campaign come to an end in Week 5. The veteran guard is now in position to continue his career, however. 
Hernandez suffered an ACL tear in October, ending his tenure with the Cardinals. The former second-rounder has understandably not drawn free agent interest while rehabbing, but that could soon change. Hernandez noted in a Tuesday Instagram post (h/t Mike Garafolo of NFL Network) that he has received full medical clearance.
While playing out his rookie deal with the Giants, Hernandez saw time at left and right guard. The Texas-El Paso product was unable to replicate the performance from his debut season in terms of PFF grade, and he settled for a one-year pact worth the league minimum upon arrival in Arizona. Hernandez operated as a full-time right guard starter in 2022, though, and his showings in that role landed him a new Cardinals pact.
That two-year, $9MM accord proved to be worthwhile in its first season as it allowed for Arizona to maintain stability at the right guard spot. Hernandez logged a career-high 1,112 snaps in 2023 and enjoyed a step forward in terms of pass protection in his PFF evaluation. A similar campaign looked to be in store last year prior to the injury.
Entering his age-30 campaign, Hernandez could offer suitors with quality guard depth at a minimum in the event he signs in the near future. He could see time in a starting lineup depending on how things play out, of course. With training camps in full swing, it will be interesting to see if a market develops in time for the start of the regular season.
Jets Sign K Nick Folk
Nick Folk is back in place with the Jets. The veteran kicker signed on Tuesday, head coach Aaron Glenn announced. 
Today’s move comes after Folk took part in a free agent visit (as noted by Brian Costello of the New York Post). The 40-year-old’s meeting with the team has resulted in an agreement in short order. Two kickers were in place for the Jets as of yesterday, but one of them – undrafted rookie Caden Davis – has been waived.
Folk was in New York from 2010-16. The early portion of that span included less-than-stellar success rates on field goal attempts (but still an improvement from his final season with the Cowboys). Starting in 2013, Folk connected on at least 81.3% of his field goal tries for the remainder of his stint with the Jets.
That was followed by a brief string of appearances with the Buccaneers, and (after not playing in 2018) a run of success with the Patriots. Folk was good on over 89% of his field goal attempts with New England, a team which added Chad Ryland in the fourth round of the 2023 draft. In a move which came as little surprise based on that investment, the Pats released Folk and went with Ryland – who struggled mightily during his rookie campaign and lasted only one year in New England.
Folk caught on with the Titans and remained there for the past two seasons. Despite concerns about a drop-off due to age, the Arizona product led the NFL in field goal percentage during his debut Tennessee campaign. Folk did the same last year, and he made it clear after the season ended that he intended to continue his career in 2025. That will not come about with the Titans, but a familiar landing spot has emerged in time for a training camp competition.
At the age of 40, Folk will of course not be seen as a long-term answer for the Jets as they seek a post-Greg Zuerlein kicker. Zurlein was released in May, creating a vacancy at the position after he occupied it for three years. Folk has 242 games to his name, making him far more of a known commodity than his competition for the gig. New York also has Harrison Mevis – who signed with the Panthers as a UDFA last spring but did not see any game time – in the fold. He will spend the remainder of camp attempting to fend off a challenge from one of the league’s most experienced producers at the position.
Commanders OL Nate Herbig Retires
A shoulder injury sidelined Nate Herbig for the entire 2024 campaign. Instead of returning to action this season, the veteran offensive lineman has ended his career. 
The Commanders placed Herbig on the reserve/retired list Tuesday. That moves comes after he signed a one-year deal in free agency this spring. The 27-year-old will not spend training camp competing for a roster spot; rather, his attention will now turn to his post-playing days.
Entering the league as an undrafted free agent, Herbig’s first regular season action came with the Eagles. He made only a pair of appearances in 2019, but the following year he emerged as a key member of their offensive line and made 12 starts. Herbig’s final Philadelphia campaign saw him play 16 games while making five starts.
The Stanford product spent 2022 with the Jets, logging first-team duties during each of his 11 games played. Expectations were high for another campaign of starting duties up front entering last season, as Herbig was on track to begin the year atop the Steelers’ center depth chart. He has started only two contests during his debut Pittsburgh campaign, but a run as the first-team center was in store until a torn rotator cuff was suffered in August.
Zach Frazier enjoyed a strong rookie campaign upon filling in for Herbig, whose two-year spell as a teammate of brother Nick Herbig came to an end when he headed to Washington. The Commanders have Tyler Biadasz in place as their preferred center option, but Herbig was set to compete for a role at one of the guard spots. That will no longer be the case, however, as Washington moves forward with its remaining options up front.
In all, Herbig totaled 63 combined regular and postseason appearances over the course of his career. His NFL tenure will come to an end after accumulating $11.5MM in career earnings.
