Saints Promote Phil Galiano To STC
The Saint are promoting Phil Galiano to serve as special teams coordinator on Kellen Moore‘s new staff, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Galiano joined the Saints in 2019 as an assistant special teams coach under coordinator Darren Rizzi. After Rizzi left New Orleans to reunite with Sean Payton in Denver, Galiano became the obvious candidate to take over the Saints’ special teams operations. He has an extensive history with Rizzi, so the Saints will maintain some continuity on special teams heading into 2025.
Galiano has 25 years of coaching experience across the college and pro ranks. He served in a variety of roles at the college level, including a three-year stretch as FIU’s defensive coordinator and three different stints at Rutgers, where he coached several different position groups and even spent a year as the director of recruiting in 2015.
In the NFL, however, Galiano has focused on special teams. He was the Buccaneers’ assistant special teams coach in 2012 and 2013 and a special teams intern with the Dolphins in 2016. Galiano spent the next two years at Penn State, first as a defensive consultant in 2017, then as a special teams coach and assistant defensive line coach in 2018.
Rizzi then recruited Galiano to join him in New Orleans after the two overlapped on coaching staffs at Rutgers and in Miami. Rizzi was Rutgers’ special teams coordinator from 2002 to 2007 while Galiano was a defensive assistant. They worked closely together in Miami, where Galiano was an intern on Rizzi’s special teams staff.
Moore has now filled two of his three coordinator spots in addition to a variety of assistant roles. The Saints are still deciding on their next defensive coordinator, with ex-Chargers head coach Brandon Staley considered a favorite for the job.
Steelers Expected To Draft DL Early
The Steelers are currently set to return their defensive linemen rotation from 2024, but it’s an aging group that will require reinforcements this offseason.
Of the linemen who played at least 100 snaps last year, just three – Keeanu Benton, DeMarvin Leal and Isaiahh Loudermilk – will be younger than 30 when the 2025 season starts. Of the same group, only Benton, Leal and Cameron Heyward are signed through 2026. Heyward will be 37 when the 2026 season starts, making retirement a serious possibility.
As a result, the Steelers are expected to take a defensive linemen early in April’s draft, per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic, especially if they move on from Larry Ogunjobi as DeFabo predicts. The veteran defensive tackle is due a $3MM roster bonus on March 15, along with a $4MM base salary for the 2025 season. Releasing him before the new league year would save $7MM in 2025 cap space with a $3.5MM dead cap hit.
Such a move would push defensive line depth further up the Steelers’ list of priorities. They have the cap space to compete for a top free agent like Osa Odighizuwa or Milton Williams, but they have been more focused on finding a starting quarterback for next season.
That could push them to use a high draft pick to add from a strong DL draft class. There could be as many as 24 starting-caliber prospects at the position, according to NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah (via Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post). Such a deep class could allow the Steelers to wait until Day 2 to draft a defensive linemen, though a first-round pick seems to be in play as well.
Pittsburgh has used Day 2 picks on defensive linemen in two of the last three drafts: Benton in the second round in 2023 and Leal in the third in 2022. Barring a major addition in free agency, the team is likely to continue their pattern and spend a premium pick to solidify the short- and long-term future of their defensive line.
Seahawks Still Want To Re-Sign Ernest Jones
The Seahawks paused extension talks with Ernest Jones at the end of the regular season, but they’re still looking to re-sign the 25-year-old linebacker for 2025 and beyond.
“Obviously we want Ernest back,” said general manager John Schneider (via Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic). “Some guys, at some point you can get too close to the end of the season where they want to see what free agency looks like. So, now they can go out and see what their market is, and understandably so.”
Schneider’s comments indicate that Jones is intent on testing a linebacker market that also features Nick Bolton and Zack Baun, both of whom played key roles in their teams’ respective runs to the Super Bowl. If their demands skyrocket due to their postseason pedigree, Jones would likely be a less expensive option while still earning a top-10 linebacker contract.
