Jaguars Sign QB John Wolford
It didn’t take long for the new Jaguars regime to start adding to their roster. The team announced today that they’ve signed quarterback John Wolford and wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit. Both players were signed to the active roster, which is a more significant commitment than the standard reserve/futures contracts you see at this time of year.
Wolford has bounced around the NFL since going undrafted out of Wake Forest in 2018. Following stints with the Jets and in the AAF, the QB seemingly found a home with the Rams, where he spent several years serving as a backup to Jared Goff and later Matthew Stafford.
Wolford ultimately spent four years with the organization, going 2-2 in his four starts. In seven total appearances with the Rams, the QB completed 58.7 percent of his passes for 626 yards, one touchdown, and five interceptions. He also added another 87 yards on 16 carries.
The 29-year-old could be part of Jacksonville’s solution behind Trevor Lawrence in 2025. Mac Jones filled in admirably in 2024, but the former first-round pick is set to hit free agency. C.J. Beathard also has an expiring contract, so it could be a new-look QBs room for the Jaguars next year.
A former rugby union player, Rees-Zammit got his NFL start with the Chiefs last offseason. He later caught on with the Jaguars’ practice squad, where he spent the majority of his rookie campaign.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 2/17/25
One reserve/futures deal to pass along:
Houston Texans
Interestingly, the Texans gave Tucker Addington some extra cash to join their offseason roster. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the long snapper got $10K in bonus money for putting pen to paper. The Sam Houston State has bounced around the NFL a bit during his career, getting into 10 games in stints with the Patriots, Commanders, and Dolphins.
Raiders, Assistant GM Champ Kelly Part Ways
With John Spytek taking over the front office in Las Vegas, the Raiders are making some significant changes to their operations. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Raiders and assistant general manager Champ Kelly have mutually agreed to part ways.
Spytek would have represented the third GM that Kelly has worked under during his short stay with the organization, so it’s not a surprise that the assistant is looking for a fresh start elsewhere. The executive interviewed for the GM role in 2022, and he was hired as the assistant after the organization opted for Dave Ziegler. He took over as interim GM when his boss was canned in 2023, but he once again landed in an assistant role when the team added Tom Telesco last offseason.
During his time in Las Vegas, Kelly was credited with helping to retool a roster that sorely needed some upside on both offense and defense. He helped build an impressive group of offensive skill players like Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers (and later Brock Bowers and Tre Tucker), and his defensive wins include the likes of Robert Spillane, Tyree Wilson, and Jack Jones.
The veteran executive got his NFL start with the Broncos in 2007, where he worked his way up from a college scout to assistant director of pro personnel. He joined the Bears in 2015 as their director of pro scouting, a role he held for two years before transitioning to assistant director of player personnel.
Despite his inability to earn the top front office role, Kelly hass still been a popular name on the interview circuit. He interviewed for the Jaguars job earlier this offseason, and besides his numerous interviews with the Raiders, he also received previous interest from the Broncos and Panthers. Considering his track record, it shouldn’t take long for Kelly to land on his feet.
Dolphins Will Listen To Tyreek Hill Offers?
FEBRUARY 17: Ben Volin of the Boston Globe writes Hill and the Dolphins may well be “motivated” to work out a trade in spite of the public messaging from both parties. The team will have the opportunity to gauge interest in a potential trade next week at the Combine, and it will be interesting to see if any further developments emerge at that time.
FEBRUARY 15: Tyreek Hill hinted at a possible trade following the Dolphins’ season finale, but both the WR and the organization were quick to walk back those comments. While Hill has since stated a desire to stick in Miami, it could actually be the organization that seeks a divorce.
Multiple NFL executives told Armando Salguero and Gates Garcia of Outkick.com that the Dolphins could listen to offers on their star receiver. The reporters seem to hint that it would still take a significant haul to acquire Hill, but it also sounds like Miami could be receptive to an offer that reaches their lofty asking price.
Finances would naturally be a major motivator for the Dolphins front office. Hill is attached to a lofty but manageable $28.6MM cap hit in 2025, but that number balloons to an untenable $51.8MM cap hit in 2026. In between, the Dolphins have a potential out on the contract, but they’d still be left with more than $15MM in dead cap. If the organization determines that Hill won’t be in Miami beyond the 2025 campaign, it could make some sense for the Dolphins to recoup value before they’re forced to choose from two unappealing options.
Hill was pretty clear on his feelings following a disappointing end to the 2024 campaign. With the Dolphins failing to make the postseason for the first time in Hill’s three years with the team, the wideout didn’t mince words when speaking with reporters.
“I’m out,” Hill said at the time. “It was great playing here but at the end of the day, I have to do what’s best for my career.”
Both Hill and the Dolphins quickly went into crisis mode. GM Chris Grier made it clear that Hill hadn’t requested a trade, and agent Drew Rosenhaus later stated that the wideout was “committed” to the organization. It was then the player’s turn to walk back his comments, with Hill admitting his mistake while also stating that his comments were misconstrued.
