Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison Declares For Draft
Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison is declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft, per ESPN’s Jordan Reid.
Morrison did not play in the College Football Playoff due to a season-ending hip injury suffered in October, but he dominated opposing receivers up to that point. He allowed just 12 receptions and a 58.4 passer rating on his 27 targets in 2024, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), solidifying his status as a first-round pick.
NFL teams will be excited about Morrison’s growth potential. He checks almost every box for a cornerback prospect, with a solid frame (6-foot, 190 pounds), smooth athleticism, excellent coverage skills, and willingness to defend the run. He burst onto the college football scene with a team-high six interceptions as an 18-year-old true freshman in 2022, earning All-American honors in the process.
Morrison followed that up with a superb sophomore year with three more interceptions and a semifinalist nod for the Jim Thorpe award, given to the top defensive back in Division I-FBS. He was on his way to more awards consideration in 2024 before his injury, but still put together a solid six-game performance before he went down.
Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Michigan’s Will Johnson are widely thought to be the top two cornerbacks in the 2025 class, with Morrison typically ranked third. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. ranks Morrison 13th overall in this year’s class. Hunter, obviously, offers elite upside as a two-way player, while Johnson enjoyed more team success and individual accolades at the college level compared to Morrison. All three are expected to be first-round picks in April’s draft.
Ravens Will Explore Extending Derrick Henry, Re-Signing Ronnie Stanley
The Ravens’ front office is already back to work after their heartbreaking exit from the playoffs last weekend.
General manager Eric DeCosta is exploring an extension for Derrick Henry, who signed a two-year deal to come to Baltimore last offseason, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. With only $9MM in fully guaranteed money, most of which came in the first year, the contract was seen as a low-risk, high-upside maneuver by the Ravens with an easy out in 2025 if Henry faltered in his age-30 season.
Instead, his $8MM APY proved to be a steal. Henry proved offseason critics wrong with an age-defying debut year in Baltimore, leading all running backs with 16 rushing touchdowns and 5.9 yards per carry. He trailed only Saquon Barkley in total rushing attempts and rushing yards and would likely be seeking a commensurate raise in extension negotiations. The Ravens, meanwhile, would be looking to lower Henry’s $12.9MM 2025 cap hit while keeping him around for an additional season or two. An extension could save Baltimore up to $6.2MM against the 2025 cap, per OverTheCap.
DeCosta also addressed the pending free agency of left tackle Ronnie Stanley (via Zrebiec), who played a full season in 2024 for the first time in his career. The Ravens will explore a new contract for Stanley, who has never returned to the rarified level of play he displayed before his devastating 2020 ankle injury. However, after a long road back with multiple surgeries and other minor injuries, he has provided a steady floor of blind side protection for Lamar Jackson.
His grading from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) in 2024 reflects his solid, but not elite play. His 80.9 pass blocking grate ranks 15th among all starting tackles, but his 40 pressures allowed were the 12th-most. Like the rest of Baltimore’s blockers, he benefits from Jackson’s exceptional sack avoidance; Stanley surrendered just two on the season.
But the Ravens know that even serviceable left tackle play is difficult to come by, which is why they consistently stood by Stanley after his injury. He also took a pay cut before the 2024 season and earned back much of the money via incentives. Now, he will likely be seeking an APY in the $20MM range, similar to deals signed by Dion Dawkins, Taylor Decker, and Garett Bolles in the last year.
DeCosta also mentioned offensive lineman Patrick Mekari, who entered the season at right tackle but ended up starting most games at left guard. Mekari is also hitting free agency, where his five-position versatility could draw plenty of interest, especially now that he’s proven himself as a potential starter at guard. The Ravens love Mekari, an undrafted free agent signing back in 2019 who has played a crucial role in filling the void left by injuries to Stanley and others along the offensive line over the last several years. But he could easily price himself out of Baltimore with starting-level money from another team. It’s unlikely the team would be able to afford both Stanley and Mekari this offseason, but they will likely need to keep one to ensure Jackson’s blind side is covered next year.