However, after a tumultuous 2024, Jones may prefer to stay in Seattle where he knows he is wanted. He was traded twice last year: first from the Rams to the Titans in August, then to the Seahawks at the trade deadline. In Seattle, Jones “immediately meshed with teammates and coaches and was an obvious part of the team’s defensive turnaround,” per Dugar. He took over wearing the green dot and calling plays for the defense, demonstrating his long-term potential in Mike Macdonald‘s scheme.
Most signs indicate that both sides would benefit from continuing their partnership, but, as usual, the decision will come down to the dollars and cents.
Current projections from Dugar and Pro Football Focus (subscription required) estimate that Jones will receive a three-year contract with an APY around $12MM. That would make him the seventh-highest-paid linebacker in the NFL, though contracts for Bolton and Baun could certainly push Jones down to ninth. That’s still solid value for a former third-round pick who was traded twice in his contract year. If another team comes in with a bigger offer – perhaps similar to Patrick Queen‘s three-year, $41MM contract – Jones may opt to chase the money and roll the dice on playing for his fourth different team in the last calendar year.
Darius Slay Wants To Retire After 2025 Season, Open To Lions Return
FENRUARY 20: During an appearance on the St. Brown Podcast (video link), Slay repeated that his preference would be to remain with the Eagles for 2025, the final year of his pact. In the event his time in Philadelphia were to come to an end, though, the former Lion added his next choice would be to return to Detroit. Slay spent his first seven years in the Motor City, and especially if Carlton Davis were to depart in free agency the Lions could be in the market for a cornerback addition. That will of course be a moot point if the Eagles retain Slay for next year.
FEBRUARY 5: Eagles cornerback Darius Slay‘s current focus is winning the first Super Bowl of his career, but he has already thought about his plans for the 2025 season and beyond.
The 12-year veteran would like to play one more season before retiring, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post, and he’d prefer to finish his career in Philadelphia.
“Next year will most likely be my last,” said Slay during Super Bowl media availability. “I would love for it to be with the Philadelphia Eagles.”
The eight-time Pro Bowler is still playing at a high level despite his age, though 2024 was his first interception-less season since his 2013 rookie year. He has missed eight games due to injury over the last two seasons, including a four-game absence in 2023 due to knee surgery. By the time the 2025 season ends, Slay will be 35 years old, making retirement a natural next step.
Slay’s comments indicate that a return to Philadelphia next season is not a certainty, though his contract would make it difficult to move on. After renegotiating his deal in 2023, his 2025 cap hit comes in just under $13.8MM, per OverTheCap, an affordable price for a starting boundary corner. A release before the new league year would force the Eagles to account for $22.7MM as a dead cap hit in 2025, a difficult proposition considering their cap situation and need to sign key pending free agents like Zack Baun. A post-June 1 release would allow the Eagles to spread Slay’s dead cap hits between 2025 and 2026, but they would also have to pick up his $16.1MM option bonus and account for it as dead money.
As a result, the best option for both sides seems to be Slay playing out his contract in Philadelphia as he desires. The Eagles could then restructure his deal to allow for a post-June 1 retirement designation, as the Rams did for Aaron Donald to spread out his remaining dead money.
Ravens Re-Signing Stanley Will Be ‘Priority’
Ronnie Stanley put together the healthiest season of his career in 2024, rebuilding his value after length absences over the previous four seasons just in time to hit free agency.
The Ravens, however, may not let him reach the open market. Re-signing the veteran left tackle will be a “priority” for Baltimore, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. Tagging Stanley is theoretically an option, but such a route would present multiple obstacles for the Ravens.
To start, the team is currently projected to have just under $6MM in 2025 cap space, per OverTheCap. For offensive linemen, the franchise tag is projected to be $25.2MM with a transition tag of $22.7MM. The Ravens can free up the space to absorb a tag, but that would still force them to cut other players and/or push more money into the future.
