Bills Engaged In Jaire Alexander Trade Talks; CB Drawing Immediate Interest
Jaire Alexander‘s Packers tenure officially came to an end yesterday. Green Bay’s decision to move on came after multiple attempts at working out a trade fell through. 
One of the teams which pursued an Alexander trade was the Bills. Buffalo and Green Bay discussed a swap this offseason, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports. After no agreement was reached, the Bills moved on to other CB options. Given the nature of Alexander’s contract, it is fair to assume finances represented a barrier to a deal being worked out in this case.
Cornerback was seen as a priority for the Bills this spring, one in which Christian Benford was among the many recent draftees who received a long-term extension. Buffalo’s first-round pick was used on Maxwell Hairston, and the Kentucky product will presumably join Benford and Taron Johnson as a starter in 2025. Alexander would have provided Buffalo with a high-profile boundary cover man, but his injuries (10 missed games in each of the past two years) were obviously a source of hesitation on the part of suitors.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes the Packers attempted to trade Alexander in March, something the team openly discussed prior to the start of free agency. After those efforts failed to yield a deal, per Breer, Green Bay’s attempts were repeated during the draft. With no offers deemed sufficient being made at either juncture, the team’s attention shifted back to the possibility of a pay cut arrangement.
Deep into the offseason, it became clear there was not a restructure to be worked out, however. As a result, Alexander now finds himself on the market in June. In the immediate aftermath of his release, it was reported a strong market would likely exist for the Pro Bowler’s services; it appears that is indeed the case.
Six teams immediately checked in once Alexander was released, The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson reports. The number of suitors for the 28-year-old should increase now that parting with draft capital and taking on the final two years of his contract are no longer necessary. Per Schultz, it is unclear if the Bills are among the teams which will make a free agent push. Given their prior interest, though, it would certainly not come as a surprise if that were to be the case.
Alexander was attached to a $21MM-per-year pact prior to his release, but a less lucrative commitment no doubt awaits him this summer. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for him to choose his next destination as he weighs a number of possibilities.
Bills Sign LB Shaq Thompson
Shaq Thompson has lined up his next NFL gig. The veteran linebacker signed a one-year deal with the Bills on Tuesday, per a team announcement. 
Thompson was informed by the Panthers in February he would not be re-signed. That decision ended his 10-year run with the franchise and left him in need of joining a new team for the first time in his career. The 31-year-old will now spend the summer looking to carve out a role in Buffalo.
Immediately after learning his time in Carolina was over, Thompson made it clear he had no intention of retiring. Since that point, no clear links had emerged to known suitors until today’s news. It comes as no surprise, however, that the Bills have elected to bring the former first-rounder into the fold.
During the first two years of Thompson’s career (2015-16), he worked under then-Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott. The latter has been Buffalo’s head coach since 2017, so this deal represents a reunion between the two. Thompson will look to return to his previous form by avoiding the injuries he has dealt with over the past two years. Over that span, he has played just six total games.
Thompson produced a stretch of four consecutive seasons with 104 tackles or more prior to his injury-shortened campaigns, and he if can manage to remain healthy he could offer Buffalo a first-team option at the linebacker spot. More realistically, the 112-game starter could provide experienced depth at the second level of the team’s defense. The Bills have Terrel Bernard, who inked a $42MM extension this offseason, in place as their highest-paid linebacker.
Matt Milano and Dorian Williams will also return from last year’s team, and they will be expected to handle key roles in 2025. Nonetheless, Thompson could carve out a spot on the depth chart during training camp. His acclimation to his new team will begin this week during Buffalo’s minicamp.
The Bills entered Tuesday with a league-low $1.69MM in cap space, leaving them short on finances to make free agent additions. Thompson was on track for a pact at or near the veteran minimum from any suitor, though, and that will no doubt be the case with this Buffalo agreement.
Cardinals Sign First-Round DT Walter Nolen
Walter Nolen is the latest member of the 2025 draft class to sign his rookie deal. The Cardinals’ top choice is officially on the books, per a team announcement. 
