Chiefs “Very Interested” In Re-Signing WR Marquise Brown
The Chiefs want to keep Marquise Brown, but the team could face some competition for the wide receiver. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the organization is “very interested” in re-signing the impending free agent.
However, Fowler cautions that Hollywood should have a robust market as teams seek speedy outside receiver options. Several sources even believe an AFC foe could provide the Chiefs with the most competition for Brown’s services, as it’s believed Josh Allen “has long wanted to play” with the wideout.
After finishing his final season in Arizona with a career-low 574 receiving yards, Hollywood seemed to land in a perfect spot to rehabilitate his value. However, after inking his one-year deal in the offseason, Brown suffered a sternoclavicular injury during the preseason that kept him on the shelf for most of the 2024 campaign. He averaged 45.5 receiving yards in his two regular season appearances, and he’s hauled in three catches on seven targets in the postseason.
Considering his 2024 season was all but lost, suitors will presumably be looking to sign Brown to a similar one-year pact. The Chiefs would be a logical favorite to re-sign the receiver, especially since Patrick Mahomes advocated for the signing in the first place. However, if Brown is looking to parlay his next contract into a long-term deal, he may struggle to garner the necessary targets in Kansas City. First-round rookie Xavier Worthy occasionally looked the part of a WR1 in 2024, and the team will also welcome back Rashee Rice in 2025.
The Bills will continue to be connected to available wide receivers in a post-Stefon Diggs era, although the team (and their MVP QB) managed just fine in 2024. While the team is interested in re-signing Amari Cooper, there’s a chance they move on from the midseason acquisition, and veteran Mack Hollins is also set to hit free agency. That leaves second-round rookie Keon Coleman and third-year WR Khalil Shakir as the only guarantees on the depth chart.
K Brandon Aubrey Eyeing Cowboys Extension
Brandon Aubrey has quickly established himself as one of the NFL’s top kickers, and the 29-year-old is now positioned to cash in on his success. Entering the final season of his three-year contract, Aubrey told Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he’d be open to re-signing with Dallas.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Aubrey said of inking an extension with the Cowboys. “I’m eligible for an extension so it’s up to my agent to go up to the Cowboys and see if there’s any interest in signing it there early. If an extension comes then an extension comes. If not, I’m still making ten times what I was making working code [prior to football], so I’m pretty happy.”
The former soccer player pivoted to football in 2019, and he had a brief stint in the USFL as he worked on his craft. The Cowboys came calling in 2023, and Aubrey immediately made a name for himself. He earned All-Pro honors as a rookie after connecting on 36 of his 38 field goal tries (including going 10-for-10 from 50-plus yards). He was just as impressive in his follow-up performance, connecting on 40 field goals while also converting the league’s longest attempt of the season (65 yards).
As Harris notes, the 2025 campaign will represent a season of change for Aubrey. Besides the changes atop the coaching staff, special teams coordinator John Fassel is now with the Titans, with the Cowboys hiring Nick Sorensen to take his place. While Aubrey acknowledged Fassel’s impact on his career, he also noted that he’s still working with the same kicking coach he’s trained with since 2020.
Aubrey will also enter the 2025 season as an impending free agent. As Harris notes, the kicker has already prepared for the potential pay day by hiring Todd France (who also represents Dak Prescott) as his new agent. Despite his lack of NFL experience, Aubrey is still entering his age-30 season, but that shouldn’t drastically impact his earnings potential. The Cowboys star could be positioned to reset the kicker market, and at the very least, he should surpass the $6MM average annual value that Harrison Butker, Jake Elliott, and Justin Tucker earned on their respective contracts.
Myles Garrett Discusses Trade Request, Consulting With LeBron James, Next Team
Browns star edge rusher Myles Garrett made headlines earlier this week when he publicly requested a trade out of Cleveland. The announcement wasn’t completely unfounded, as the former Defensive Player of the Year already made it clear he would be seeking clarity on the franchise’s long-term plans. While the Browns were adamant that they wouldn’t consider a trade for the All-Pro talent, Garrett ultimately decided he didn’t want to stick around for another rebuilding or transitional season.
