49ers WR Demarcus Robinson Pleads No Contest To DUI Charge
Demarcus Robinson was arrested on a DUI charge in November, and a formal charge was laid in January. The veteran receiver’s legal process on that front has now reached a conclusion.
Robinson entered a plea of no contest to a misdemeanor DUI charge earlier this week, as detailed by ESPN.com. As a result of the agreement, separate charges of driving with a BAC of 0.08 or higher and driving without a valid license were dismissed. Robinson will not serve any jail time and will pay a fine of $390 while serving three years probation.
“Mr. Robinson has taken this process extremely seriously by already completing most of the terms of his probation,” attorney Jacqueline Sparagna said after the hearing concluded. “We expect that his probation will terminate early at the 18-month mark after which his case will be expunged.”
The Rams allowed Robinson to continue playing as his case progressed, and he finished the year with career-bests in multiple statistical categories. He then signed a two-year, $8MM contract with the 49ers this offseason and could be in line to start at the beginning of the year as the team awaits the return of Brandon Aiyuk.
A suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy could interrupt those plans. In 2023, Saints safety Marcus Maye was suspended for three games after entering a no contest plea for a 2021 DUI charge, consistent with league policy, according to ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. Robinson would appear to be subject to the same punishment, though that may depend on the specific circumstances of his case, including his pleading down to a misdemeanor.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this article.
Jets CB Michael Carter II Fully Healthy
Michael Carter II managed to play 13 games last season, but he was nowhere near full strength for much of that time. The fifth-year Jets corner is healthy entering training camp, however. 
Carter dealt with an ankle injury which lingered through the opening part of the campaign. He eventually recovered but then faced issues stemming from a herniated disc in his back. The 26-year-old saw his defensive snap share drop to 32% – by far the lowest mark of his career – as a result.
“It was super tough, more mentally than physically,” Carter said during minicamp (via Brian Costello of the New York Post). “Everything physically was going on, but mentally I was just trying to make sure I was kind of staying in it, staying enthused, not being down and trying to prepare the best I could so I could help my teammates and at least try to make an effort to make it through a game and be out there for those guys because I want it so bad.
“I definitely wanted to make sure I did everything I could to do what I could for them. It was one of those things that it didn’t work out, but I’m in a lot better place now.”
Being back to full health will be key for Carter given the investment made in him by the Jets’ previous regime. The former fifth-rounder landed a three-year, $30.75MM extension last offseason which made him the league’s highest-paid slot corner at the time. Carter no longer holds that title, but after handling snap shares between 64% and 74% during his first three years with the team he can once again be expected to serve as a crucial member of New York’s secondary in 2025.
The new tandem of general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn will have Sauce Gardner in place for at least the next two years (although he is understandably among the team’s current extension priorities). New York expectedly lost D.J. Reed in free agency and replaced him with Brandon Stephens to operate as a starter on the perimeter. Carter will be tasked with handling slot duties once again in 2025, and his ability to remain healthy will be key in determining the success of the Jets’ defense.
Justin Simmons Aims To Sign With Contender
Last year, Justin Simmons was among the veteran safeties who remained on the market deep into free agency. He ultimately took a deal with the Falcons in August, but another change of scenery is expected this time around. 
In 2024, Simmons made it clear signing with a playoff contender was his top priority. The two-time Pro Bowler took a one-year pact with the Falcons in a bid to reach the postseason for the first time in his career. Things did not work out as planned on that front, but appearing in the playoffs is once again Simmons’ main goal.
“I think Atlanta I would still pick 10 out of 10 times if I was in the spot [I was in] last year,” the 31-year-old said in an interview with Sean Keeler of the Denver Post. “But in terms of where I’m at now, [I’m] being a little bit more picky where we want to go and where we want to call home next… the next two years, a year, whatever it is… but a contender is No. 1 on the list right now.”
The Panthers have shown interest in Simmons, although a report from last month indicated no deal was imminent. The Eagles are also on the nine-year veteran’s shortlist, and in the wake of the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade, Philadelphia could certainly use an experienced addition in the secondary. Joining the Super Bowl champions would also allow for Simmons to reunite with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio after the two worked together in Denver.