Nolen’s four-year deal is worth $19.3MM (h/t ESPN’s Adam Schefter). That figure includes a $10.7MM signing bonus and is guaranteed in full. If the Cardinals pick up his fifth-year option, Nolen will be under team control through 2029.
The top recruit amongst defensive linemen in 2022 (and second nationally to only Travis Hunter), Nolen faced massive expectations in college. During his two years at Texas A&M, however, things did entirely go according to plan. He totaled five sacks and 11 tackles for loss with the Aggies before deciding to transfer within the SEC for his junior campaign. Nolen spent 2024 at Ole Miss, and he enjoyed a strong campaign there.
Nolen racked up 6.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and three pass deflections with the Rebels. Those totals helped earn him first-team All-SEC and All-American honors and cement his status as one of the top options in a deep defensive line class. While questions were raised early in the pre-draft process about his range, it was clear just before the opening round Nolen would likely not need to wait long to hear his name called.
Indeed, it came as little surprise when the Cardinals selected him at No. 16. Nolen joins an Arizona team which has been in need of improved play along the defensive front. Plenty of departures have taken place along the D-line this offseason, but the Cardinals reunited with Calais Campbell in free agency. The team also made notable splashes on the open market in the form of Dalvin Tomlinson and edge rusher Josh Sweat. Expectations will be high for a step forward from that unit in 2025.
Nolen will have at least a rotational role during his rookie season as part of the D-tackle group. Beyond that, he will be seen as a key figure along the interior for years to come if he develops as planned. Given today’s news, second-round corner Will Johnson is now the only unsigned member of the Cardinals’ draft class.
Packers Release CB Jaire Alexander
JUNE 10: The Packers had the option of splitting the dead money charge from the Alexander release across the next two years. Instead, Schneidman reports the team will take that hit in full in 2025. As a result, Alexander will account for $17.04MM this year before coming off the books entirely in 2026.
JUNE 9: Jaire Alexander‘s time in Green Bay has come to an end. After talks regarding both a trade and a restructure took place this offseason, the Pro Bowl corner will hit free agency. Alexander is being released today, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The move is now official.
The team spoke with Alexander’s camp yesterday, Dianna Russini and Matt Schneidman of The Athletic add. It was during that meeting that the 28-year-old learned he would be let go. Instead of continuing to pursue a trade or a pact keeping Alexander in Green Bay at a reduced rate, team and player will now go their separate ways. Despite the financial impasse the parties arrived at, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky notes Alexander was planning to attend this week’s mandatory minicamp.
[RELATED: Alexander’s Contract Impeded Packers’ Trade Efforts]
Two years remained on the former first-rounder’s contract, one which included nonguaranteed base salaries for the remainder of the pact. Alexander was due to carry cap charges of $24.64MM and $27.02MM, figures which were not feasible from the team’s perspective given his inability to remain healthy in recent years. By making this move after June 1, the Packers will see $17.12MM in cap savings while generating a dead money charge of $7.52MM.
Alexander has spent each of his seven NFL seasons in Green Bay, operating as a full-time starter throughout his time with the team. The Louisville product has been one of the league’s top corners when healthy, and he collected a second-team All-Pro nod in 2020 and ’22. During the latter campaign, Alexander set a new career high with five interceptions while recording double-digit pass deflections (14) for the fourth time. Both years since then, however, he has played only seven games.
That lack of availability has made Alexander’s Packers future a talking point for some time now. A trade was not only explored in this case, but the team shopped him prior to free agency. No agreement was worked out on that front, and shortly after the new league year began Green Bay inked Nate Hobbs to a four-year, $48MM pact. The former Raider will be a key member of the Packers’ new-look secondary this season as the team looks to move forward without a defensive mainstay in the fold any longer.
In the meantime, it will be interesting to see how much of a market develops for Alexander late in the offseason. Suitors were understandably hesitant about parting ways with draft capital given his injury issues and the possibility of a release taking place. Now that Alexander is indeed set to become a free agent, any number of teams have the financial wherewithal to pursue what will no doubt be a short-term deal. Alexander was the league’s highest-paid corner at the time he inked his Packers extension, but his earning power will of course be greatly reduced this time around.