The Ravens seem more prepared for the departure of cornerback Brandon Stephens. DeCosta said that he expects Stephens to enter free agency in March, indicating that the team won’t pursue re-signing him before then, according to Zrebiec. Stephens emerged as a starting outside corner in 2023, but took a step back this past year, especially when defending the deep ball. 2024 first-rounder Nate Wiggins is a clear starter for next year, but with Marlon Humphrey excelling in the slot, the Ravens will need to find another starting boundary corner in 2025.
Rams’ Matthew Stafford Played Through Cracked Ribs This Season
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said that he had been playing through a rib injury “for some time” after losing to the Eagles in the divisional round, per ESPN’s Sarah Barshop.
Stafford’s wife, Kelly, revealed on her podcast that he cracked four ribs in Week 15 in a 12-6 win over the 49ers, though the 16-year veteran didn’t leave the game. He played every offensive snap in the Rams’ next two games before sitting out in Week 18 with the team’s playoff seeding already locked in. Stafford returned to the field in the playoffs and completed both games despite aggravating his rib injury in Philadelphia.
Stafford has typically been durable throughout his career, starting at least 15 games in eight of the last 10 years, that’s partially due to his willingness to play through injuries. He’ll be 37 years old when the 2025 season starts, which will naturally bring about retirement speculation this offseason. However, Stafford has indicated that he’ll be back next season, and head coach Sean McVay has made it clear that Stafford will be his quarterback as long as he’s in the NFL.
The former Lion is currently set to take up just under $50MM of the Rams’ 2025 salary cap, currently the fifth-highest cap hit in the NFL. Los Angeles could lower that number with an extension for Stafford, who is signed through the 2026 season, but the team’s front office has adopted a year-to-year approach to their veteran signal-caller. They do have to start thinking about Stafford’s successor, either through a draft selection or another McVay reclamation project in free agency.
Derek Stingley Aiming For Texans Extension
Texans cornerback Derek Stingley is looking to capitalize on his 2024 All-Pro campaign as he enters this offseason eligible for a long-term extension.
The third overall pick in 2022 struggled to stay on the field across his first two seasons with just 20 appearances, but he was excellent when healthy. He put it all together over 17 starts this season with five interceptions and 18 passes defended as part of a Houston passing defense that allowed the sixth-fewest yards in the league. He will be eligible for a long-term extension this offseason and has one year remaining on his rookie contract, plus a 2026 fifth-year option that is projected to be $17.2MM, per OverTheCap.
Stingley recently said that he wants to be in Houston “forever,” according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, signaling his openness to extension negotiations this offseason. The Texans are similarly motivated to lock down their lockdown cornerback, especially as the cornerback market continues to rise. The team will start by picking up his fifth-year option, allowing extension talks to progress throughout the summer while signaling to Stingley that he is undoubtedly a part of their long-term plans.
As a reigning first-team All-Pro who could get a few Defensive Player of the Year votes, Stingley will be pushing to match or exceed $24M per-year figure recently earned by Patrick Surtain. The Texans may be hesitant to reach that number given Stingley’s injury history, so they may wait for him to put together another fully-healthy year before giving him a market-resetting contract.
The negotiations will also be impacted by the extension eligibility of Sauce Gardner, who was drafted by the Jets one pick after Stingley in 2022. Gardner has been healthy throughout his career, but Stingley has more ball production on a per-game basis. If the Jets quickly come to terms with Gardner, that could acclerate Stingley’s negotiations with the Texans by creating a clear framework for his deal.
Kyle Hamilton, Tyler Linderbaum Extensions On Ravens’ Radar
The Ravens’ heartbreaking loss to the Bills on Sunday might have ended their playing season, but general manager Eric DeCosta is already working on the team’s offseason moves.
Pending free agents like Ronnie Stanley, Patrick Ricard, and Ar’Darius Washington may be his first priority, but he’s also preparing for long-term extension negotiations with Kyle Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum, who will be eligible for such deals this offseason. DeCosta said on Wednesday that the team is starting to work on those contracts, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.
DeCosta struck gold with his two first-rounders in 2022, taking Hamilton when he fell to the 14th pick and pulling off a few trades to land Linderbaum 11 selections later. Linderbaum immediately took over Baltimore’s starting center job, while Hamilton slid into the slot and was starting by the end of the year. Both players earned PFWA All-Rookie selections before Pro Bowl nods in 2023 and 2024, placing them among the best at their positions after just three years in the NFL.