Broncos Extend WR Courtland Sutton
As expected, a deal is indeed in place between Courtland Sutton and the Broncos. The sides agreed to an extension on Monday, as first reported by Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
This will be a four-year pact, per the report. Sutton’s new deal is worth $92MM. It ensures a free agent departure will not be possible next spring and keeps him under contract through the 2029 campaign. The contract contains $41MM in total guarantees, per 9News’ Mike Klis, including $27MM in new locked in compensation. The team has since announced the extension.
Having reported to training camp – but participated on a limited basis – Sutton remained a figure to watch regarding a deal being struck in time for Week 1. Earlier today, reports indicated progress had been made toward a deal. Head coach Sean Payton confirmed the news of an agreement was coming soon, and that has now taken place.
Prior to today, Sutton was due to collect $14MM in 2025. The 29-year-old has now secured a raise, albeit one which does not move him particularly close to the top of the receiver market. With an average annual value of $23MM, this extension will move Sutton into a tie with Calvin Ridley for 18th in terms of yearly compensation at the position.
Team and player agreed to a one-year compromise last summer, with 2025 emerging as the time for a long-term arrangement to be made. Nevertheless, the likes of Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen appeared to enter training camp as higher priorities for Denver with respect to working out an extension. In the end, though, it is Sutton who is the first member of that trio to secure a raise. It will be interesting to see if today’s move is followed by other big-ticket agreements for the Broncos.
Sutton has spent his entire seven-year career in the Mile High City, operating as a full-time starter along the way but not always managing to produce at an elite level. The former second-rounder notched 1,000 yards for the first time in his career in 2019, but he did not duplicate that feat until this past campaign. Enjoying a strong year with rookie quarterback Bo Nix, Sutton set a new career high with 81 catches and managed eight touchdowns.
Denver has repeatedly drafted complementary wideouts dating back to before the Payton era began in 2023. As a result, the likes of Marvin Mims, Devaughn Vele, Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant will be counted on as contributors for Nix’s second NFL season. Out of Denver’s receivers, though, Sutton will of course again be relied on to lead the way. If he can duplicate the success of 2024, the team’s offense could improve from last year’s impressive showing.
This offseason has seen a number of changes made in Denver’s backfield as the team seeks a more consistent run game. It will be interesting to see how the new faces at the running back spot fare, but in any event Sutton will continue as a mainstay and a focal point for Nix to target. That will also be the case well beyond the 2025 campaign.
Buccaneers Guarantee $30MM Of Baker Mayfield’s 2026 Compensation
2026 is the final year of Baker Mayfield‘s current Buccaneers contract. That season did not originally contain any guaranteed money, but things have changed in that regard. 
Mayfield revealed on Monday (via Fox Sports’ Greg Auman) the Buccaneers have restructured his pact to lock in money for 2026. He did not get into specifics on the situation, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports $30MM of Mayfield’s scheduled $40MM salary has been locked in early. No new years were added to the pact.
This move – which Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times notes was actually agreed to in the spring – represents another indication the Bucs are willing to commit to Mayfield for the long haul. The former No. 1 pick landed a three-year, $100MM pact last offseason and delivered a career year in 2024. If he can deliver another strong campaign, team and player could very well work out another multi-year pact.
“Right now, I’m under contract through ’26,” Mayfield said during an interview with CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco (video link). “So it was really just about getting guaranteed money for ’26, and they did that. And that’s all I can ask for… I trust this place. I love being here. Obviously, used to bouncing around. I’ve done that before, but I don’t want to leave.”
For the coming season, Mayfield is owed $30MM, the same amount he collected last year. Given the current state of the quarterback market, that is a rather team-friendly figure from the Buccaneers’ perspective. Another extension will no doubt come at a higher cost, especially if Mayfield – who has earned a Pro Bowl nod during both of his Tampa campaigns – can maintain a consistent level of play. Turnovers have been an issue in the Oklahoma product’s case (26 interceptions), but he has amassed 8,554 yards and 69 touchdown passes over the past two years.
The Buccaneers have topped the NFC South in each of the past four years, and expectations will be high for a repeat of that feat in 2025. Mayfield will have a central role to play in that effort, and he will enter the season anticipating a new round of extension talks at some point (likely after the campaign has ended). In any case, his financial future for the next two years is assured.
Giants Bring Back WR Gunner Olszewski
Gunner Olszewski is back in the fold for the Giants. The veteran receiver/returner has a new deal in place with the team, as first reported by ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. 
The move is now official. Olszewski spent time with the Giants in 2023 and was set to remain in place last year. The 28-year-old wound up being injured just before New York’s regular season opener, though, and he was unable to see any playing time. Now, Olszewski will be able to spend the remainder of training camp carving out a roster spot.