Jalen Ramsey looms as another high-profile corner available to interested teams, although the Dolphins All-Pro will (in all likelihood) be acquired via trade. Alexander, by contrast, can begin lining up visits with suitors once his release is processed later today.
Vikings, TE Josh Oliver Agree To Extension
Josh Oliver will be remaining with the Vikings for years to come. The veteran tight end agreed to an extension on Tuesday, as first reported by Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. 
This will be a three-year pact with a base value of $23.25MM, Oliver’s agent informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal contains $11.9MM in new guarantees and can reach a maximum of $27.5MM. Oliver is under contract through 2028, and his latest pact is now official.
A third-round pick of the Jaguars in 2019, Oliver faced high expectations upon arrival in the NFL. His Jacksonville tenure began with only four games played during his rookie season, however. Foot surgery then led to an absence spanning the entire 2020 campaign. When Oliver was traded to the Ravens in March 2021, the move allowed him a change of scenery and the opportunity to increase his market value.
The San Jose State product managed to remain mostly healthy during his two Baltimore seasons, although he did not factor much into the team’s passing attack. Nevertheless, Oliver spent the second half of his rookie contract showcasing his value as a strong run blocker. Success in that regard landed him a three-year, $21MM free agent deal with the Vikings in 2023. So far in Minnesota, Oliver has totaled 471 yards and five touchdowns on 44 catches.
While that represents an uptick in usage compared to his previous stops, the 28-year-old has primarily been used as a run blocker in Minnesota. Oliver’s success in that regard has made him an effective complement to T.J. Hockenson, who has three years remaining on his $16.5MM-per-year contract. The Vikings will have an even more expensive TE room moving forward.
Minnesota has finished no worse than sixth in passing yards during each of head coach Kevin O’Connell‘s three years at the helm. With wideouts Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison still in place, expectations will remain high in that regard for 2025. Oliver will play a depth role in the passing attack, but he will also still be counted on to operate as one of the league’s top blockers at his position.
Falcons QB Kirk Cousins Reports For Minicamp; No Trade Imminent
JUNE 10: Cousins has indeed reported for minicamp, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones confirms. He will avoid incurring fines as a result while still awaiting a development regarding his 2025 destination.
JUNE 9: Kirk Cousins was absent from OTAs, choosing to skip voluntary work with the Falcons. As his future remains uncertain, though, attendance is anticipated for mandatory minicamp. 
Atlanta’s projected 2025 backup is expected to report for minicamp, Jayna Bardahl and Dianna Russini of The Athletic report (subscription required). The compulsory event begins tomorrow, and Cousins will be subject to fines if he is absent. Of course, attending and/or taking part in minicamp will not quell doubts about whether or not he will remain with the Falcons this season.
It has long been clear Cousins’ preference would be to start over with a new team. He declined to waive his no-trade clause prior to the draft in a bid to avoid a repeat of last April’s situation. That move prevented an interested team from acquiring him and then selecting a rookie as the Falcons did with first-rounder Michael Penix Jr. in 2024. However, with the draft and much of free agency now in the books, the list of viable Cousins destinations has shrunk considerably.
That holds especially true now that Aaron Rodgers has officially signed with the Steelers. Pittsburgh showed interest in Cousins, but the 36-year-old was always considered a contingency plan. Rodgers joining the Steelers leaves few (if any) clear suitors to pursue a Cousins trade. To no surprise, then, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported during a Sunday SportsCenter appearance (h/t Bleacher Report) that a strong market does not exist at this point.
Three years remain on Cousins’ deal, and his $27.5MM in base salary for 2025 is guaranteed in full. A $10MM roster bonus for next season has already vested, creating a sizable financial burden (even with offsets) for an acquiring team to take on. As Fowler has noted on more than one occasion, Atlanta’s ongoing stance of not being willing to retain any money of note in a Cousins swap prevented a deal from taking place earlier.
Especially this deep into the offseason, however, that approach is certainly understandable. With the Falcons already on the hook for Cousins’ compensation, retaining him as insurance for Penix – who suffered four season-ending injuries during his college career – is worth weighing against what would no doubt be a modest return in a trade. Since he took over late in his rookie campaign, it is also difficult to accurately project how Penix will fare during a full season atop the depth chart.