The 2022 draftees each have one year remaining on their rookie contracts, plus their fifth-year options for the 2026 season. With two Pro Bowls apiece, their fifth-year options will be at the fourth and highest tier, which is equal to the franchise tag at their positions.(Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner is the only other 2022 first-rounder to qualify for the highest fifth-year option tier.)
The Ravens will almost certainly pick up Hamilton’s fifth-year option, projected to be $19.626MM by OverTheCap, but he will be looking for a higher average annual value on a long-term extension. Antoine Winfield reset the safety market with his four-year, $84.1MM extension last offseason, but Hamilton can argue that he deserves more. He is one of the most versatile defensive players in the league with the ability to make plays against the run or pass from nearly any alignment. His first 2.5 seasons leaned into that versatility, but with Baltimore’s pass defense struggling in 2024, Hamilton moved into a more traditional deep safety role and locked down the deep parts of the field.
Linderbaum’s situation is a little more complicated. The NFL groups all offensive linemen together for franchise tag and fifth-year option calculations, so Linderbaum’s option is projected to be a whopping $25.156MM, far outpacing Creed Humphrey‘s league-leading $18MM APY. Linderbaum is an excellent pass protector who can be used as a blocking weapon in the run game, so he still deserves to be paid at the top of the center market, but the inflated option could impact negotiations. The Ravens will likely still pick it up as a show of good faith to make it clear that the young center is in their long-term plans.
Chiefs’ Mecole Hardman Won’t Come Off IR
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid announced that wide receiver Mecole Hardman will not come off of injured reserve in the postseason after suffering a knee injury in Week 13, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Hardman was designated for return on January 1, so his 21-day practice window is set to expire today. He was not an effective pass-catcher in the regular season, recording just 12 receptions for 90 yards and no touchdowns. Hardman was efficient as a runner (60 rushing yards and a touchdown on just five carries) and also handled punt and kick return duties for much of the year.
The Chiefs offense wasn’t relying on Hardman to come back in the playoffs, but he does have a history as a postseason performer. His 791 all-purpose yards in the postseason rank 14th among all active players, ahead of players like Cooper Kupp and A.J. Brown, and he’s reached the end zone four times, including the game-winning touchdown in last year’s Super Bowl.
This year, though, Hardman will be watching from the sidelines with Marquise Brown, Xavier Worthy, and DeAndre Hopkins serving as Patrick Mahomes‘ primary receivers. Worthy had five receptions for 45 yards in the divisional round, but Brown and Hopkins were shut out by the Texans in the divisonal round. Instead it was Travis Kelce once again leading the way with 117 yards and a touchdown on seven catches, extending his lead among active players in several postseason categories.
On special teams, the Chiefs will stick with Nikko Remigio as their primary returner, especially after he racked up 110 yards on three kick returns last week.
Jets Schedule Second GM Interview With Lance Newmark
JANUARY 21: Newmark is traveling to the Jets’ facility today, Bovada’s Josina Anderson reports. That means his second interview will take place on the same day as Glenn’s; as such, a pair of major organizational moves could be made in the immediate future.
JANUARY 20: The Jets have scheduled a second interview for their general manager vacancy with Lance Newmark, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Newmark is currently the assistant GM for the Commanders, who he joined last offseason after 26 years with the Lions. In Detroit, he spearheaded scouting operations and roster management as senior director of player personnel, overseeing the team’s remarkable turnaround over the last few years. He also has experience leading the Lions’ Football Technology and Football Information departments.
Newmark’s tenure in Detroit also resulted in a strong relationship with both Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, who emerged as top head coaching candidates this cycle. Johnson is no longer available after accepting a job with the Bears, but Glenn has continued to pick up momentum in New York.
Glenn is “very interested” in coaching the Jets, who are “highly intrigued” by the leadership and schematic advantage he would bring, per Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. He may be even more inclined to take the job if paired with a former colleague in Newmark.
