Minor NFL Transactions: 5/27/25
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DL Patrick Jenkins
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Ryan Cooper Jr.
- Placed on IR: CB Jason Maitre
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Montana Lemonious-Craig
We learned last week that the Cardinals were moving on from DL Ben Stille, and we’ve now got some clarity on his direct replacement on the roster. The team has signed Patrick Jenkins, an undrafted rookie out of Tulane. The defensive lineman got a look at Saints rookie minicamp but left without an offer. His showing at Tulane included 13 sacks and 28 tackles for loss.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/27/25
One late-round signing to pass along:
Philadelphia Eagles
- OT Cameron Williams (sixth round, Texas)
The Eagles are now one step closer to completing the signing of their rookie class after inking Cameron Williams to his first NFL pact. The lineman got into 37 games during his time with the Longhorns, with the majority of his snaps coming at right tackle. He’ll likely settle into a depth role for the 2025 campaign.
With the signing, the Eagles only have a pair of unsigned draft picks: first-round LB Jihaad Campbell and second-round S Andrew Mukuba.
Kirk Cousins Absent From Day 1 Of Falcons OTAs
Kirk Cousins remains on the Falcons roster, but both sides seem motivated to find the QB a new team sooner than later. As the organization figures out a solution, the veteran QB is predictably staying away from OTAs.
[RELATED: Steelers Still Interested In Kirk Cousins]
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris told reporters that he hadn’t seen Cousins in the building as his team opened voluntary team activities today (per Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network). It doesn’t seem like this absence is necessarily leading to any holdout, as he unexpectedly attended the start of the team’s voluntary offseason last month.
Still, Cousins’ absence from Day 1 of OTAs is still glaring. There doesn’t appear to be any resolution in sight regarding Cousins’ future in Atlanta. The Falcons pivoted to first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. before Cousins completed a full season of his four-year, $180MM contract, and both sides have been willing to consider a peaceful divorce as the veteran looks to start elsewhere.
While Cousins has been seeking an outright release, the Falcons haven’t budged on their trade-route stance. The team understands that they’d need to eat $37.5MM in guaranteed money even if Cousins was cut, and they’ve stated a willingness to keep Cousins on board as a high-priced QB2 in 2025. NFL Network Ian Rapoport said today that he believes the most likely path in this drama sees Cousins positioned as the backup in Atlanta.
With a release not on the table, focus has pivoted to a trade, and the Falcons have been signaling that they want suitors to take on at least $20MM of Cousins’ 2025 salary. Understandably, a deal hasn’t been made, and it’s uncertain if the Falcons will change their stance as the summer goes on. We heard yesterday that a trade likely would have already been completed if the Falcons were willing to absorb a larger portion (such as $7MM or $8MM) of Cousins’ upcoming $27.5MM base salary.
If the Falcons do change their stance, it’s uncertain what teams would be lining up for Cousins’ services. The Browns and Vikings were once mentioned as suitors, but both teams added to their QB depth charts during the draft (Cleveland drafted Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders while Minnesota acquired Sam Howell via trade).
We heard yesterday that the Steelers remain an option as they await a decision on the Aaron Rodgers front. Of course, a Rodgers decision would quickly change that calculus, leaving maybe only the Saints as a logical suitor. New Orleans was once mentioned as a landing spot, and the team’s need only increased following Derek Carr‘s retirement. The Saints claim they’re not aiming to make an outside addition, but perhaps they would change their tune if the Cousins’ financial commitment comes down.
Panthers TE Tommy Tremble Underwent Back Surgery
The Panthers will be without one of their top tight ends for at least the rest of OTAs and minicamp. Head coach Dave Canales revealed today that tight end Tommy Tremble recently underwent back surgery that could keep him sidelined at least until the start of training camp.
“Tommy did have surgery on his back last week, a successful surgery,” Canales said today (via the team’s website). “We were kind of thinking about it, talking about it, looking at timelines and all that, and just felt like for him to give him the (time). He’s 25 years old. You know, let’s get this thing while he’s young and strong and be able to just get back on the right track.”
Tremble missed a handful of games last season thanks to lingering back issues, and it sounds like the tight end is trying to avoid a similar situation in 2025. Canales said Tremble will miss at least the rest of OTAs and minicamp, and he’ll likely be rehabbing for the start of training camp (per Joe Person of The Athletic). The 24-year-old will be destined for the PUP list until that time.
