Bengals Could Cut LG Cordell Volson
Bengals left guard Cordell Volson is in the unique situation of being both a starting option and a cut candidate. Per Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic (subscription required), Volson could regain his role as Cincinnati’s starting LG, but Dehner also sees the fourth-year pro as a player the team could cut in favor of a better and/or cheaper option.
Volson, who will turn 27 in one week, was selected by the Bengals in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, and prior to a late-season demotion last year, he had served as the club’s primary left guard since entering the league, racking up 48 starts along the way. Despite being afforded such an extensive opportunity to establish himself, he has failed to impress.
The North Dakota State product has yet to earn an overall Pro Football Focus grade above 59.3, and while his run-blocking has been adequate over the past two seasons, his pass-blocking has never been up to snuff. Last season, he allowed 43 pressures (which led to six sacks) and racked up eight penalties in 984 snaps. As Dehner points out, the strength of the offense in general and the abilities of the team’s tackles and center mean that the guards need to be merely serviceable, but Volson is arguably not even at that level.
That said, Dehner himself recently reported that the Bengals do not plan to add to their guard depth. It therefore appears Volson will need to fend off rookie third-rounder Dylan Fairchild to retain his job, but it is worth noting that Cody Ford and Lucas Patrick are also on the roster. Though both players are currently fighting for the right guard post, they both have spent time at left guard in their careers, so it is theoretically possible that one of them could factor into the LG mix.
Unproven options like Jaxson Kirkland and Tashawn Manning round out the guard depth chart. 2025 UDFA Caleb Etienne saw action at guard in college in 2023, but he spent all of 2024 as BYU’s starting left tackle, and Cincinnati presumably wants to keep him on the outside.
The playing time that Volson amassed over his three professional seasons qualified him for the Level Two Proven Performance Escalator and boosted his 2025 salary to $3.656MM, but his on-field performance forced him to take a pay cut in May. Parting ways with Volson would lead to a net cap savings of roughly $2.5MM, which contributes to Dehner’s belief that the blocker could be on the outs if he does not show significant improvement in camp.
Dolphins WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Dealt With Undisclosed Injury This Offseason
The Dolphins agreed to terms with WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine during this year’s legal tampering period, which illustrates how highly they prioritized adding a big-bodied pass catcher to their wide receivers room. Miami authorized a two-year, $6.5MM deal ($3.2MM guaranteed) for the former UDFA.
Outside of this year’s crop of college free agents, the ‘Fins did not sign any other WRs this offseason, nor did they draft one. That keeps Westbrook-Ikhine in line for a notable role on the offense, especially since he is the first prototypical red zone threat Miami has rostered since 2021, when players like DeVante Parker and Mack Hollins were on the club.
Of course, the Dolphins do have a dynamic 1-2 punch at the receiver position in the form of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. But according to C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald, head coach Mike McDaniel and offensive coordinator Frank Smith are intrigued by the physical element that Westbrook-Ikhine (6-2, 211) can add to the passing game.
Per Smalls, Westbrook-Ikhine has battled an undisclosed injury this offseason, which exacerbated the struggles he acknowledged in adapting to the timing of the Miami offense. It sounds as if the ailment is continuing to impact him to an extent, as Smalls says the break before training camp opens later this month is giving Westbrook-Ikhine additional time to heal.
Nonetheless, Smalls does point out that the 28-year-old wideout played well in front of the media during mandatory minicamp. During the red zone portion of that session, Westbrook-Ikhine made several touchdown grabs, a notable development given the role the club has in mind for him.
Westbrook-Ikhine tallied 32 catches for 497 yards and nine TDs with the Titans in 2024, all career-best marks (although 98 of those yards came on one play). Of his nine scores, six of them came in the red zone, and his presence could certainly help Miami improve on its middling 56.6% success rate inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
“I love the red zone,” Westbrook-Ikhine said. “I’m a bigger target, which makes it a little bit easier too. You can kind of throw it wherever. I enjoy being in the end zone.”