Today’s deal comes on the heels of fellow special teams mainstay Bryce Ford-Wheaton suffering an Achilles tear. His absence – stemming from the second season-ending injury of his three-year career – created an opening for an addition to replace his third phase contributions. That will take the form of a familiar face.
Olszewski is a veteran of 65 games across his time with the Patriots, Steelers and Giants. The former UDFA has made only 15 catches in his career and surpassed 100 offensive snaps just twice in a season. An uptick in workload in that capacity should not be expected upon returning to the Giants. Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt are set to remain the team’s top WR options in 2025.
That will leave Olszewski to operate as a fill-in option at the receiver spot while also offering value in the return game. He earned a first-team All-Pro nod in 2020 for his work as a punt returner in particular, and he handled that role last time around with the Giants. It would come as no surprise if the same were to be true in 2025.
Broncos, WR Courtland Sutton Nearing Extension Agreement
Courtland Sutton and the Broncos worked out a short-term contract arrangement last year, but the matter of an extension has remained a talking point this offseason. That may change in the near future. 
When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Sean Payton said (via Bleacher Report’s James Palmer) a Sutton extension should be in place “soon.” Both Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post and NFL insider Jordan Schultz have offered reports of considerable progress being made with respect to contract talks.
Sutton’s involvement in training camp has varied so far, Mike Klis of 9News notes. The 29-year-old has largely been a non-participant in team drills so far, although Parker adds team and player have an agreement in place regarding his workload. That is, of course, another strong indication a new deal could be in place shortly.
Sutton’s future has been a talking point for quite some time now, with a trade receiving strong consideration in the 2023 offseason. The Pro Bowler nevertheless managed to remain in place with Payton taking over in a receiver room which lost Jerry Jeudy via trade last year. Sutton enjoyed a strong first campaign working alongside rookie quarterback Bo Nix, recording a career-high 81 receptions along with 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns.
That production helped the former second-rounder’s case for another multi-year pact, one which would eliminate the possibility of a free agent departure next spring. Sutton and the Broncos targeted 2025 as the time for such a deal to be worked out. An extension could offer a raise up front compared to the $14MM he is owed while also lowering his scheduled $20.2MM cap charge.
Despite a mutual interest between team and player to hammer out an extension, Sutton was reported to have fallen behind edge rusher Nik Bonitto and defensive linemen Zach Allen in the pecking order regarding new Broncos commitments. Neither of those two have a deal in place, although a number of discussions on the Bonitto front in particular have taken place. Checking off one box in the form of a Sutton extension would, in any case, set Denver up for stability at the receiver spot as Nix plays out his rookie contract.
The Broncos have taken the draft route several times in recent years to add receivers to complement Sutton. Marvin Mims, Devaughn Vele, Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant will all be counted on to provide value in the passing game in 2025 and beyond. Given Nix’s strong connection with Sutton, though, it would come as no surprise if another long-term commitment were to be made. $15MM represented the average annual value the last time that was the case for the SMU product, but with the position now featuring nine players attached to an AAV of $30MM or more, a raise will no doubt be in store if/when a pact is officially in place.
Steelers Release Cordarrelle Patterson
Cordarrelle Patterson entered training camp on the Steelers’ roster bubble. To little surprise, then, the veteran running back/returner has been let go. 
Patterson himself posted on X Monday that he has been released. He will now hit the open market with plenty of time remaining in the offseason to find a new opportunity. One year remained on Patterson’s contract, and this move will create $2.8MM in cap savings while generating $950K in dead money.
After three years with the Falcons, Patterson joined the Steelers last offseason. The 34-year-old followed Arthur Smith from Atlanta to Pittsburgh by doing so, giving the new offensive coordinator a familiar option to work with. Finding himself behind Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren on the depth chart, Patterson only handled 32 carries on offense, though. His 11 kick returns also fell well short of his previous highs in that regard.
A four-time All-Pro based on his special teams abilities, Patterson has topped the NFL in yards per kick return on three occasions in his career. 2016 marked the most recent time that was the case, however, and the former first-rounder has not been a major contributor in the third phase since his final Bears season (2020). That campaign saw Patterson earn his fourth Pro Bowl nod.
Warren is still in place for the Steelers, a team which added Kaleb Johnson during the draft. Those two will handle backfield duties in 2025 and quite possibly beyond the coming season. Having made just 12 catches last year, Patterson’s absence will also not be expected to make a notable impact in Pittsburgh’s very different passing game. Teams around the league may see Patterson as a potential upgrade in the return game, but it will be interesting to see if a strong market emerges in light of his 2024 production.
The Steelers entered Monday with more than $17MM in cap space, but that figure will increase with Patterson no longer in the fold. Pittsburgh could look into further additions late in free agency while Patterson searches for his next NFL gig.