Either way, the whole fiasco may have emboldened rival squads to make a competitive offer. Hill’s numbers took a hit in 2024 thanks to inconsistent QB play, but he still managed to top 1,000 yards from scrimmage. The 30-year-old also isn’t far removed from a two-year start in Miami where he averaged 1,778 yards per season. There would surely be a team that’s willing to gamble on a return to form for the five-time All-Pro WR, and a strong opening offer could catch the Dolphins’ ear.
Chiefs Want Travis Kelce Retirement Decision By March 14
The Chiefs are giving Travis Kelce a month to make a decision on his future. According to Nate Taylor and Cale Clinton of The Athletic, the Chiefs have set a March 14 deadline for Kelce to commit to the 2025 season.
While Kelce could try to squeeze more time from his team, the Chiefs do have some leverage via the tight end’s impending roster bonus. Kelce is due an $11.5MM bonus on March 15, and it’s no coincidence that the organization wants clarity before that date. Plus, free agency opens on March 10, so the Chiefs are already sacrificing some crucial roster certainty with this ultimatum.
The 2025 campaign will represent the final year of Kelce’s four-year, $57MM extension from 2020. The future Hall of Famer will be attached to a $19.8MM cap hit, more than half of which comes from that aforementioned roster bonus. While the Chiefs would surely welcome back Kelce regardless of the financials, that’s still a hefty cap charge, and our own Nikhil Mehta recently suggested that the front office could look to lower that hit via a cap-manipulating extension.
In his age-35 season, Kelce compiled some of the worst receiving numbers of his career. He finished the year with a career-low 51.4 yards per game, and his three touchdowns also marked a new career-low. Those numbers did see a jump when it mattered, as Kelce hauled in 13 receptions for 175 yards during the Chiefs’ three-game postseason run.
If Kelce does hang up his cleats, the Chiefs could look towards in-house options to fill the void. Former fifth-round pick Noah Gray finished the year with career-highs in receptions (40), receiving yards (437), touchdowns (five), and offensive snaps (664). This year’s TE free agency class mostly consists of complementary players, including Mike Gesicki and Juwan Johnson.
Falcons’ Kevin Koger Denies OC Interview Request From Saints
Kellen Moore is starting to fill out his Saints staff, but the process may not be as smooth as the new head coach was hoping for. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Falcons tight ends coach Kevin Koger has denied a request from the Saints to interview for their offensive coordinator job.
[RELATED: Saints Name Kellen Moore As HC]
After working his way up through the college coaching ranks, Koger got his first NFL gig when he was named as the Packers offensive quality control coach in 2019. He joined the Chargers as their tight ends coach in 2021, with Gerald Everett having his best career seasons under Koger’s tutelage.
After the Chargers cleaned house last offseason, Koger joined the Falcons coaching staff, where he was tasked with getting the most from Kyle Pitts. The tight end still failed to live up to his first-round billing, finishing with 47 catches for 602 yards. Still, his 63.5 catch percentage represented a career-high.
While Koger’s list of accomplishments may not feature big names nor performance, he’s still earned a reputation as a bright offensive mind. Just this offseason, the coach interviewed for the Browns and Cowboys OC jobs.
Considering Moore wasn’t officially hired until after the Super Bowl, the Saints missed out on most of the top coordinator candidates. While Koger’s denial may not be indicative of other candidates’ sentiments about the New Orleans gig, Moore and the Saints may have to overcome a few hurdles as they look to piece together the coaching staff.
Koger is the first definitive candidate for the job in New Orleans. A pair of Eagles coaches have naturally been connected to their former boss, with QBs coach Doug Nussmeier and pass-game coordinator Kevin Patullo mentioned as candidates for the job.
Aaron Jones, Vikings Push Back Void Date On Contract
Aaron Jones‘ one-year deal with the Vikings contained four void years to lessen the blow on Minnesota’s 2024 cap sheet. February 17 was a crucial date for the contract, as Jones would have officially hit free agency while leaving the Vikings with a notable dead cap hit in 2025.
Both sides bought themselves some time this morning. ESPN’s Field Yates reports that Jones and the Vikings agreed to move the upcoming void date to March 11, the day before free agency officially opens.
As Yates notes, this provides the two sides some extra time to negotiate a new contract before free agency. Today’s deadline adjustment doesn’t guarantee that the running back will re-sign with the organization. Still, it certainly bodes better for Jones’ future in Minnesota than if the front office had simply let the void years hit on Monday.
After spending the first seven seasons of his career with the Packers, Jones inked a one-year, $7MM deal with the Vikings last offseason. Thanks to those previously mentioned void years, the veteran RB was only attached to a $3.5MM cap hit in 2024. However, that contract construct also meant the Vikings were on the hook for a $3.5MM dead cap for 2025 if Jones didn’t stick around. That pseudo-financial commitment will likely have some influence on how the Vikings front office approaches the position this offseason, as it will likely make more financial sense to retain Jones than pivot to another veteran.