[RELATED: Browns’ Myles Garrett Requests Trade]
In his initial statement, Garrett clearly cited a desire to win, noting that his “goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl.” The veteran reiterated that point while doing the rounds on Media Row today, including an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show. He also provided more insight into his decision to ask out of Cleveland. We’ve compiled some of the notable soundbites below, with a hat tip to Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal:
On what factors motivated him to request a trade:
“It took time and lots of conversation. Just looking at the trajectory of the team, talking to some of the higher-ups, I have a lot of respect for them but I just don’t think we’re aligned on where the team is going in the near future.”
On the timing of his decision to go public with a trade request:
“I just felt it was time. I had taken my time after the season, kind of relaxed and decompressed emotionally, wanted to distance myself a little bit and spent a little time talking to my family about how we feel about this decision.”
On consulting with former Cleveland star LeBron James about moving on from the city:
“You know just, what a transition looked like for him. What was his thought process going into it before he left Cleveland. Making sure I made a logical decision [and took] my time. Trying to take away the pressure of doing somewhat like that. Northeast Ohio has been his home, and it feels like my home, as well.
On where he’s hoping to play next:
“I just want to go to a contender. … I would love [to have a say in his destination]. I know in my position, I don’t have much say in where I go. But hopefully we can leave off on good terms and we can find a middle ground between us.”
On his fit with the Commanders (via a separate conversation with Sports Illustrated):
“I think they need a pass rusher. I think that’s something that they dearly missed during the playoffs…and I feel like I can fill that a role. But that’s a role that multiple teams need.”
Jaguars Hire Grant Udinski As OC
The Jaguars have settled on their new offensive coordinator. The team announced that they’re hiring Vikings assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski for the role.
“Grant will bring a wealth of knowledge, energy and a winning mindset to help lead our offense here in Jacksonville,” head coach Liam Coen said in a statement. “He is a rising star in this league that has been a pillar of success for the Vikings organization and we can’t wait to have him lead our offense.”
Udinski has only been coaching for six years, five of which have come in the NFL. Following a quick stint with the Panthers, Udinski joined the Vikings as an assistant in 2022. It didn’t take long for him to earn a promotion. He earned the title of assistant quarterbacks coach in 2023, and he added the role of assistant offensive coordinator in 2024.
The coach’s offensive prowess garnered some attention in 2024. Udinski was described as a mentor to injured rookie QB J.J. McCarthy, and he also helped guide Sam Darnold to the best season of his career. As teams looked to Kevin O’Connell‘s coaching tree to fill their offensive holes, Udinski became a popular name on the coordinator market, interviewing for gigs with the Seahawks and Jaguars.
While Coen is expected to have a heavy hand in Jacksonville’s offensive approach, the new head coach has led a limited search for a new OC. Rams pass game specialist Nate Scheelhaase was reportedly the favorite for the gig, but he ended up sticking in Los Angeles for the 2025 campaign. The team also showed interest in Chip Kelly and interviewed Commanders QBs coach Tavita Pritchard before ultimately landing on Udinski for the gig.
The new coordinator will have plenty to work with in Jacksonville. Trevor Lawrence hasn’t reached the pinnacle that was expected when he was the first-overall pick, but the organization will be counting on Udinski to get the most out of the franchise player. The team also seemed to hit on a WR1 in rookie Brian Thomas, and they’re rostering a pair of backfield options in Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne (barring a trade).
In Minnesota, the Vikings will be losing a significant staff member, but the team should have some coaching continuity on offense. Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips is set to be back for a fourth season with the organization, and Josh McCown will be sticking around for another season as Minnesota’s quarterbacks coach.
Jets Notes: Rodgers, Reed, Lazard, FA
With the Jets having settled on their organizational hierarchy, focus will now pivot to the roster…particularly their high-priced, future Hall of Fame quarterback. Aaron Rodgers has generally been noncommittal regarding his Jets future, and the QB continued that trend during a chat with the Golf Channel during the WM Phoenix Open.
“I’ve talked with the Jets,” Rodgers said when asked about his immediate future (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini). “We’ll figure things out when we figure them out.”