Person notes that the surgery is “not expected to be season-ending,” although that hints that Tremble’s rehab could extend into the regular season. If the tight end remains on PUP following the first iteration of the Panthers’ 53-man roster, he’d be forced to miss the first four games of the upcoming campaign.
A former third-round pick, Tremble saw a relatively modest role playing alongside the likes of Ian Thomas and Hayden Hurst. He had his best showing in 2024, finishing with 23 receptions for a career-high 234 yards. Following that performance, he inked a new two-year, $16MM deal ($8MM guaranteed) with the organization this offseason.
While the Panthers would surely prefer Tremble in the lineup, the team should be fine without their most experienced tight end. Ja’Tavion Sanders actually led the position grouping in offensive production in 2024, finishing with 33 catches for 342 yards. The Panthers also recently used a fifth-round pick on Mitchell Evans, and they’re rostering the likes of Dominique Dafney, James Mitchell, and Bryce Pierre at the bottom of the depth chart.
Carlie Irsay-Gordon Expected To Run Colts
MAY 26: Ward will indeed carry on as COO, The Athletic’s James Boyd confirms (subscription required). As a result, he will continue to oversee the Colts’ non-football operations. Ward and other veteran executives will play central roles in helping Irsay-Gordon assume controlling status of the organization moving forward.
MAY 22: Following the sudden passing of owner Jim Irsay earlier this week, the Colts’ succession plan is now in the limelight. All three of Irsay’s daughters have been listed as “vice chair/owner” for more than a decade, but Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com says the late owner’s oldest daughter, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, is expected to be the “new person in charge.”
[RELATED: Colts Owner Jim Irsay Passes Away At 65]
ESPN’s Stephen Holder echoes this sentiment, noting that Irsay-Gordon has seemingly been preparing for this role for years. The 44-year-old once ran day-to-day operations while her father served his league-imposed suspension following a 2014 DUI arrest. Since then, she has reshaped “the business side of the franchise in terms of structure and personnel,” according to Holder.
Irsay-Gordon has also put in a concerted effort to understand every facet of the organization. Holder notes that she could often be seen on the sidelines wearing a headset to have “an up-close-and-personal view of coaches and players at work.” Those actions haven’t gone unnoticed.
“Carlie, specifically, will be the perfect modern-day owner,” a rival executive told Holder. “Carlie has been embedded in the business for probably over a decade at this point. She’s smart, a continuous learner, rigorously works to understand football from a scouting and coaching perspective.
“She also has the rare blend of appreciating tradition and professional expertise but not being bound by it because she is a progressive thinker. Very good people skills as well. She will be a great steward of the organization.”
Holder notes that two long-term executives are expected to help Irsay-Gordon with the transition. This exclusive grouping includes chief operating officer Pete Ward, who has spent more than four decades with the Colts, and chief legal officer Dan Emerson, who has been advising the family for nearly as long.
Holder adds that there are still a handful of unanswered questions surrounding the organizational hierarchy, specifically how much of a say the other sisters will have on major decisions. Casey Foyt has been working with the team for nearly 20 years, and she played a role in helping bring NFL games to London. Kalen Jackson joined the Colts a few years after her sisters, and she’s been responsible for leading many of her father’s mental health initiatives.
Jim Irsay saw a similar path through the ranks after his father, Bob Irsay, purchased the then-Baltimore Colts in 1972. Since Jim took over sole ownership following his father’s passing, he’s made it clear that the organization will remain in his family for years to come. Now, the time has come for his daughters to take the mantle.
WR Garrett Wilson Hoping For Jets Extension
While there were rumblings of a potential trade request towards the end of the 2024 season, Garrett Wilson is now making it clear he wants to stick in New York. The extension-eligible receiver told reporters today that he doesn’t only want to sign a new deal with the Jets…he hopes to spend the rest of his career with the organization.
“I’m hopeful I’m a Jet for life and that we get this thing rolling and that all of our best days are ahead of us,” Wilson said (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini).
After spending the start of his career dealing with subpar QB play, frustrations mounted after the Jets failed to meet expectations during the 2024 campaign. Wilson’s issues were attributed to perceived tension with Aaron Rodgers and competition for targets from midseason acquisition Davante Adams, and there was speculation that the organizational friction could lead to a trade request.