Playing on a $7.5MM pact last season, Simmons operated as a full-time starter in Atlanta but was unable to replicate the ball production of his best Broncos seasons. A long-term deal is unlikely regardless of where he winds up in 2025, and his next contract could check in at a lower rate. Still, any number of teams could stand to add a veteran of 134 games who has appeared on the second All-Pro team four times in his career.
On the other hand, the list of serious contenders still in need of starters at the safety spot just before training camp is comparatively short. It will be interesting to see when Simmons signs his latest pact and if his next destination provides him with the opportunity to play postseason football for the first time in his career.
NFLPA To Appeal Collusion Ruling
In January, arbitrator Christopher Droney issued a ruling on the NFLPA’s collusion case filed against the NFL. Details of that decision were revealed two weeks ago after both parties agreed to suppress the findings.
The league and union struck a confidentiality agreement in an attempt to keep Droney’s ruling secret, ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Kayln Kahler report. Things changed when an investigation from Pablo Torre Finds Out published a 61-page document detailing a portion of Droney’s findings. In the wake of the collusion case’s outcome becoming public knowledge, some players have expressed surprise at the union’s role in agreeing to bury it. 
This situation has now taken another interesting turn. NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell decided last night to appeal the ruling – which stated the NFL did not engage in collusion but also that teams were “urged” to restrict guarantees in player contracts – per the ESPN report. The CBA dictates appeals be made within 10 days of a ruling such as this being made, but one of the terms of the confidentiality agreement was that the Players Association would be able to file an appeal well after that period.
“The appeal is a reflection of our obligation to enforce the CBA and our commitment to protecting our players’ interests,” a senior NFLPA source told ESPN about the appeal decision. “We’ll do what’s best for players and we’ll exhaust our options in doing so.”
In the aftermath of the Droney ruling being published, it was reported players would consider their legal options. It was unclear if that would include civil suits being filed against the league based on the details of the case or against the union for its decision to keep the findings away from its members. As the ESPN report notes, DeMaurice Smith‘s tenure as NFLPA executive director regularly included the sharing of key information with the union’s executive committee and its 32 player representatives.
Howell conducted a conference call with the executive committee (which includes 10 members along with president Jalen Reeves-Maybin) shortly after the ruling was made, per the ESPN report. He passed along the outcome of the case but did not mention specifics or distribute copies of the findings from Droney, who was aware of the confidentiality agreement. Per the CBA, executive committee members and player reps have the right to obtain copies of all arbitration findings, but this unusual set of circumstances resulted in that not taking place in this case.
The grounds on which the pending appeal will be made are unclear at this point. The case – which began during Smith’s tenure and which Howell lamented for its usage of union resources once it ended – was founded on the fact Deshaun Watson‘s fully guaranteed Browns pact did not serve as a new precedent for QB deals. Specifically, Russell Wilson (Broncos), Kyler Murray (Cardinals) and Lamar Jackson (Ravens) were cited as examples of other NFL teams agreeing to avoid guaranteeing mega-extensions in full. Wilson and Jackson are known to have sought deals featuring fully locked in salaries, while Murray was the subject of communication between the Cardinals and Chargers’ owners before Justin Herbert inked his own extension.
The ESPN report adds that Howell’s leadership is currently under scrutiny. A special committee of players and an attorney hired last month are in the process of reviewing Howell’s tenure at the helm of the union. Executive committee member Cameron Heyward declined to comment on the appeal news but described the current NFLPA situation as “dicey.”
No timeline is in place at this point regarding when an appeal will be heard. In any case, further updates to this situation can be expected as the fallout from not only the ruling but the efforts to keep it hidden from players continues.
Eli Manning Backs Out Of Giants Ownership Bid
The Giants are among the NFL teams looking into the sale of a minority ownership stake. Eli Manning showed early interest in a bid, but he has since backed out of that endeavor. 