New head coach Aaron Glenn and new GM Darren Mougey will be responsible for figuring out the team’s approach at the position, as Woody Johnson has said he’ll be hands off when it comes to the handling of Rodgers. Both sides have expressed interest in keeping Rodgers in New York for the 2025 campaign, but things can obviously quickly change.
While neither the organization nor Rodgers are being definitive about his status, two members of the Jets have made it clear they want the veteran back in 2025. Quincy Williams noted that the former Super Bowl winner “takes our game to another level,” while Jermaine Johnson said he’d “obviously” welcome Rodgers back next season (per Brian Costello of the New York Post).
More notes out of New York…
- While Rodgers’ status with the team is uncertain, it sounds a bit more definitive that two other veterans won’t be back in 2025. According to Costello, cornerback D.J. Reed isn’t expected to re-sign with the organization while wide receiver Allen Lazard is expected to be a cap casualty. Reed inked a three-year contract with the Jets back in 2022 that’s set to expire, and the veteran should garner plenty of interest after starting each of his 46 appearances with the organization. Lazard is still attached to the four-year deal he signed with the organization in 2023, and while his numbers took a step forward playing alongside Rodgers, his production with the Jets (60 catches, 841 yards in 26 games) doesn’t justify the financial commitment.
- Mekhi Becton has turned around his career in Philly, as the former first-round pick has shed his “bust” label. Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic explored Becton’s career evolution, including the end of his tumultuous tenure with the Jets. Most notably, the lineman ignored a number of messages from position coach John Benton during the 2022 offseason. This followed a 2021 campaign when Becton was limited to one game thanks to a knee injury. Becton’s 2022 season was somehow even worse, as the lineman suffered a kneecap injury that erased another campaign.
- With Glenn now running the show, the former Lions defensive coordinator will predictably recruit players from his former stop. One of his potential targets will likely be Derrick Barnes, according to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com. The former fourth-round pick just completed his rookie contract after spending the first four seasons of his career in Detroit, where he collected 205 tackles in 51 games. The linebacker was limited to only three appearances this past season thanks to a knee injury.
Eagles EDGE Josh Sweat Hires New Representation
While Josh Sweat is surely focused on this weekend’s Super Bowl, the impending free agent also made some notable moves behind the scenes. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the pass rusher changed representation earlier this week, hiring Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha.
“It’s the biggest moment of my life,” Sweat told Zach Berman of PHLY. “That’s it, really. I just thought it was the best for me, and I wanted to be the most prepared I could be for it.”
A former fourth-round pick, this will mark Sweat’s third contract. With a year remaining on his rookie deal, the defensive end inked a three-year, $40MM extension with the Eagles in 2021. While Sweat hasn’t earned any accolades throughout his second contract, he’s still been a pass-rushing force for Philly, compiling 25.5 sacks across 49 games.
This past season, the 27-year-old collected eight sacks and 15 QB hits in 16 games (15 starts). Pro Football Focus ultimately graded Sweat 34th among 119 qualifying edge defenders in 2024, a step up from his 56th-place finish in 2023.
Sweat’s lack of track record limited his earnings during his last contract, but he could be set to cash in this offseason. Per OverTheCap.com, there are 20 edge rushers earning at least $15MM per year, including teammate Bryce Huff, who garnered a $17MM AAV last offseason. The 2025 campaign will represent Sweat’s age-28 season, so there will surely be a team willing to pay up for the veteran’s services during free agency.
Pass Game Specialist Nate Scheelhaase Sticking With Rams
Nate Scheelhaase is sticking in Los Angeles. After drawing strong interest for the Jaguars offensive coordinator job, the pass game specialist is staying with the Rams, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes that Scheelhaase is expected to see an expanded role during his second season with the team.
[RELATED: Nate Scheelhaase Favorite For Jaguars’ OC Job]
Scheelhaase has already seen a rapid rise through the NFL ranks. Following a long stint at Iowa State that culminated in him being named OC, he joined the Rams last offseason as their new pass game specialist. Despite injuries to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, the Rams passing offense still finished 2024 ranked in the top 10, and the 34-year-old started drawing some interest for promotions.
