Packers Expected To Extend RT Zach Tom
The Packers are expected to sign right tackle Zach Tom to a long-term contract extension before the start of the regular season, according to The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman.
Tom, a 2022 fourth-round pick, is entering the final year of his rookie deal. He served as a versatile backup in his first season with snaps at both tackle spots and left guard before emerging as Green Bay’s starting right tackle in 2023. Tom took his game to another level in 2024 and earned the third-most All-Pro votes at his position behind Penei Sewell and Lane Johnson, per Schneidman. Tom’s 85.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked sixth among right tackles last year.
As a result, the 26-year-old should be in line for a contract with an APY well over $20MM. The top of the right tackle market has been just as strong as the blind side with Sewell and Johnson both clearing $25MM per year on their last contracts.
Tom’s negotiations with the Packers will likely be centered around guaranteed money. Green Bay has historically resisted offering guarantees outside of the signing bonus; only star quarterback Jordan Love was able to break that precedent. Since he plays a critical position, Tom could push for some guaranteed salary in his contract, but that could draw out negotiations with a front office that prefers to provide players with job security via roster bonuses due early in the offseason.
Tom was a full participant in the Packers’ offseason program, which is unlikely to change in training camp even if contract talks take longer than expected.
“Being here with the guys, I think that’s worth a lot more,” said Tom (via Schneidman).
Giants’ RG Battle Takes Shape Ahead Of Training Camp
The Giants are returning all five of their starting offensive linemen from last season, but they are still expected to hold a competition for the right guard job during training camp, according to The Athletic’s Dan Duggan.
10-year veteran Greg Van Roten played every snap at right guard in 2024, the only Giant to do so on either side of the ball. He was re-signed to a one-year, $3MM contract this offseason and should enter training camp as the favorite to start once again this year.
However, the 35-year-old Van Roten will likely see some competition for first-team reps with the team’s younger guards. Former No. 7 pick Evan Neal transitioned to guard this offseason as he enters the final year of his rookie deal. He struggled at tackle across his first three seasons, but the Giants are hoping that a switch to the interior will help cover up his deficiencies in space. Neal is due just over $4MM in guaranteed money this year, but the Giants will pay a $2.95MM roster bonus on the third day of training camp, per OverTheCap. That will leave just $1.1MM in guaranteed salary for the season, an affordable price for a backup in New York or elsewhere if Neal doesn’t win the starting right guard job.
Second-year UDFA Jake Kubas made the Giants’ 53-man roster as a rookie and started the last three games of the season at both guard spots, per Duggan. He could also factor into the right guard competition, especially with two inexpensive years remaining on his contract with the potential for a restricted free agent tag in 2027.
Van Roten’s durability and consistency last year will put him in pole position to start in 2025, but the Giants must know that retirement isn’t far off for one of the oldest offensive linemen in the league. If Neal or Kubas emerges as a more long-term option, the team could elect to install him as the starter with Van Roten serving as an ultra-reliable backup.
Latest On Commanders’ Pursuit Of New Stadium At RFK Site
The Commanders are pursuing a return to the nation’s capital, but the D.C. Council is unlikely to approve a $3.7 billion deal championed by Mayor Muriel Bowser before a July 15 deadline, according to Jenny Gathright of The Washington Post.
In January, former President Joe Biden signed into law a bill that transferred control of RFK Stadium – the franchise’s home from 1961 to 1996 – and the 170-acre property on which it sits to Washington, D.C. The bill also empowered Bowser to negotiate with the Commanders to bring them back to the city, which resulted in a term sheet that requires a council vote by July 15. If the deal is not approved by then – or if the terms are altered “materially” – the city will no longer have exclusive negotiating rights with the team, per Gathright. That would allow the Commanders to explore alternative options for their future stadium, whether it be a continued stay in Landover or another location in the D.C. metropolitan area.
Members of the D.C. Council have requested more information about the deal regarding revenue projections and tax exemptions, arguing that the size of the deal – which includes $1 billion in public funds – merits a more careful approach. They have also suggested changes to the stadium’s parking, rent, and labor agreements. Compiling this information and negotiating the proposed alterations are all but certain to delay the deal’s approval until after the July 15 deadline.
Bowser said in June that the Commanders were “outraged” and “blindsided” by the potential delay, as it could interfere with the team’s “very, very specific timelines” regarding construction. In a statement (via Gathright), the Commanders said that they “need a new home by 2030” and warned that further setbacks could threaten that goal as well as their desire to host other major events, such as the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Indeed, the council scheduled public hearings on July 29 and 30, per Liam Griffin of The Washington Times, essentially guaranteeing that the city will not hit the Commanders’ deadline. Bowser said last week (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk) that her level of concern was a four out of five last week, though council members have expressed confidence in the Commanders’ desire to return to Washington.