During an interview with CNBC Sport (video link), the two-time Super Bowl winner said he is no longer pursuing an ownership stake. Costs were cited as a key reason, to no surprise. Manning also noted the potential conflict of interest concerns which would have been raised had he joined the Giants’ ownership group while remaining a broadcaster with ESPN (among his other post-playing pursuits).
“Basically, it’s too expensive for me,” Manning said. “These numbers are getting very big… A one percent stake of something valued at $10 billion — it turns into a very big number.”
Forbes valued the Giants at $7.3 billion last August, but recent ownership sales have demonstrated the upward movement in the market since then. The Eagles were valued at over $8 billion when they moved forward with the sale of a non-controlling stake, and figures on that front – even as it pertains to shares no larger than 10% in many cases – are set to continue rising in years to come.
The approval of Tom Brady‘s Raiders ownership stake came at a cost tied to a deflated franchise valuation (along with similar conflict of interest concerns, of course). While his bid was ultimately approved following a lengthy review process by the league’s controlling owners, Manning will not wind up in the same situation with the Giants.
Rams Not Prepared To Offer Market-Topping Deal To RB Kyren Williams
Kyren Williams and the Rams have discussed an extension this offseason, and plenty of time remains for a deal to be struck before Week 1. If/when a second contract is in hand for the fourth-year running back, though, it should not be expected to move him to the top of the market. 
Los Angeles’ regime led by general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay authorized a big-ticket RB deal in the case of Todd Gurley in 2018. That 57.5MM pact proved to be a mistake given the injury issues and decline in play which resulted in Gurley’s release two years later and eventual retirement after a brief NFL career. A similar investment in Williams is unlikely.
As Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic writes (subscription required), the Rams will not reset the market on a running back contract. Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry are attached to deals averaging $15MM or more entering 2025. Reaching that price point should not be necessary to keep Williams in place beyond the coming season – something the 24-year-old anticipates – but a notable raise will nevertheless be in store.
Both sides have expressed optimism that an agreement will be reached at some point this offseason. McVay said in May that progress had been made since extension talks began, and Wyatt Miller of the team’s website notes Williams was a full participant during spring practices. That is an encouraging sign team and player will manage to avoid a 2026 free agent departure. It would come as little surprise if a deal were to be struck during or just before training camp, which begins later this month.
Williams earned a Pro Bowl nod and a spot on the second All-Pro team in 2023 after leading the NFL with over 95 rushing yards per game on average. The former fifth-rounder saw a notable uptick in usage last season (from 228 to 316 carries), and he managed a career-best 1,299 rushing yards and 16 total touchdowns. A drop in efficiency – along with fumbles – will no doubt hurt Williams’ value on a new deal, but he could still find himself joining the seven running backs currently averaging eight figures annually on their respective deals. It will be interesting to see if ongoing negotiations produce an agreement in time for training camp.
Kirk Cousins: Falcons’ Draft Plans Would Have Altered Free Agency Approach
Last March, the Falcons’ decision to sign Kirk Cousins seemed to put to rest questions about their plans at the quarterback spot over the intermediate future. The following month, however, Atlanta selected Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the draft. 
It was reported in the immediate aftermath of that move Cousins was caught off guard by the Penix selection. Differing from the Vikings, the Falcons guaranteed the first two years of the 36-year-old’s contract, a key factor in his decision to leave Minnesota after six years there. In the end, both teams made Day 1 investments under center, with the Vikings selecting J.J. McCarthy two spots after Penix. Both are positioned to operate as starters in 2025.
Cousins initially declined to offer a firm answer when asked last year if knowing about the eventual Penix selection would have altered his approach to free agency. The four-time Pro Bowler is one of three signal-callers showcased in the 2025 edition of Netflix’s Quarterback documentary series, however. That has allowed Cousins to reflect on how things played out last spring, and his latest remarks on the situation make it clear he would have likely handled things differently had he known a first-round QB was in the Falcons’ plans.
“It felt like I had been a little bit misled or certainly if I had had the information around free agency, it would have affected my decision,” Cousins said (via The Athletic’s Josh Kendall) when speaking about the Penix selection. “I had no reason to leave Minnesota, as much as we loved it there, if both teams were drafting a quarterback high.”