The offensive-minded coach was an option in Tampa Bay, and he was later recruited by former Rams assistant Liam Coen in Jacksonville. The last we heard, he was the favorite for that Jaguars job, where he would have been tasked with guiding the Trevor Lawrence-led offense. Now, Coen will have to pivot to his other candidates, a grouping that only consists of Commanders QBs coach Tavita Pritchard and Vikings assistant QBs coach Grant Udinski.
This news must also come as a relief to Sean McVay, who already lost one key member of his offensive staff when TEs coach Nick Caley was hired to lead the Texans offense. QBs coach Dave Ragone was also a candidate for the Buccaneers OC job, but the Rams can rest easy knowing only one member of their staff was poached this offseason.
Rams Shopping WR Cooper Kupp
Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp is definitively on the trade block. The source? Cooper Kupp himself. The Rams have informed the wideout that they’re “seeking a trade immediately,” Kupp announced tonight.
“I was informed that the team will be seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championship,” Kupp wrote on X. “I don’t agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in LA.
“Still, if there’s one thing that I have learned over the years: there are so many things that are out of your control, but it is how you respond to these things that you will look back on and remember.
“I have taken so much pride in playing alongside my teammates for the LA community, so thank you for embracing my family and making this such a special place for us.”
While it’s a bit jarring that the Rams are looking to move on from a franchise icon, it’s not completely unfounded. The receiver has clearly been leaped by Puka Nacua on the depth chart, and considering Kupp’s age and contract, there was some belief that he could be playing elsewhere in 2025. Kupp himself acknowledged this after the 2024 campaign when he admitted that he may have played his final game in a Rams uniform.
This also isn’t the first time Kupp has been on the trade block. The organization confirmed that they received calls on Kupp leading up to the trade deadline, and a separate report suggested it was actually the Rams front office that was looking to sell. The team ended up hanging on to the WR for the stretch run when they couldn’t find a squad willing to meet their asking price, which was reportedly compensation that exceeded what the Raiders received for Davante Adams (a conditional third-round pick).
A former third-round pick, Kupp has spent his entire career with the Rams organization. His 2021 campaign is still one of the most prolific seasons by a wide receiver in NFL history. Kupp finished that season with 1,965 yards from scrimmage, the most by a wide receiver in a single season. For his efforts, Kupp earned Offensive Player of the Year honors, and he followed that up with a postseason where he hauled in a record 33 receptions in four games and earned Super Bowl MVP.
Since then, Kupp hasn’t been able to put together a full season, as he’s missed 18 regular season games over the past three years. After finishing with 90.2 yards per game in 2022, Kupp has averaged only 60.3 yards per game between 2023 and 2024 while taking a backseat to Nacua. Kupp’s 2024 campaign was one of the least-productive seasons of his career, as he finished with 67 catches for 710 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games.
Still, considering his resume, Kupp should still be relatively attractive to WR-needy teams. Plus, he doesn’t completely break the bank. While his $29.78MM cap number in 2025 could be untenable, he’s only due $20MM total next season (via a $7.5MM roster bonus due in March and a $12.5MM base salary). A trade suitor would also be on the hook for his $19.85MM in salary commitments for the 2026 season. Only $5MM of his base salary is guaranteed for next season, so if the Rams are unable to find a trade partner over the next month, there’s a chance they just cut the veteran before the roster bonus is triggered.
Still, it’s unlikely it gets that far, as interested teams could always renegotiate with their trade acquisition. When Kupp was on the block earlier this season, the Chiefs, Bills and Steelers were mentioned as teams that discussed a trade with the Rams. Each of those teams ended up pivoting elsewhere, with Kansas City (DeAndre Hopkins), Buffalo (Amari Cooper), and Pittsburgh (Mike Williams) all making moves to shore up their WR corps. Still, there’s a chance any of those squads come crawling back, and new suitors could surely emerge as the offseason plays out.
Working in the Rams’ favor is a relatively uninspiring free agent market at the position. Tee Higgins will be the most coveted name, but the rest of the group consists of veterans coming off injuries (like Chris Godwin and Stefon Diggs) and veterans who underwhelmed in new spots (like Hopkins and Cooper). If a team is looking to make a big-name splash at the position, Kupp would surely check that box.