Hill surfaced in trade rumors earlier this year, but he remains on track to lead the Dolphins’ WR group. A bounceback season from him, coupled with the addition of Westbrook-Ikhine, could help the offense regain the form it displayed over the 2022-23 seasons, when it finished at or near the top of the league in yardage and scoring. Naturally, that will also depend heavily on the health of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
For now, Smith has nothing but good things to say about one of his newest weapons.
“He’s going to be extremely reliable,” Smith said of Westbrook-Ikhine. “I think ultimately if you talk to the guys that knew him in Tennessee and our exposure so far has been consistent work ethic. I think that’s ultimately where he puts himself in position to be successful is because he really is a student of the process, making sure he’s on the little things so, therefore, on Sundays he can be reliable for the quarterback and really the rest of the offense.”
Eagles RB AJ Dillon On Roster Bubble?
While running back Saquon Barkley was the primary catalyst for the Eagles’ Super Bowl championship last year, the team did lose important RB depth when Kenneth Gainwell signed with the Steelers in free agency. Almost immediately thereafter, Philadelphia signed former Packer AJ Dillon, whose history of production as a staple of the Green Bay rushing attack suggested he would become Barkley’s primary backup.
However, that may not be the case. Per Geoff Mosher of PhillyVoice.com, 2024 fourth-rounder Will Shipley impressed in OTAs, and he offers more playmaking upside than Gainwell and Dillon. Gainwell, though, was prized for his abilities in pass protection and blitz pickups, skills that Shipley will have to develop. If he can add that dimension to his strong hands and explosiveness, he could have the inside track on the RB2 gig.
In that scenario, Dillon may be on the outs, with Mosher saying the Boston College product is not a lock to make the 53-man roster. Now 27, Dillon remained with the Packers last year via the seldom-used four-year qualifying offer, which paid him just $2.74MM. Unfortunately, he landed on season-ending injured reserve in late August, which forced him to miss the entire 2024 campaign (OverTheCap.com confirms Dillon’s current deal with the Eagles is for the league minimum).
Dillon’s IR placement was due to nerve issues in this neck. While Mosher does not necessarily imply the 2020 second-rounder is still dealing with those issues, the fact remains that he is a between-the-tackles bruiser who does not not have Gainwell’s pass protection capabilities or Shipley’s big-play potential. Plus, after averaging 4.3 yards per carry over 419 totes during his first three NFL seasons, Dillon dipped to a 3.4-YPC rate in 2023. That made him a speculative cut candidate last summer, even before his neck problems surfaced.
He still profiles as a useful short-yardage and red zone threat if he is healthy, so the Shipley/Dillon battle will be worth monitoring in training camp. And, if Shipley cannot develop the skills expected of a third-down back, the Eagles may need to recalibrate their offensive scheme to an extent.
Behind Dillon and Shipley on the RB depth chart are a host of unproven options like Keilan Robinson – a recent waiver -wire addition who was likely brought in for his special teams ability – and 2025 UDFAs Montrell Johnson and ShunDerrick Powell. That lack of depth would seem to heighten Dillon’s chances of at least cracking the roster if no outside addition is made.
Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs Expected To Miss Start Of Season; Team Not Pressed To Make CB Addition
It appears as if Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs will indeed miss time in 2025. Diggs, who just finished the first year of the five-year, $97MM extension he landed in July 2023, began battling injuries shortly after signing the deal, and Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News confirms the Alabama product is not expected to be ready for the start of the upcoming season.
Diggs, 27 in September, earned First Team All-Pro acclaim in 2021 after leading the league with a whopping 11 interceptions. He put forth another Pro Bowl effort the following season, which triggered the big-money extension. Unfortunately, Diggs played just two games in 2023 due to a torn ACL, and he played through a calf injury for the first 10 games of the 2024 campaign before his knee flared up and forced him to miss all but one contest the rest of the way.
While the new injury was in the same knee in which he suffered the ACL tear, the two ailments are unrelated. Nonetheless, Diggs’ second knee problem necessitated surgery, and despite his hopes to be in the Week 1 lineup, we have been hearing for some time that his early-season availability is in doubt.