The Vikings were willing to retain Cousins for 2025, but the team preferred to take a year-to-year approach knowing they were in position to draft his successor. Sam Darnold signed a one-year deal and enjoyed a productive campaign in Minnesota before departing in free agency this March. That leaves McCarthy – who was sidelined for his entire rookie campaign due to meniscus surgery – in position to handle QB1 duties this season and beyond.
Coming off an Achilles tear, Cousins worked as Atlanta’s starter through the beginning of the 2024 campaign. While battling shoulder and ankle injuries, his play took a turn for the worse until Penix was inserted into the lineup. The 25-year-old enters the coming season atop the Falcons’ depth chart, but an offseason filled with speculation about a Cousins trade or release has ultimately not resulted in a parting of ways.
Cousins is in a better spot health-wise than he was at the time of his benching, but without any starting gigs available at this point he is in line to remain in Atlanta. An injury during training camp could change the situation, but for now the Falcons are set to retain him as a backup (as they professed a willingness for all spring) carrying a $40MM cap hit. That situation is of course partly by choice on Cousins’ part after he elected not to waive his no-trade clause prior to the draft to avoid a repeat of last year’s situation.
Cousins is owed a $27.5MM base salary this season, and a $10MM roster bonus for next year has already vested. That financial barrier prevented a trade from taking place over the past few months and it will remain challenging for interested teams to swing a deal if Atlanta declines to retain any money. As a result, Cousins is destined to remain with the Falcons for at least one more year before a parting of ways becomes feasible and the opportunity will present itself to move past this chapter of his career.
Release Candidate: David Ojabo
David Ojabo entered the NFL with high expectations despite the Achilles tear he suffered shortly before being drafted. The Ravens edge rusher has not developed as hoped, however, and his ability to retain a roster spot this summer will be worth watching. 
During Michigan’s Pro Day, Ojabo suffered his torn Achilles. That injury hurt his draft stock, but Baltimore selected him in the second round in 2022. His recovery process resulted in just three combined regular and postseason contests as a rookie, a span which included only one sack. Hopes were high from team and player for a step forward in Year 2, but a knee/ankle injury shut Ojabo down after three games.
This past season saw the 25-year-old appear in 13 games as he managed a much healthier campaign than his first two. Ojabo only handled a 33% snap share, however, and that rotational role resulted in limited production. Two sacks and nine pressures were a reflection of his workload but also an inability to move up the depth chart (which was led by Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh). With one year remaining on his rookie contract, this summer will be critical for Ojabo.
As The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec writes (subscription required), Van Noy and Oweh remain in position as starters for 2025. Baltimore’s pass rush group also includes returnees Tavius Robinson and Adisa Isaac, along with second-round rookie Mike Green. Those five can be considered roster locks, whereas Ojabo enters training camp on the bubble. Per Zrebiec, Ojabo could “very easily” find himself on a new team in 2025.
As things stand, Ojabo is set to carry a cap charge of $2.52MM for the final year of his pact. Cutting or trading him would create $1.78MM in savings while generating a dead money charge of only $733K. It would come as a surprise to see a notable trade market in this case, given Ojabo’s missed time and limited production when on the field. In the event he were to be waived, though, teams looking for a depth addition with upside based on age could show interest in a modest deal following roster cuts.
Van Noy is entering the final season of his pact while Oweh is slated to play on his fifth-year option as things stand. Keeping one or both in the fold beyond 2025 would be an understandable goal for the Ravens after each member of that tandem produced double-digit sacks last season. Robinson, Isaac and Green will each be on their rookie deals for at least two more years, so they can be expected to remain in place for that time. Ojabo, on the other hand, could find himself on the move in the near future.
LB C.J. Mosley Retires, Launches Agency
JULY 8: Mosley’s retirement won’t keep him completely away from football. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Mosley is launching Legacy Trust Sports Group, a full-service sports agency co-founded with longtime business partner Brandon Wassel.