Team owner Josh Harris has made it clear on multiple occasions that his intention when he bought the team in 2023 was to bring it back to the city for which it is named. However, it would not be surprising if the Commanders looked into other locations in the meantime, both to give them leverage as they continue working with D.C. and to ensure they have another option for a future home if their preferred plan falls through.
Dan Orlovsky Agrees To Extension At ESPN
July 8: ESPN officially announced Orlovksy’s new contract on Wednesday. He will continue to headline NFL Live and serve as an analyst for some Monday Night Football games, along with appearances on Get Up, First Take, The Pat McAfee Show, and SportsCenter.
Orlovsky’s consistent presence on some of the network’s biggest shows will continue to raise his profile as he looks to eventually return to the NFL as a coach.
July 7: Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky has agreed to terms with ESPN on a contract extension, according to Ryan McCarthy and Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports.
Orlovsky was drafted by the Lions in 2005 and remained active in the NFL for a decade. He logged 26 appearances across seven seasons with four different teams and compiled a 2-10 record as a starter. His post-playing career has been far more successful; Orlovsky has been one of ESPN’s top football analysts since he joined the network in 2018.
His contract extension will keep Orlovsky in Bristol for the foreseeable future, but the 41-year-old could be looking to parlay his prominence as an analyst and commentator into a coaching gig. He said in January that he loves being on ESPN but admitted that he missed the feeling of being part of an NFL team.
“There is a desire and craving to have that,” said Orlovsky during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. “If it’s the right place, right time, right people, it seems to be a really, really fun experience.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter later confirmed on McAfee’s podcast that Orlovsky had been in touch with teams regarding an offensive coaching position, though discussions have not proceeded past that point.
Terry McLaurin ‘Not Happy’ With Commanders Extension Talks
Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin is “not happy with where things are with an extension,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via Bleacher Report’s Joseph Zucker).
McLaurin and the Commanders have been working on a new contract throughout the offseason, and this is not the first report of his dissatisfaction with negotiations. He skipped OTAs and mandatory minicamp over frustration with extension talks as he enters the final season of a three-year deal signed in July 2022.
Since signing his first extension, McLaurin has continued to produce as one of the league’s top pass-catchers. 2024 was his fourth fully-healthy season in a row and his fifth with at least 1,000 receiving yards; he also posted career-highs in catch rate (70.1%), success rate (58.1%) and touchdowns (13), the last of wich trailed only Ja’Marr Chase. For his efforts, McLaurin earned the second Pro Bowl nod of his six-year career and his first selection as an All-Pro (second-team).
With an ascending offense led by a quarterback on a rookie contract, the Commanders would appear to be in a position to reward one of their best and longest-tenured players. Extending McLaurin would also lower his 2025 cap hit, which currently ranks 20th among all players. However, the sides had made little progress as of late June, and that still seems to be the case, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“There’s no update…and that’s the problem,” said Schefter on the Pat McAfee Show, noting that comparable receivers like D.K. Metcalf signed for over $30MM per year this offseason. However, as Schefter added, perennial 1,000-yard wideout Mike Evans signed for just $24MM last offseason.
“There really is quite a difference and a gap between what both sides would want,” continued Schefter. “They have not made any progress.”
Teams may inquire about trading for McLaurin, per Schefter, but he “cannot envision the Commanders moving on.” He characterized the stalemate in Washington as similar to T.J. Watt‘s situation in Pittsburgh: both sides want to get a deal done with the expectation of reaching an agreement before the season, but as of now, they are “not close.”
McLaurin is due to report to training camp on July 27, so the parties have a few weeks to hammer out a deal to stave off a potential hold-in this summer.
Jayden Higgins To Compete For Starting Role In Houston
Texans rookie receiver Jayden Higgins is expected to compete for a starting job during training camp after an impressive showing during spring practices.
The No. 34 pick made a number of plays downfield this spring, according to ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime, though few of those passes were thrown by C.J. Stroud. A sore shoulder limited the star quarterback to handoffs during OTAs, per KRPC’s Aaron Wilson, but he was a full participant in mandatory minicamp and downplayed concerns about his arm.
Higgins has a clear opportunity to seize a role in Houston’s passing offense. Nico Collins is the team’s undisputed WR1, but the absence of a return timeline for Tank Dell and the departure of Stefon Diggs this offseason should open up plenty of targets for which Higgins (and others) can compete. The Texans traded a seventh-round pick for Christian Kirk and drafted Higgins’ Iowa State teammate Jaylin Noel in the third round; both will seek to carve out a target share of their own.