The Ravens may want to tag Stanley to give themselves more time to reach an agreement on a multi-year contract like they did with Lamar Jackson and Nnamdi Madubuike. However, negotiating with Stanley on the tag would likely set his asking price above what the team is willing to pay. Even with the lower transition tag, Stanley would be set for $22.7MM in fully-guaranteed money in 2025, after which he could hit free agency or be tagged again. A second tag would cost the Ravens $27.4MM in 2026, which could make Stanley’s extension demands reach $50MM over two years, far above his expected value on the open market.
Ultimately, a contract similar to the ones signed by Garett Bolles, Dion Dawkins, and Taylor Decker in 2024 would represent a solid deal for Stanley after he took a pay cut last year. The Ravens could continue their use of void years to prorate money into the future and minimize Stanley’s cap burden in 2025. That would allow them to pursue additional free agents to shore up their secondary with Brandon Stephens expected to hit the open market in March.
Dolphins Not Expected To Tag Jevon Holland
The Dolphins are not expected to place the franchise or transition tag on Jevon Holland, according to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, setting him up to be one of the top safeties on the free agent market.
The franchise tag for safeties is projected to be $19.6MM, and the transition tag is projected to be $15.6MM, per OverTheCap. The Dolphins are currently projected to be $5.4MM over the 2025 salary cap, so they would have needed to make additional moves to accommodate a tag for Holland by the start of the new league year.
Oftentimes, though, the tag is used as a placeholder to allow extension negotiations to continue, which could lead to a long-term deal with a smaller 2025 cap hit. However, the Dolphins did not make significant progress towards an extension before the 2024 season, indicating that they and Holland remain far apart.
The Dolphins may not be completely out on re-signing Holland, but they seem willing to let him test the market this spring. That’s partially because the team has “a lot of needs elsewhere,” according to Wolfe, though letting Holland walk will certainly add to that list. Jordan Poyer, Miami’s other starting safety in 2024, is also set to hit free agency and may follow his former Bills teammate Micah Hyde into retirement.
After Antoine Winfield Jr. reset the safety market last offseason, Holland will likely be looking for an APY at $18MM or higher. The 2021 second-round pick has a strong pedigree as a three-time captain and defensive playmaker, though he has struggled with injuries and lower ball production over the last two seasons. That may limit his APY to the $16-17MM range of Xavier McKinney and Jessie Bates, especially with several other safeties set to hit free agency.
Holland could receive interest from the Jaguars, per Wolfe, who are looking to add playmakers on defense after hiring Anthony Campanile as defensive coordinator. Jacksonville has plenty of cap space and a clear hole in the secondary that Holland could fill.
Chargers To Host 2025 Game In Brazil
FEBRUARY 20: The NFL’s game in Brazil in 2024 was heavily criticized for deficient field conditions that made it difficult for players to find their footing. The league is working to address those concerns in coordinator with Brazilian stadium officials, per ESPN’s Kris Rhim, though this season’s matchup hosted by the Chargers is set to be played in the same stadium as last year.
FEBRUARY 19: The NFL is officially returning to Brazil in 2025. The Eagles and the Packers squared off at São Paulo’s Arena Corinthians in 2024, and the Chargers are set to host another regular season game there in 2025, per a team announcement.
Earlier reports indicated that the NFL was in talks with Brazilian officials regarding a long-term hosting agreement. Scheduling a follow-up to last season’s matchup is a sign that the NFL plans to play in Brazil for years to come.
Like last year, the game will take place on the first Friday of the regular season; in 2025, that will be September 5. The league has not yet announced the other team who will be playing in Brazil, though the Chargers’ 2025 away opponents are already known. They are scheduled to host the rest of the AFC West, the Jaguars, the Titans, the Cowboys, the Giants, and the Dolphins.