Raiders Hire Greg Olson As QBs Coach
The Raiders may not know who will be leading their QB depth chart in 2025, but the team now knows who will be coaching the position. According to Michael Silver of The Athletic, the Raiders have hired Greg Olson as their new quarterbacks coach.
[RELATED: Raiders Hire Chip Kelly As OC]
This is a bit of a homecoming for Olson, who has already had two previous stints with the organization. He was Oakland’s offensive coordinator for the 2013 and 2014 campaigns, with the Raiders struggling in both seasons. After effectively finishing that latter year as the NFL’s worst offense, the Raiders fired Olson.
The coach later had a four-year stint as the Raiders offensive coordinator between 2018 and 2021. The team’s best season under Olson came during their first year in Las Vegas, when the Raiders ranked eighth in yards and 10th in points. Otherwise, the Raiders rarely ranked in the top-half of the league in either category during Olson’s stint, and he wasn’t kept on the staff once Josh McDaniels took over. The veteran coach spent a year with the Rams before spending the 2023 campaign as the Seahawks’ QBs coach.
Olson has a long resume that dates back to the late 1980s. He got his first OC job with the Lions in 2005, and he’s held that same title with the Rams, Buccaneers, and Jaguars. He’s only twice guided a definitive top-1o offense: that aforementioned Raiders unit in 2020, and the Steven Jackson-led Rams in 2006.
Still, he’s shown an ability to get more than expected from some unheralded QBs, and he may be faced with a similar situation in 2025. Working alongside new OC Chip Kelly, Olson could be asked to squeeze what he can out of an uncertain QB depth chart. The team could stick with incumbents like Aidan O’Connell and/or Gardner Minshew, and the Raiders have also been connected to vets (like Russell Wilson) and prospects (primarily Shedeur Sanders).
Jaguars Request GM Interviews With Four Executives
The Jaguars aren’t wasting any time finding a new general manager. Shortly after news broke of their interview request with Buccaneers assistant general manager Mike Greenberg, we learned that the team requested interviews with four other executives. That grouping includes Chargers assistant GM Chad Alexander (via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler), Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown (via CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones), Bengals senior personnel executive Trey Brown (via Fowler), and Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham (via TheMMQB’s Albert Breer).
[RELATED: Jaguars Request GM Interview With Buccaneers Exec Mike Greenberg]
Alexander was a long-time Ravens staffer, with the executive spending two decades with the organization. He worked his way up to assistant director of pro personnel, a gig he held for his final nine years in Baltimore. When all was said and done, he ended up earning a pair of Super Bowl rings during his stint with the organization. He’s most recently bounced around the league, including jobs working under Joe Douglas with the Jets and Joe Hortiz with the Chargers. Alexander was a finalist for the Raiders GM opening earlier this offseason.
Brandon Brown was also a finalist for that job in Las Vegas, and he interview for jobs with the Chargers and Panthers last offseason. The executive made a name for himself in Philadelphia, where he worked his way up from assistant director of pro scouting to director of player personnel. He took his talents to New York in 2022, where he’s spent the past three seasons working as the assistant general manager under Joe Schoen.
Trey Brown cut his teeth in the scouting ranks, spending time in the Patriots and Eagles front offices. After a three-year term as Philly’s director of college scouting, Brown spent a few years leading his own front office with the Birmingham Iron (AAF) and St. Louis BattleHawks (XFL). When those leagues folded, the executive took a scouting job with the Bengals, and he was promoted to a senior personnel executive role in 2022.
Cunningham started his front office career with the Ravens before joining the Eagles as their director of college scouting in 2017. He climbed the ranks to director of player personnel before taking an assistant GM job with the Bears in 2022. He’s spent the past three seasons in Chicago, although he’s flirted with promotions over the past two years. He was a finalist for the Commanders job last year, and he’s also been connected to jobs with the Chargers and Titans.
Cunningham was one of the initial names to be connected to the Jaguars job, along with former Titans GM Jon Robinson and Greenberg. While Liam Coen has a major say in who will run Jacksonville’s front office, Jones notes that the new GM will be considered the “primary football executive.” This means the eventual front office leader won’t answer to VP of Football Operations Tony Boselli, who the team officially hired earlier today.