Instead, Rodgers and Adams are both out of town, and it sounds like the Jets made a pair of offseason moves that have Wilson excited for the future. According to Cimini, the addition of Aaron Glenn has “infused the organization with hope,” and the new head coach has made it clear to the wideout that he’ll be a focal point of the offense. Wilson was also quick to laud new QB Justin Fields, with the receiver pointing to the duo’s “trust” and “communication.”
With the organization having appeared to mend fences with their star wideout, they can now look towards negotiations. While Wilson has managed to top 1,000 yards receiving in each of his three NFL seasons, sources believed the Ohio State product wouldn’t top the market at his position, with some pointing to an AAV around $25MM to $30MM.
Wilson would likely push for that $30MM threshold that’s recently been surpassed by a number of extended wideouts. A $30MM AAV would rank seventh at the position with Brandon Aiyuk and Tyreek Hill. Of course, there’s no rush for contract talks, as Wilson still has two years remaining on his rookie pact after having his fifth-year option exercised. When the time comes to get serious about negotiations, the receiver is hopeful he’ll give the front office no choice but to hand him a new deal.
“When the time does come and those conversations are being had,” Wilson said (via Cimini). “I’m going to try and do my part to make sure that it’s undeniable.”
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/22/25
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: DT Ben Stille
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: QB Brett Gabbert
- Waived: LB William Bradley-King
In addition to placing Sean Murphy-Bunting on the reserve/non-football injury list today, the Cardinals moved on from Ben Stille. Despite only spending three seasons in the NFL, Stille has true journeyman status, with the defensive lineman spending time with the Dolphins, Browns, Cardinals (twice), and Buccaneers. The 27-year-old got into six total games last season, compiling four tackles and one sack.
William Bradley-King joined the Dolphins practice squad last August and spent the entire year there. He was retained via a reserve/futures contract back in January. A former seventh-round pick, Bradley-King has collected seven tackles and 0.5 sacks in four career games. He’ll be replaced on the roster by QB Brett Gabbert, the younger brother of Blaine Gabbert. Brett was invited to rookie minicamp last month after going undrafted in this year’s draft. The QB got into 53 games during his time at Miami (OH), tossing 80 touchdowns vs. 30 interceptions.
Roger Goodell Discusses International Games, Private Equity Firms
After the NFL participated in five international games in 2024, the league is set to host seven contests outside of the United States in 2025. If Roger Goodell‘s vision comes to fruition, the NFL will eventually play nearly a season’s worth of overseas games in a single year.
During a recent appearance at the CNBC CEO Council Summit, Goodell revealed that he’s hoping to host 16 international games in a single season.
“I do see 16 regular season games, and I do think that will happen in the very near future,” Goodell told CNBC’s Scott Wapner (via Jessica Golden of CNBC.com). “Within 5 years probably.”
The “NFL International Series” started back in 2007 with a regular-season game between the Dolphins and Giants at Wembley Stadium in London, England. The NFL expanded to Mexico in 2016, and they’ve since held games in Germany and Brazil. The league is set to take it a step further in 2025, with games scheduled for Spain and Ireland, and there’s a game in Australia set for 2026.
Goodell previously hinted at a 16-game international slate, although his five-year target is new. While a foreign franchise doesn’t appear to be on the immediate horizon, the commissioner made it clear that overseas games are a clear priority for the league.
“International is an open market for us,” said Goodell. “We are excited about our potential.”
Goodell touched on a number of additional subjects during the summit, including the recent uptick in private equity firms taking stakes in NFL franchises. We heard recently that the Chargers requested approval to sell an eight-percent stake in their franchise to a private investment firm, following the footsteps of other organization’s that have recently sold off small stakes.
As Golden notes, there’s only a small grouping of firms that are approved to purchase small parts of NFL teams: Ares Management, Sixth Street Partners, Arctos Partners, and a consortium consisting of Dynasty Equity, Blackstone, Carlyle Group, CVC Capital Partners, and Ludis. Goodell hinted that another undisclosed firm could soon be joining this list.
“There’s enough demand for it that we think it’s the right step,” Goodell said.
Giants Sign 13 UDFAs
MAY 21: In addition to Paige, a number of the Giants’ undrafted rookies received significant guarantees upon signing, according to The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. Wide receiver seems to have been the team’s priority after the draft; Collins signed for a team-high $270k in guarantees, while Felton and Wells got $264k and $259k, respectively. In addition, Williams and Fortune each received $165k in guaranteed money.