However, the Texans made their biggest investment in Higgins, both in terms of his draft slot and his contract. Not only did they draft him with the second pick of the second round, they also made him the first second-rounder in league history to receive a fully guaranteed rookie contract. (That forced the Browns to sign No. 33 pick Carson Schwesinger to a fully guaranteed rookie deal and has delayed the signing of several other second-round picks.) A full training camp catching passes from Stroud will help Higgins build chemistry with his quarterback and build towards a potential starting role in the regular season.
Bills Optimistic About James Cook Extension; Unclear If RB Will Hold In
The Bills have not made significant headway in extension negotiations with star running back James Cook, but the team is still hoping to get a deal done before the regular season.
“I still think the door is open,” said ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on the team’s One Bills Live podcast. “Last I checked, there wasn’t a lot of progress, but there was still some optimism in the big picture that maybe they could figure something out.”
Cook’s desire for a new contract has been one of the Bills’ main offseason storylines, especially as the team rewarded several other 2022 draftees with long-term extensions. However, those players – WR Khalil Shakir, CB Christian Benford, and LB Terrel Bernard – did not land anywhere near the top of their respective positional markets.
Cook has previously stated a desire to reach $15MM per year on his next contract, which would match Derrick Henry for the third-highest APY for a running back. Statistically, though, Cook does not appear to belong in that group. He tied Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs for the league lead with 16 touchdowns last year, but his 2,131 rushing yards and 4.8 yards per carry since 2023 only rank eighth among all ballcarriers.
“He’s been ultra productive,” continued Fowler, “but the only running backs that are really getting paid at a high clip as we’re seeing is the top of the top.”
Cook skipped the Bills’ voluntary OTAs, but participated fully in mandatory minicamp last month. There, he also announced his intention to report to training camp, according to The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia, though he did not say if he would participate in practice or stage a ‘hold-in.’
“I don’t know, man. We’ll see when camp comes,” said Cook. Bills general manager Brandon Beane previously expressed confidence that Cook would be “ready to roll whether there’s a deal or not.”
Giants Notes: Hyatt, Belton, Bellinger, Gano
Giants WR Jalin Hyatt has added more than 20 pounds to his frame heading into a crucial third season in New York.
“I played at like 170, 171 last year, I’m about 194, 195 now,” said Hyatt on a recent team podcast (via NFL.com’s Coral Smith). “I’m telling you, that’s what darkness does to you. It changes you.”
The 2023 third-rounder has no intention of losing any of his trademark speed and explained that the added weight is to help him absorb contact as a receiver and ballcarrier.
“I felt like that was one of the things that I needed to work on from last season,” admitted Hyatt.
The 23-year-old also wants to diversify his usage in 2025 – both in terms of alignment and route tree – after lining up out wide and running a lot of vertical routes in his first two seasons. Hyatt specifically talked to Giants head coach Brian Daboll about seeing more time in the slot, where he played a majority of his snaps at the University of Tennessee. New York’s slot role has been dominated by Wan’Dale Robinson since 2023, and the addition of Malik Nabers and Theo Johnson in last year’s draft added more competition.
By his own admission, Hyatt is still adjusting to his bigger frame, but playing above 190 pounds should assist Hyatt in his pursuit for more slot snaps, both as a blocker and as a pass-catcher over the middle of the field.
Here are some other updates out of New York:
- The Giants’ selection of Tyler Nubin in 2024 and addition of Jevon Holland this offseason have pushed 2022 fourth-rounder Dane Belton out of the starting picture in a contract year. However, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen praised Belton’s work in spring practices and said (via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan) that the team is “finding ways to get him on the field.” Belton had three interceptions in five practices open to the media, per Raanan, positioning him for a role as the Giants’ third safety on defense.
- Fourth-year TE Daniel Bellinger is expected to make the Giants’ 53-man roster, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, but he will likely be asked to take a pay cut in the process. Bellinger played more than 35% of the team’s offensive snaps in his first two NFL seasons to earn a Level One proven performance escalator, bringing his 2025 salary to $3.4MM, per OverTheCap. However, he ceded playing time to veteran Chris Manhertz last year and saw his snap share reduced to 32%. Giants general manager Joe Schoen has gotten previous PPE qualifiers such as Darnay Holmes and Darius Slayton to take similar pay cuts in the past, and he showed last year with Nick McCloud that he is willing to move on from a player if the price is not right.