Diggs is one of a handful of players on Dallas’ CB depth chart dealing with health concerns. Third-round rookie Shavon Revel suffered a torn ACL of his own in his final year at East Carolina, and though he is presently expected to return in the middle of training camp, it is fair to wonder how effective he will be given the nature of his injury and the fact that he will not have had the benefit of a full offseason program in advance of his first professional season.
Second-year player Caelen Carson ended his rookie slate on IR and underwent shoulder surgery this offseason. Luckily, Hoyt indicates Carson will be a full-go for training camp, and the writer also says the Cowboys are comfortable with the current makeup of their secondary.
In other words, the club does not feel a pressing need to make an outside addition at this point, even with Diggs’ presumed absence. We have already heard that trade acquisition Kaiir Elam is penciled in as one starter, and DaRon Bland – who missed the first 10 games of the 2024 season due to a stress fracture – has another starting job secured. Although he has not seen much time in the slot in his career, Bland took plenty of reps in that role in spring practices as Dallas seeks a replacement for former slot defender Jourdan Lewis.
Elam has generally failed to live up to his status as a former first-round pick of the Bills, and uncertainty abounds throughout the rest of the position group, but it appears the Cowboys will take a wait-and-see approach with respect to a veteran signing. Hoyt still believes such a move is a distinct possibility, and he names former Cowboy Stephon Gilmore – who was seen at the team facility before the draft – as a potential target.
Gilmore, the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year who has had a nomadic existence over the last few seasons, was a full-time starter for Dallas in 2023. He played reasonably well, limiting opposing passers to a QB rating of 82.7 and a 55.8% completion percentage, and he hopes to play in 2025.
Extension Candidate: Mike Evans
Despite missing three full games due to injury in 2024, Buccaneers wideout Mike Evans completed his mission of topping 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first 11 seasons in the NFL. The six-time Pro Bowler and franchise icon is entering the final year of the two-year, $41MM contract he signed in March 2024, and he therefore profiles as an obvious extension candidate.
However, prior to putting pen to paper on his current pact, Evans appeared to be on track to hit the open market, and he considered the Chiefs and Texans to be viable destinations if he had become a free agent and left Tampa. So, while it is difficult to imagine Evans in anything other than a Bucs uniform, he has at least entertained the notion in recent history.
That reality, combined with his age (he will turn 32 next month) and the Bucs’ heavy investment in the WR position could lead Evans elsewhere in 2026. Indeed, Tampa Bay re-upped Chris Godwin on a three-year, $66MM deal before free agency opened this year, and the club surprised many by adding Ohio State standout Emeka Egbuka in the first round (No. 19 overall) of this year’s draft. Jalen McMillan was selected in the third round of the 2024 draft, and he flashed as a rookie, securing 37 catches for 461 yards and eight scores.
On the other hand, newly-extended GM Jason Licht has made a habit of retaining his own talent. And, with the Bucs firmly in the midst of a competitive window, there is certainly an argument to be made for retaining Evans, who has continued to be productive into his early 30s.
That is especially true in light of the fact that Godwin has operated primarily in the slot since becoming a full-time starter in 2019 (outside of Dave Canales’ one-and-done season as offensive coordinator in 2023). Egbuka likewise spent most of his college career working out of the slot, so even with multiple high-end contracts and premium draft picks populating the wide receiver depth chart, Evans’ skill set as a dangerous boundary target is hardly redundant.
Plus, the use of void years in Evans’ current deal will force the Bucs to eat over $13MM in dead money if he is not on the roster next year. When talking about possible Olympic participation in 2028, Evans said he would likely be retired by that point, which suggests he plans to keep playing for at least the 2026-27 campaigns. As such, a two-year add-on would make plenty of sense for both sides, and as the Bucs presently sit in the top half of the league in terms of cap space ($26.53MM), they seemingly have the flexibility to make it work (although quarterback Baker Mayfield may be eyeing a new contract and substantial raise next year).
Regardless of where his next contract comes from, Evans stands to add considerably to his ~$134MM in career earnings, which positions him in the top-15 among active non-quarterbacks. He also has an excellent chance to bolster his Hall of Fame candidacy over the next several years.