“Coaching was never my path, but guiding, mentoring and doing the right thing has always been in my DNA,” said Mosley. He will be joined at LTSG by senior agent Joe Gazza, while former Auburn scouting director AK Mogulla will be the vice president of player personnel, per Zenitz.
JUNE 19: Still unsigned deep into the offseason, C.J. Mosley will not continue his career in 2025. The veteran linebacker informed CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz on Thursday that he is retiring. 
“Today, it is time to wake up from my childhood dream and share it with the next generation,” Mosley said on Instagram while officially announcing his decision (video link). “I spent my whole life and career building my legacy. Now it’s time to start a new chapter with new dreams.”
Mosley was long seen as a cut candidate for the Jets this offseason, and he was indeed let go in March. The 33-year-old (as of today) became a free agent as a result, but no suitors showed interest up to this point. Mosley intended to keep playing this season, but that will no longer be the case.
A first-round pick of the Ravens in 2014, Mosley immediately took on starting duties and established himself as one of the league’s most productive linebackers. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in four of his five Baltimore campaigns before departing on the open market. Mosley landed a five-year, $85MM pact with the Jets, a deal which did not pay early dividends for the team. The Alabama product was limited to two games in 2019 and he was among the players who sat out the following campaign due to COVID-19 concerns.
Each year from 2021-23, Mosley was able to remain available to his second career team. During that stretch, he continued to record triple-digit tackles (something he managed seven times during his NFL tenure). A herniated disc resulted in considerable missed time this past season, however, and that injury led to new questions about a potential parting of ways. Using a post-June 1 designation, the Jets proceeded with Mosley’s release to get out of the final year of his contract.
New York retained fellow linebacker Jamien Sherwood on a $15MM-per-year deal this spring, and he will be counted on to remain one of the team’s most productive defenders moving forward. With respect to the remaining market at the LB spot, meanwhile, the likes of Eric Kendricks, Ja’Whaun Bentley and Kyzir White are still available to teams looking to make an addition ahead of training camp. Mosley – whose career included five second-team All-Pro nods – will now turn his attention to his post-playing days.
Thanks in large part to his free agent Jets deal (a record-breaking accord for linebackers at the time), Mosley accumulated over $88MM in career earnings. He will depart the NFL with 136 combined regular and postseason games to his name at the pro level following a college tenure which included a pair of national championships.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Fully Healthy
A hamstring injury limited Dak Prescott to eight games in 2024. Dallas’ quarterback managed to take part in spring practices, however, and he has continued to make progress in his recovery. 
When speaking to the media on Tuesday, Prescott said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer) he is now fully healthy. A final checkup with team doctors is scheduled between now and the start of training camp. Provided that goes as planned, the three-time Pro Bowler will be a full participant in padded practices.
During OTAs, the Cowboys understandably took a cautious approach with Prescott. He managed to participate in all drills then and in last month’s minicamp as well, though. As a result, this latest update comes as little surprise. Of course, it is nonetheless significant for Dallas to have a healthy Prescott well in advance of Week 1.
Set to carry a league-leading cap charge of over $50MM in 2025, expectations will be high once again for the 31-year-old this campaign. Prescott has four years remaining on the record-breaking extension he inked just before the start of last season, and his performance will be key in determining the Cowboys’ success. Dallas went 7-10 in 2024, a year marred by injuries to Prescott and other core players. A new coaching staff will look to return to the team to the success found during much of the Mike McCarthy era which preceded it.
Of course, a strong regular season will be largely ignored if the Cowboys once again fail to make a deep playoff run. Prescott and Co. have not advanced past the divisional round dating back to well before his arrival in 2016, but he will again have the opportunity to end the team’s drought in that regard this year. Dallas lost Cooper Rush and Trey Lance in free agency but traded for Joe Milton as a new backup. The 2024 Patriots draftee will see second-string reps during camp.
As a result of Prescott’s missed time in 2024, ESPN’s Dan Graziano notes the Cowboys were able to recoup roughly $6.4MM of his signing bonus through insurance. The team will obviously look to avoid a similar situation moving forward, and the signs are positive on that front entering training camp.