Felton’s main asset is his 6-foot-5, 213-pound frame with 32.25-inch arms. His lack of lateral agility limited his separation before and after the catch in college; he never crossed 700 receiving yards across four years as a starter in college (two at Norfolk State, two at Virginia Tech). Wells had excellent production in 2021 at James Madison and 2022 at South Carolina, but a fractured foot sidelined him for most of the 2023 season. He had a quiet 2024 season at Ole Miss will likely struggle to make plays with tighter margins against NFL coverage.
MAY 13: After acquiring seven first-year players via the draft, the Giants aren’t finished adding to their rookie class. The team announced the signing of 13 undrafted free agents:
- Rushawn Baker, RB (Elon)
- Jordan Bly, WR (Gardner-Webb)
- Dalen Cambre, WR (Louisiana)
- Beaux Collins, WR (Notre Dame)
- RJ Delancy III, CB (Wisconsin)
- Da’Quan Felton, WR (Virginia Tech)
- Trace Ford, LB (Oklahoma)
- O’Donnell Fortune, CB (South Carolina)
- Tommy McCormick, S (Idaho)
- Makari Paige, S (Michigan)
- Jermaine Terry, TE (Oregon State)
- Antwane Wells Jr., WR (Ole Miss)
- Jaison Williams, OL (Youngstown State)
“I’m excited to see how this team comes together,” GM Joe Schoen recently said about his young players (via the team’s website). “I like the players that we have. I like the makeup of the players. I’m confident in the coaching staff, and I’m excited for the 2025 season.”
Makari Paige got a chunk of change to catch on with the Giants; ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports that the safety got $150K in guaranteed money and a $15K signing bonus. The Michigan product earned a pair of All-Big Ten selections during his college career, and he won a championship in 2023 while contributing 41 tackles. His experience at safety and nickelback could help him earn a spot on the squad.
After skipping the wide receiver position in the draft, the Giants added five players at the position via free agency. Beaux Collins brings the most collegiate experience, with the wideout averaging more than 30 catches per season across three years at Clemson. He spent the 2024 campaign at Notre Dame, where he finished with a career-high 41 catches.
Joe Burrow Endorses Potential Trey Hendrickson Extension
Joe Burrow‘s influence on the Bengals organization was clearly highlighted this offseason, as the QB got his wish when Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins were both signed to long-term extensions. Burrow also made it clear that he wanted star defender Trey Hendrickson to receive a new deal, although a lack of progress on that front has already led to public frustration and a potential holdout.
[RELATED: Bengals In Contract Squabble With DE Shemar Stewart]
While speaking with reporters today, Burrow once again stated that he wanted the Bengals defensive leader to stick in Cincy for the long haul. The QB also said he supports Hendrickson’s decision to not participate in team activities while extension talks are ongoing.
“Yeah, we’ll see what happens with that,” Burrow said (via Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com). “You guys all know how I feel about Trey. He’s a great player. I love Trey as a guy. He goes out and plays well every single Sunday. He’s very productive. He’s a guy that deserves to get paid and get paid what he wants and what the market is. So, like I said, we’ll see what happens with that. But, I love Trey and hope he’s with us.
“I think he’s doing what he thinks is best for his career and I support him in that,” Burrow added. “Trey’s a smart guy. Just like anybody, I’m sure there’s things that he’d like to have back. But he’s very well thought out in his process and what he’s trying to do. And so, if he thinks that’s the way to go, then that’s the way to go.”
As part of a one-year, $21MM extension he signed in 2023, Hendrickson is due a $15.8MM base salary this season. After finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2024, the pass rusher is naturally seeking more long-term security and a top-of-position average annual value. While the Bengals were willing to break from tradition with Burrow, Chase, and Higgins, the organization isn’t willing to commit significant guarantees beyond the 2025 season to Hendrickson.
The 30-year-old showed up for the second phase of offseason workouts last week in street clothes, and he reiterated his stance that negotiations have gotten “personal” and he won’t be playing for the Bengals under his current pact. Hendrickson noted to reporters that Zac Taylor threatened fines for eventually missing mandatory practices, and the coach did acknowledge today that he’s since spoken with his defensive star.
“I put a lot of time into thinking — those situations, there’s real money at stake,” Taylor said (via Simmons). “So I put a lot of time and energy into thinking about how to communicate, when to communicate. And so, that’s just how I handled that one. And, yeah, Trey and I have spoken.
“I think every situation is unique,” Taylor added. “Every personality is different, every player is different. The timing of everything is different. So, you just adapt as you go with that stuff.”