The offseason hiring cycle is starting to speed up, so the Jets may need to move quickly if they want to hire Glenn and Newmark for their top leadership positions. Glenn is scheduled for a second interview in New York this week, but is also considered a frontrunner for the Saints job, while Newmark has also interviewed for the Raiders’ GM gig.
Bears Eyeing Darren Rizzi For ST Coordinator
After winning the multi-team competition for Ben Johnson‘s services, the Bears are moving quickly to fill their new head coach’s staff.
Upon hiring Johnson, the Bears quickly became connected to having Dennis Allen as their lead defensive coordinator candidate. Allen’s interim successor in New Orleans, Darren Rizzi, is drawing interest from the Bears as well. Rizzi is drawing interest from the Bears, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds six teams are believed to be in pursuit of the veteran special teams coordinator.
Chicago is one of several teams pursuing Rizzi this offseason. The Saints and the Jets interviewed him for their head coach vacancies, while others, like the Bears, would hire him as their special teams coordinator.
Rizzi was hired as the Saints’ special teams coordinator in 2019 under Sean Payton and added assistant head coach to his title when Allen replaced Payton in 2022. When the Saints’ ownership fired Allen after a frustrating 2-7 start to the season, they tapped Rizzi to close out the year. He won three of his first four games as head coach before dropping four straight to finish the season.
The 54-year-old is not seen as a top candidate to stick around in New Orleans or fill the vacancy in New York, but he will almost certainly be a special teams coordinator somewhere next offseason. Outside of this past season, the Saints have finished with a top-eight special teams grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) every year since Rizzi joined the staff.
While he may be able to choose from a few offers, the job in Chicago has obvious appeal. Rizzi can reunite with Allen under an exciting, young coach in Johnson, all while working for one of the most storied franchises in league history.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/20/25
Here are the latest reserve/futures deals from around the league:
Detroit Lions
- LB Abraham Beauplan
- C Kingsley Eguakun
- QB Jake Fromm
- LB Daron Gilbert
- S Erick Hallett
- OT Jamarco Jones
- WR Tom Kennedy
- DT Chris Smith
- S Loren Strickland
- CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
- DE Isaac Ukwu
Houston Texans
- RB J.J. Taylor
Los Angeles Rams
- OL AJ Arcuri
- WR Quintez Cephus
- ILB Tony Fields II
- CB A.J. Green
- DT Jack Heflin
- S Tanner Ingle
- CB Shaun Jolly
- CB Cam Lampkin
- ILB Elias Neal
- DT David Olajiga
- WR Drake Stoops
- OLB Keir Thomas
- CB Charles Woods
Pittsburgh Steelers
Patriots Request DC Interview With Dolphins’ Ryan Crow
As expected, new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is targeting some of his former assistants for top coaching positions in New England. The Patriots have submitted a request to interview Dolphins outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow for their defensive coordinator vacancy, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Crow began his NFL career under Vrabel in Tennessee in 2018, when he was first hired as a defensive assistant before earning promotions to assistant special teams coach (2020) and outside linebackers coach (2021-2023). Crow did not survive Vrabel’s firing after the 2023 season, but quickly landed a similar gig in Miami under new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver,
The Titans consistently fielded a solid run defense under Crow during his tenure. He was able to bring some of that success to the Dolphins, who ranked ninth in rushing yards and touchdowns allowed in 2024. Miami’s pass rush was less effective, ranking 27th with 35 sacks, though first-round pick Chop Robinson was responsible for six in a solid rookie season.
Crow would take over a Patriots defense that allowed the 11th-most points and yards in the NFL during the regular season. New England forced just 12 turnovers (tied for second-fewest) and surrendered at least 28 points on seven different occasions.
Crow’s first order of business will be evaluating and refurbishing a New England roster lacking elite talent on the defensive side of the football. 2023 first-round pick Christian Gonzalez is a budding star at cornerback, but Christian Barmore, the defense’s highest-paid player, ended the season on the non-football injury list. The Patriots are entering the offseason with the most cap space in the NFL, per OverTheCap, but they will need to address their anemic offense as well. Vrabel and Crow will have their work cut out for them to return New England to the defensive standard established under Bill Belichick.