Although he is currently in 24th place on the all-time receiving yards list (12,684), Evans can quickly catapult up that index of luminaries if he can sustain what has become ordinary output for him. By the time the 2027 season is in the books, it would not be surprising to see him in the top-five in terms of receiving yards (Isaac Bruce presently sits at No. 5 with 15,208) and receiving touchdowns (Marvin Harrison Sr. and his 128 TDs are in fifth place in that regard, while Evans leads the way among all active players with 105 receiving TDs).
In addition to his tremendous 17-game average triple-slash of 85/1,284/11, Evans has never played in fewer than 13 games in a season. There have been no reports of extension talks yet, but one would imagine that Licht & Co. are at least giving it some thought.
Packers Plan To Use Nate Hobbs, Other Top CBs Interchangeably
Over the course of his four seasons in the NFL, new Packers cornerback Nate Hobbs has played more than twice as many snaps in the slot than on the boundaries. So, when the 2021 Raiders draftee left Las Vegas for Green Bay this offseason by way of a four-year, $48MM contract, our Sam Robinson noted that Hobbs had set a new high-water mark for slot defenders if the Packers indeed plan to deploy him in that capacity.
While Hobbs will surely see plenty of action in the slot in Wisconsin, the club has something of a hybrid role in mind for him, as detailed by Jason Wilde of Channel3000.com. Per Wilde, defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley wants to compensate for the roster’s lack of a true shutdown corner by using Hobbs, Keisean Nixon, and Carrington Valentine interchangeably.
During OTAs and mandatory minicamp, Hobbs sometimes lined up across from Nixon on the boundary in base packages. In nickel looks, Valentine came onto the field and played outside the numbers while Nixon and Hobbs shared time in the slot and out wide.
“Nate can play outside and Nate can play inside. So we’re going to have him do both,” Hafley said. “When you’re getting ready for free agency and you’re evaluating tape, it’s one thing that you love about him. He’s had a lot of success inside, and I thought his tape outside was equally as good.”
The Packers had hoped that Jaire Alexander, who landed a then-CB-record four-year deal worth $84MM in May 2022, would serve as their No. 1 corner for the long haul. Unfortunately, Alexander’s injury problems contributed to his release last month, thus increasing the pressure on Green Bay’s current top trio.
Nixon, 28, has played nearly 2,000 defensive snaps over the past two seasons thanks in large part to Alexander’s lack of availability, and he has acquitted himself reasonably well. Last season, one year after spending most of his time in the slot, he led the Packers in snaps as a boundary corner and limited opposing passers to a 57.5% completion percentage and 78.9 QB rating as the nearest defender. He also earned First Team All-Pro acclaim for his work as a kick returner in the 2022-23 seasons.
Valentine, a 2023 seventh-rounder, has been pressed into starting duty in each of his two pro seasons, lining up almost exclusively outside the numbers. It sounds as if the club will give him a greater opportunity to show off his versatility this year, and 2024 second-rounder Javon Bullard remains an option to see extensive work as a nickel CB, just as he did as a rookie (although Bullard is not mentioned in Wilde’s piece).
Despite the impressive AAV on his new contract, Hobbs received only $16MM in guaranteed money. So, while Green Bay would take on a $12MM dead money hit if it were to part ways following the 2025 slate, such a maneuver would not be prohibitive and would actually yield a modicum of cap savings. To preserve his future earning power, then, Hobbs will need to live up to his team’s hopes for his multifaceted skill set.
For right now, that does not appear to be a concern.
“He is competitive, he’s tough, he is physical, he plays the game fast,” Hafley said of Hobbs. “You can tell he loves it. It just jumps off the tape. That versatility, where you can move him around and again, I’m a big fan of that.”
Free Agent S Quandre Diggs Hopes To Continue Playing Career
Free agent safety Quandre Diggs saw his 2024 season cut short by a Lisfranc injury, which put a damper on what was already likely to be a tepid free agent market in 2025. As of the end of May, Diggs still had not received medical clearance to return to the field, as he revealed during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio (audio link).