Beyond the financial commitment, it sounds like both Jones and the Vikings were happy with their one-year partnership. We heard recently that the 30-year-old wants to keep playing in Minnesota, and coach Kevin O’Connell has publicly expressed interest in retaining his RB1 (via ESPN’s Kevin Seifert).
The Vikings got as much as they could out of Jones during the 2024 season, handing the RB a career-high 306 touches. While Jones’ efficiency took a bit of a hit this past season, he still put up impressive counting stats, particularly his 1,546 yards from scrimmage. Considering his 2024 workload, Seifert cautions that the Vikings could be eyeing more of a committee-style approach to their RBs room in 2025.
Patriots “Really Want” Tee Higgins, WR Expected To Top $30MM AAV
As expected, the Patriots will be a main suitor for the top free agent wideout. According to Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post, the organization is focused on signing wide receiver Tee Higgins.
[RELATED: Patriots To Be “Heavily Involved” In Tee Higgins Pursuit]
La Canfora spoke to multiple executives about Higgins’ impending free agency, with one GM stating that the Patriots “really want this guy.” The organization has continually been connected to the Bengals star wideout as they look to surround quarterback Drake Maye with as much talent as possible. Back in December, we heard New England would be “heavily involved” in the sweepstakes, and this latest report indicates that Robert Kraft will be willing to open the checkbook.
As one executive told La Canfora, the Patriots owner “rightfully” took plenty of grief for his recent lack of spending, and there’s a belief Kraft will look to right his wrongs via Higgins. With a league-leading ~$131MM in projected cap room, the Patriots should have more than enough wiggle room to make a big splash. For what it’s worth, the organization was a main participant in last offseason’s Calvin Ridley sweepstakes, so the Patriots have already shown a willingness to spend at the position.
Many of the executives polled by La Canfora opined that Higgins will ultimately land a contract that pays him more than $30MM per season. This doesn’t come as a huge surprise considering five WRs (Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Brandon Aiyuk) joined Tyreek Hill at that AAV mark last year. That would also surely be out of the price range for the Bengals, who still have to navigate the upcoming Ja’Marr Chase extension.
There are fair reasons to question Higgins’ standing as a WR1 and/or one of the highest-paid players at his position. However, beggars can’t be choosers, and his spot in the free agent hierarchy means a bidding war should help him eclipse that $30MM AAV mark.
Teams Picking In Top-Five May Look To Trade Back
While there’s some belief that the Titans will move the No. 1 pick, they may not be the only team atop the draft board looking to make moves. Albert Breer of SI.com believes every team in the top five will at least entertain the idea of trading back.
[RELATED: Sources Expect Titans To Trade No. 1 Overall Pick]
All of these squads (which includes the Browns (No. 2), Giants (No. 3), Patriots (No. 4), and Jaguars (No. 5)) have plenty of reasons to justify a trade. Each of these teams won’t suddenly vault into contention (or even mediocrity) with just their first-round selection, and picking up additional assets may help them fill out their respective rosters. While these organizations may not be able to get a haul, they could still snag a foundational piece while picking up additional draft picks.
However, Breer also notes that this is partly an indictment on the draft class. Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter are generally considered the draft’s only blue-chip prospects. Teams like the Patriots and Jaguars already have their answers at quarterback, and if those front offices believe they’re out of realistic range for Carter/Hunter, it may make sense to move back and pick up extra pieces.
Further, the draft’s QB depth may convince some teams to pivot. Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders appear to be in their own tier among prospects, but neither of the impending rookies are believed to be generational, can’t-miss players. Instead of reaching for a QB they’re not enamored with, it could make sense for a team like the Giants to target a different position (or maybe a different quarterback) via a trade down the board.
Of course, each of those concerns will work against the teams picking in the top-five. As Breer notes, rival teams may not be as eager to trade up for any of the non-blue-chip prospects. There will surely be suitors, but the offers may not be lucrative enough to convince any of those top-five squads to move on.
It’s pretty common to see at least one top-five squad move off of their original draft position, but we’ve also seen a recent trend of front offices holding on to their best draft assets. Between 2019 and 2022, we only saw one top-five pick change hands (with the 2021 third-overall pick being swapped a few times before landing with the 49ers, who took Trey Lance). A handful of top-five 2023 picks were traded, but even the 2024 draft only saw the first-overall pick stray from its original team (which was a product of a trade involving the 2023 first-overall pick).
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 2/12/25
Today’s reserve/futures deals:
Atlanta Falcons
- OT Kilian Zierer
Kansas City Chiefs
Anthony Firkser brings 78 games of NFL experience. His best run came with the Titans, including a two-year stretch between 2020 and 2021 when he hauled in 73 catches. After starting the 2024 season with the Jets, Firkser spent most of the second half on the Chiefs practice squad.