The NFL has scheduled 49 international games since 2007 with just six between divisional opponents. That makes it less likely that the Chargers would host the Broncos, Chiefs, or Raiders in Brazil, though the last two games in Mexico City featured teams from the same decision. Since the Jaguars and the Dolphins are hosting other international games, the NFL is unlikely to make them travel overseas a second time in one season. That leaves the Titans, Cowboys, and Giants as the primary candidates to face the Chargers in Brazil. The NFL’s full schedule will be announced later this spring.
There are now seven confirmed international games set for 2025: three in London, England (hosted by the Jets, the Browns, and the Jaguars), one in Berlin, Germany (hosted by the Colts), one in Madrid, Spain (hosted by the Dolphins), and one in Dublin, Ireland (hosted by the Steelers). The NFL is permitted to schedule up to eight international games per season, per Mark Maske of The Washington Post, though the Jaguars’ annual games at Wembley Stadium do not count towards that total.
Byron Murphy, Vikings Push Back Contract Void Date
The Vikings have agreed with cornerback Byron Murphy to push back the void date on his contract, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano. 
Murphy’s deal was set to void this week, which would accelerate the remaining prorations of his signing bonus into $4.2MM of dead money in 2025. The Vikings now have until March 11 until the contract voids, giving them more time to negotiate an extension with Murphy. The agreement is similar to one reached with veteran running back Aaron Jones last week.
As part of the deal, the Vikings cannot place the franchise or transition tag on Murphy. However, the move signals that the team is interested in extending Murphy for 2025 and beyond after he started all 17 games in 2024 with a team-high six interceptions. He is reportedly looking for a significant raise from the two-year, $17.5MM deal he signed with the team in 2023.
The Vikings did not reach a similar agreement with quarterback Sam Darnold, whose contract will also void this week, according to Graziano. That will cause his $5MM in remaining signing bonus prorations to hit the Vikings’ 2025 cap as dead money. However, the team retains the option to use the franchise or transition tag on Darnold, a crucial factor in their ongoing negotiations.
This continues what has already been a busy and important offseason for Minnesota. In addition to Murphy, Jones, and Darnold, the Vikings see key veteran contributors like offensive tackle Cam Robinson and cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin face expiring contracts this offseason, as well. The front office will have several decisions to make as they plan to once again push for the NFC North title in 2025.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Saints Hire Scott Tolzien, T.J. Paganetti; Team ‘Zeroing In’ On Doug Nussmeier As OC
Like many coordinators who get head coaching opportunities, Kellen Moore is bringing multiple members of his staff in Philadelphia to his new job in New Orleans.
The Saints “are currently working to finalize a deal” to make Doug Nussmeier their next offensive coordinator, per veteran NFL insider Josina Anderson. Nussmeier spent 2024 as the Eagles’ quarterbacks coach and is considered the frontrunner for the job position in New Orleans. He previously coached quarterbacks for the Chargers and the Cowboys. Nussmeier also served as offensive coordinator for several major college programs from 2008 to 2017, including Alabama, Florida, and Michigan.
Nussmeier isn’t the only top Eagles assistant following Moore to New Orleans. The Saints are also hiring Eagles run game specialist and assistant offensive line coach T.J. Paganetti, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. He has spent the last eight seasons in Philadelphia, working closely with legendary Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. Paganetti will likely take over as the Saints’ offensive line coach after John Benton followed Klint Kubiak to Seattle.
Moore is hiring another familiar face to serve as quarterbacks coach in Scott Tolzien, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Tolzien was an assistant in Dallas when Moore was the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator from 2020 to 2022. Tolzien was promoted to quarterbacks coach after Moore moved on in 2023, but was not expected to be retained on Brian Schottenheimer‘s new staff.
Tolzien, a former NFL quarterback himself, will help the Saints navigate an uncertain quarterback situation this year. Derek Carr performed well in 2024, but struggled to stay healthy. His durability will remain a concern entering his age-34 season – if he even stays on the roster – but neither Spencer Rattler nor Jake Haener inspired much confidence in 2024. The Saints’ cap situation will hinder them in the free agent quarterback market, and the draft’s top quarterbacks will likely go before their first round pick (No. 9 overall).