The 32-year-old does not sound as if he is contemplating retirement at this point. There have been no reports of interest in him this offseason, which he attributes to his health situation and his resulting inability to work out for clubs. He did not say when he expects to be cleared, merely saying, “I’ll be ready to go when it’s that time to go.”
He added that he had been playing well prior to last year’s foot injury, although there is some disagreement on that point. In eight games as a member of the Titans, Diggs allowed a 73.7% completion percentage and a whopping 137.2 quarterback rating as the nearest defender, per Pro Football Reference. Both of those troubling metrics represented career-highs, albeit with the small sample size caveat.
On the other hand, Pro Football Focus’ assessment of Diggs more closely aligned with his self-evaluation. PFF considered him the 20th-best safety out of 98 players with enough snaps to qualify in 2024, with only his efforts in the pass rush department receiving a subpar grade.
Still, after being released by the Seahawks in a cost-cutting move in March 2024, Diggs did not find another opportunity until early August, when he caught on with Tennessee via a modest one-year, $3MM pact that featured a veteran minimum base salary of $1.21MM. His PFF marks notwithstanding, his performance in a half-season of play last year, combined with his age and recent Lisfranc injury, make him a candidate for another low-cost accord this season.
Unsurprisingly, the Texas product indicated he would like to join a contender, and he suggested his $54.2MM of career earnings render whatever money he makes on his next contract a secondary concern. And, given his career accomplishments, it would not be surprising to see a contending team consider him for at least a depth role at some point.
The former sixth-round pick of the Lions became a full-time starter by his third professional campaign in 2017, and he signed a three-year, $20.4MM extension prior to the final year of his rookie contract. After only six games under his new deal, though, Detroit traded Diggs and a seventh-round pick to the Seahawks for a fifth-round pick. Seattle then doubled down on the safety position by swinging a blockbuster trade for Jamal Adams the following summer.
While Adams largely struggled to stay on the field during his Emerald City tenure, Diggs proved to be more durable, and he earned three consecutive Pro Bowl nods from 2020-22 (he also registered at least three interceptions every year from 2017-22). In the midst of that stretch of productive play, the ‘Hawks rewarded him with a three-year, $40MM extension, ultimately cutting bait before what would have been the final year of that deal.
Diggs and Adams reunited in Nashville last season, although Adams saw action in just three Titans contests before being released again. Like his former running mate, Adams has not generated any reported interest this offseason.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow Says Throwing Wrist Still Not 100%
Much of the discussion surrounding the Bengals this offseason has been focused upon new deals for wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and edge rusher Trey Hendrickson (the Hendrickson matter continues to drag on with no obvious end in sight). Star quarterback Joe Burrow, meanwhile, has taken advantage of his status with the franchise and in the league to advocate for extensions for Higgins – who once appeared unlikely to stay in Cincinnati given the investment the club knew it would be making in Chase – and Hendrickson.
During mandatory minicamp last month, Burrow also talked about his own performance and his hopes for the upcoming campaign. Interestingly, he said the torn ligament he suffered in his right (throwing) wrist in November of 2023, which ended that season prematurely, continued to impact him last year.
“I think I talked about it last year – I still wasn’t quite back to throwing it the way that I expect,” Burrow said (via SI.com’s Jay Morrison). “It’s improved this year, and it will continue to improve. As long as I keep making those reps, taking the extra time to get that rhythm back, it will continue to improve.”
Those comments are surprising for several reasons. One, even though the timing and nature of the injury threatened Burrow’s availability for the Bengals’ offseason program in 2024, the two-time Pro Bowler was already throwing by early May of 2024. Additionally, Burrow was terrific last season, leading the league with 4,918 passing yards and 43 passing touchdowns while throwing just nine interceptions in a full slate of games. He did that while maintaining a 70.6% completion percentage and finishing third in the NFL in both quarterback rating (108.5) and QBR (74.7).
That performance led to a fourth-place finish in MVP voting, which may have been impacted by the fact that Cincinnati did not qualify for the playoffs. Still, the team would surely sign up for a repeat of his 2024 showing, albeit with more success in the win-loss department.