- Despite reports of a potential kicking competition in New York, veteran Graham Gano is expected to retain the job despite injuries and inconsistency over the last two years. Irish kicker Jude McAtamney, who filled in for Gano in Week 9 last year, does not have a “real chance to unseat Gano,” per Duggan. McAtamney’s international exemption will allow the Giants to carry him as an extra 17th practice squad player during the season.
Patriots UDFA WR Efton Chism Pushing For Roster Spot
Undrafted rookie reciever Efton Chism has emerged as a potential factor in an already-tight competition for a spot on the Patriots’ 53-man roster.
Chism earned praise from Patriots quarterback Drake Maye for his play during OTAs, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Chism was effective out of the slot, where he lined up for most of his snaps at Eastern Washington, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He also worked as a punt returner (via Reiss), another role he played in college that could help him make the team.
Chism is one of 12 receivers on the Patriots’ roster; six are expected to make the cut, according to Reiss. Free agent signings Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins should be locks, as should second-round rookie Kyle Williams. Demario Douglas, who led New England’s receiver room in catches and receiving yards last year, is another safe bet.
That leaves 2024 draftees Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker competing with 2023 sixth-rounder Kayshon Boutte and eight-year veteran Kendrick Bourne for the last two spots.
Polk and Baker both disappointed as rookies, but the Patriots’ second-round investment in Polk will likely give him a longer leash than Baker, a fourth-rounder. Boutte’s 589 receiving yards in 2024 ranked third on the team, while Bourne has not eclipsed 450 yards since 2021 with just 20 games played in the last two years. That would suggest that Polk and Boutte have the inside track heading into training camp, a view shared by Chad Graff of The Athletic.
After turning heads during spring practices, Chism will need to sustain his momentum into training camp – literally, with the introduction of pads and contact. Carving out a role in the slot on offense and as a returner on special teams will be crucial to the undrafted rookie’s chances of making the 53-man roster.
Details Of Bengals’ Rookie Waiver Dispute With Shemar Stewart Revealed
The Bengals’ standoff with first-round pick Shemar Stewart kept him on the sidelines through mandatory minicamp amid a dispute over both his offseason participation agreement and his rookie contract.
Offseason participation agreements (or waivers) ensure that players are protected if they get injured during the team’s offseason program, including rookie minicamp, OTAs, and mandatory minicamp. Should an injury occur, the agreement guarantees that rookie contract negotiations continue in good faith so players can still receive the same deal as if they were not injured. That goal is explicitly stated in at least one other team’s agreement, but not the Bengals’, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio
Florio revealed two other major differences that could be disadvantageous to Stewart. First, the Bengals’ rookie waiver takes effect if the player “sustains a disabling NFL football-related injury.” Another team omits “disabling” to ensure that all injuries suffered by a player while participating in the offseason program are covered by the agreement.
Second, the other team includes a commitment that the player’s rookie contract “shall be commensurate” with their draft slot. Cincinnati does not include such a commitment. While rookie contract values are predetermined by draft slot, players can still negotiate for better guarantee or payment structures, which has been a key issue with Stewart’s deal.
In short, the Bengals’ offseason participation agreement “did not provide the same level of protection as other teams give their rookies,” according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He said on the Rich Eisen Show that Bengals second-round pick Demetrius Knight initially refused to sign his waiver because of the same issue, though it was resolved by the second day of rookie minicamp. Importantly, the Bengals used the same language for 2024 first-round pick Amarius Mims last year, per Florio.
With Cincinnati’s offseason program complete, the rookie waiver itself no longer matters as it does not apply to training camp. Stewart will have to come to an agreement on his full contract to participate. However, the different language is still important. The Bengals wanted Stewart to sign the same waiver as Mims – with language that diverges from other teams – while asking him to accept language in his rookie deal that differs from Mims’ but matches other teams. Essentially, the Bengals were asking Stewart to accept worse terms relative to the rest of the league in his offseason participation agreement and worse terms relative to Cincinnati’s other first-round picks in his first rookie deal.
However, NFL contract negotiations are largely driven by existing team precedent. If the Bengals wanted to change their precedent in Stewart’s rookie deal to match other teams, they could have offered him better terms in his participation agreement that would do the same. That potential fix is now off the table, and Stewart has not budged from his position.
With those details now revealed, it is hardly surprising that Stewart would hold firm, especially given the franchise’s history of difficult, protracted negotiations with top players. If he were to give in to the Bengals’ desires, he would set a worse precedent for himself and both present and future teammates. Stewart’s stance also sends a clear message to Cincinnati’s front office that he will not be pushed around in future negotiations, either.
Pelissero believes that Stewart and the team will ultimately come to an agreement at or around the start of training camp, but it remains unclear what middle ground both sides would be willing to accept.