Free Agent Stock Watch: Ronnie Stanley
After taking a $7.5MM pay cut ahead of the 2024 season, left tackle Ronnie Stanley started every game for the first time in his career and earned Pro Bowl honors as a crucial piece of the Ravens’ league-leading offense.
Now, he is set to enter free agency following his best and healthiest season since his devastating ankle injury in October 2020. Stanley tried to come back to start the 2021 season but played just one game before undergoing surgery for a second time. He took a more gradual approach to his return in 2022, waiting until Week 4 to start and even rotating snaps with Patrick Mekari. He missed a few weeks with another injury, but returned as the Ravens’ full-time left tackle for the rest of the year. The injury concerns continued when Stanley missed Weeks 2 to 4 in 2023 and ended the season once again rotating with Mekari.
Stanley bounced back in 2024, starting all 17 games with a career-high 1,089 snaps. The 2016 first-round pick is still not the dominant pass protector that earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2019, but he is clearly one of the more capable left tackles in the NFL. Given the league’s scarcity at the position, Stanley will likely draw a strong market in free agency.
The Ravens may not let him get that far. Baltimore used the sixth overall pick – the franchise’s highest selection since 2000 – on Stanley in 2016 and signed him to a five-year, $98.75MM extension just three days before his 2020 injury. He has been the team’s preferred left tackle for his entire career when healthy, including the duration of the Lamar Jackson era.
With Mekari also hitting free agency, the Ravens have an uncertain future at the position. They could flip second-year tackle Roger Rosengarten to the blindside, but they would then have to replace him on the right side and deal with the bumps of two new starters on the offensive line. Re-signing Stanley would allow them to bring some continuity into 2025 and keep Rosengarten in the spot where he showed tremendous growth as a rookie. Stanley is an also an excellent fit in Todd Monken‘s offense and a respected leader in the Ravens’ locker room.
Stanley proved his value after accepting a pay cut, so he will be looking to re-establish himself as one of the league’s highest-paid left tackles. He has expressed a desire to stay in Baltimore for the rest of his career, but that doesn’t mean he will give the Ravens a hometown discount. Stanley will likely be seeking upwards of $20MM per year after Garett Bolles signed a $20.5MM APY extension with the Broncos in December. Given his injury history and struggles against elite competition like Myles Garrett and Trey Hendrickson in 2024, Stanley will likely find it difficult to break into the top tier of left tackle contracts at $22MM APY and above.
Stanley is the most proven pending free agent as his position, though a number of potential starters will be available in March. Cam Robinson and Alaric Jackson started for most of last season, while Tyron Smith, Joseph Noteboom, and Jedrick Wills all missed significant time due to injury. None played as well as Stanley in 2024, though he did benefit from Lamar Jackson‘s elite ability to evade pressure and avoid sacks.
Unlike last year’s tackle-rich draft class, the 2025 draft has just two surefire first-round tackles: Will Campbell out of LSU and Kelvin Banks Jr. out of Texas. Neither is expected to fall to the Ravens at the 27th overall pick, and general manager Eric DeCosta is extremely unlikely to trade up. Re-signing Stanley has long seemed like Baltimore’s best and most likely option, though the team was willing to gamble with their offensive line last year.
In addition to the Ravens, Stanley could receive interest from teams like the Patriots and the Jaguars. Both teams have ample cap space this offseason and need new left tackles to protect their franchise quarterbacks. After their stunning Super Bowl defeat due to a leaky offensive line, the Chiefs could also be a dark-horse contender for Stanley’s services. However, he will be 31 by the time the 2025 regular season rolls around. The longtime Raven may very well conclude that his best fit and chance to win a championship will be in Baltimore where he has spent his entire career.