The Athletic report confirms Cousins would still prefer a change of scenery, but with a no-trade clause he has the option of vetoing any deal Atlanta works out. For now, nothing on that front should be expected and as a result it will be interesting to see how he approaches the remainder of the offseason.
Trey Hendrickson Absent From Bengals’ Minicamp
Tuesday marked the beginning of the Bengals’ mandatory minicamp. In a development which comes as little surprise, the team’s top remaining extension priority is absent. 
Edge rusher Trey Hendrickson is away from the team, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The reigning sack leader has been engaged in a long-running stalemate with Cincinnati over an extension. One year remains on his contract, but planned talks on a major raise have not resulted in much progress toward an agreement.
[RELATED: Details On Shemar Stewart’s Rookie Contract Dispute]
The most recent effort on the Bengals’ part came when the team reached out to Hendrickson’s camp yesterday, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. She adds, though, that the latest communication between the parties did not yield traction on the extension front. Head coach Zac Taylor previously alerted Hendrickson to the threat of fines for skipping this week’s minicamp. That move prompted a public airing of grievances from the All-Pro, who said last month he will not play under his existing pact.
Plenty of time remains to see if that will end up holding true, but team and player are not in a favorable position at this point. Hendrickson was unable to generate talks on a new deal last offseason, and the Bengals dismissed the trade request which followed. The 30-year-old upped his leverage with a second straight 17.5-sack campaign in 2024, although his stance of preferring to remain in Cincinnati has no doubt hindered his efforts to approach the top of the EDGE market.
$40MM per season now represents the ceiling for the position’s market. It is unclear what Hendrickson and his camp have listed as an asking price, but it was recently reported the Bengals have yet to offer a pact at or around $35MM on average. Cincinnati has already committed to big-ticket receiver deals this offseason (with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins each receiving four-year contracts), and Hendrickson always represented the No. 3 priority on that front.
Unlike 2024, the four-time Pro Bowler received permission to seek a trade this offseason. Plenty of interest has been shown, but at this point a deal sending him out of Cincinnati is not expected. With Hendrickson due to collect $16MM as things stand, a holdout will remain on the table in the absence of progress on an extension agreement. Presuming he remains absent for all three days of minicamp, Hendrickson will be subject to over $104K in fines.
Steelers Preferred Matthew Stafford, Justin Fields To Aaron Rodgers?
The Steelers have Aaron Rodgers under contract in time for minicamp, meaning the team will have its expected quarterback starter for 2025. Other options received consideration this offseason, though, and it appears at least two of them were higher on Pittsburgh’s wishlist. 
During an appearance on Get Up, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Rodgers represented the Steelers’ third choice at the quarterback spot (video link). Schefter notes Pittsburgh first attempted to work out a trade with the Rams for Matthew Stafford this offseason. The Super Bowl winner wound up remaining in Los Angeles on another revised contract, but a number of suitors showed interest in a trade before that agreement was reached.
The Steelers were among them, with a February report linking them to Stafford. Pittsburgh checked in with the Rams on that front, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated writes, but the team doubted a departure from Los Angles was realistic. Likewise, interest was shown in Kirk Cousins, but at no point was he regarded as a preferred option to Rodgers.
Per Schefter and Breer, the Steelers’ efforts were aimed first at re-signing Justin Fields before serious Rodgers consideration took place. Pittsburgh was well known to have interest in keeping one of Fields or 2024 starter Russell Wilson for the coming season. The Jets – having released Rodgers with the arrival of a new HC-GM combination – provided Fields with an unquestioned starter’s role on a two-year pact, however. Once he agreed to head to New York, Rodgers became one of the best veteran options on the market.
The 41-year-old visited the Steelers early in free agency, and he and head coach Mike Tomlin remained in touch throughout the spring. As Breer notes, that communication played a key role in Pittsburgh’s ongoing confidence that a deal would eventually be worked out. He adds much of the legwork regarding the contract details have been in place since March, leaving only certain aspects of its structure to be finalized recently.
Rodgers will receive $10MM in guarantees and $5.85MM in incentives could increase his earnings for the campaign. The four-time MVP’s pact stands in contrast to what Fields received from the Jets ($40MM over two years, including $30MM fully guaranteed) and Stafford’s new Rams arrangement ($84MM across the 2025 and ’26 seasons, up from the $58MM he was originally owed). At a discounted price compared to the top of the position’s market in particular, it will be interesting to see how Rodgers fares with his third career team.
Stafford declined to join teams such as the Raiders and Giants despite their willingness to reach the $50MM-per-year mark. Fields, meanwhile, understandably departed on the open market after Tomlin elected to keep Wilson ahead of him on the depth chart once both passers were healthy last season. It took until well after the draft and through much of OTAs for the Rodgers acquisition to become official, but Pittsburgh’s apparent Plan C under center is now set to take shape.
Bengals Release LB Germaine Pratt
As expected, Germaine Pratt will not be with the Bengals in 2025. The veteran linebacker will be released today, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The team has since confirmed the move.
Throughout the offseason, signs have pointed to a parting of ways in this case. Pratt has loomed as a release candidate for months, and today’s move will allow him to hit the open market ahead of training camp. The 29-year-old requested a trade in February, but no agreement was worked out with an interested team. Now, the sides will move on after six years together.
One season remained on Pratt’s contract, but none of his scheduled base salary was guaranteed. Instead of keeping the former third-rounder in place at a cap hit of $8.18MM, the Bengals will take the financial benefits of this move. Cutting Pratt after June 1 will generate $5.85MM in savings while incurring a dead money charge of $2.33MM.
Since the start of last month, a release has been seen as an inevitability. Cincinnati will continue to rely heavily on Logan Wilson as a productive contributor at the second level of the defense in 2025. That marks the first season with Al Golden in place as defensive coordinator, and he will have a pair of rookies in place at the linebacker spot. Second-rounder Demetrius Knight Jr. is in position to replace Pratt as a starter.
Golden’s predecessor, Lou Anarumo, now finds himself in charge of the Colts’ defense. To little surprise, Sports Illustrated’s Jay Morrison notes Indianapolis is a logical landing spot for Pratt. The team lost E.J. Speed in free agency, and with more than $20MM in cap space a low-cost Pratt signing aimed at inserting him into the starting lineup should not be a challenge.
After taking on a first-team role midway through his rookie campaign, Pratt remained a mainstay on defense through the remainder of his Bengals career. The NC State product has increased his tackle total every year, and he hit double-digits in that respect over each of the past two campaigns. With seven interceptions and 23 pass deflections to his name, production against the pass will also be expected once he lands with a new team.
The Bengals entered Monday mid-pack in the NFL in terms of cap space, but once the Pratt move is processed they will have additional funds available. It will be interesting to see if a linebacker addition winds up being made from outside the organization or if Cincinnati’s in-house options will be relied on to fill the vacancy.
Texans To Promote James Liipfert, Chris Blanco To Assistant GM
The Texans are the latest team to line up promotions with respect to upper management positions. James Liipfert and Chris Blanco will have new responsibilities in 2025.
Both of those executives are being promoted to assistant general manager, as first reported by Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. Liipfert began his front office career with the Patriots before being hired by the Texans as their director of college scouting. He and GM Nick Caserio worked together in New England, and today’s news confirms their partnership will continue in Houston.
After overseeing the Texans’ college scouting department, Liipfert took on the additional title of assistant director of personnel in 2022. The following offseason, he was promoted to executive director of player personnel. This latest move is an illustration of his success in his previous Houston positions, and an elevated role in the organization could put Liipfert on the general manager radar around the NFL.
Blanco began his time with the Texans as a pro scout. His time in that capacity was followed by a two-year stretch with the Vikings as their director of pro personnel in addition to assistant director of college scouting. When Blanco returned to the Texans’ front office in 2023, he took on the title of assistant director of player personnel. He too has seen his stock rise over the past two years, and added responsibilities will now be in play under Caserio.
The period after the draft often sees plenty of front office movement around the league. A number of teams have new front office setups in place, and the Texans are now among them as Caserio and Co. look to build off the success of the past two seasons.