The Bengals’ inability to return to the postseason over the past two years is partially attributable to their poor starts. The club lost its first two contests of the 2023 slate and its first three games in 2024 and eventually proved unable to make up that ground. Morrison suggests those slow starts, in turn, were a function of Burrow’s health.
The former Heisman Trophy winner suffered a calf strain in training camp in 2023 and did not post a QB rating over 85.6 until Week 5 of that season. Last year, of course, he was still dealing with wrist rehab, but his play was mostly elite from Week 2 onward, despite the nagging wrist issue.
While acknowledging his team’s need to avoid digging an early hole, Burrow noted his wrist continues to heal.
“We’re getting there,” he said. “I think I’m learning new things every single day and refining my motion, refining everything about what I’m doing out there. That’s exciting for me to feel that improvement.”
When asked how he would handle the layoff between the end of mandatory minicamp last month and training camp, which opens on July 23, Burrow added, “I’m feeling good right now. I’ll just take it as my body’s telling me. If I need a couple days off, I’m gonna take a couple days off. But I’m feeling good, and we’ll keep grinding and take it day by day.”
As the Hendrickson dilemma dominates Bengals-related headlines and invites increased scrutiny of the team’s negotiation practices, Cincinnati at least knows it has an enviable quarterback situation, one that theoretically could get even better as Burrow’s wrist gets better.
Falcons QB Kirk Cousins On Health Status; Latest On Trade Market
Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, one of the most prominent names in this offseason’s news cycle, remains with Atlanta despite being an obvious trade/release candidate. After Aaron Rodgers signed with the Steelers, the last team that realistically would install Cousins as a QB1 took itself off the list of potential destinations, leaving the soon-to-be 37-year-old on track to be the most expensive backup signal-caller in NFL history.
While Cousins obviously would like to be traded or released so he can finish his career atop someone’s depth chart, he seems resigned to the fact that he may spend at least the 2025 campaign as second-year passer Michael Penix Jr.’s mentor and clipboard holder. Of course, if another club’s starter should get injured at some point before the trade deadline, Cousins could find himself on the move.
But given the way Cousins’ 2024 season ended, it is fair to wonder how even a QB-needy team will view him. In the span of five games from Week 10 to Week 15, he threw just one touchdown against nine interceptions and led the Falcons to a 1-4 record, which torpedoed the club’s playoff chances (Atlanta was 6-3 before that point). After that stretch, he was demoted in favor of Penix.
On the other hand, Cousins did sustain a hit to his right arm and shoulder in a Week 10 loss that appeared to have a real and significant impact on his performance. Prior to that game, he had a TD:INT ratio of 17:7, which makes the injury a clear demarcation point between a solid, starter-level showing and a disastrous few weeks that precipitated his benching.
Assuming he is recovered from the Week 10 injury, a team that suddenly has the need for a viable starting option could certainly convince itself that Cousins, despite his age, can be the player he was in the first half of the 2024 season and throughout much of his time in Minnesota. To that point, Cousins says he expects his health to be a non-issue.
“I think I’ve still got a little bit more to go but very encouraged by the progress I’ve made since January,” Cousins told reporters, including ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, at this month’s mandatory minicamp. “So, even jogging out here today, just very encouraged by what I felt compared to where I was even like six weeks ago out here throwing with the guys. And I believe there’s more progress up ahead, too.”
Cousins also addressed the Achilles tear that prematurely ended his 2023 season, his last as a member of the Vikings. Per Raimondi, Cousins says he was not as healthy as he believed he was going into 2024, which may or may not jibe with comments he made in an appearance on Good Morning Football: Overtime back in February.
During that interview, Cousins said the Achilles healed well and that, although he was also trying to get his right ankle “back,” those issues did not impact his play too much, as evidenced by the 6-3 start and his overall body of work in the first half of last season. But in his comments several weeks ago, Cousins said that while he focused on strengthening his ankle after the Achilles tear, he did not work enough on his mobility, which affected him negatively.
In any case, it sounds as if he will be at full strength if Atlanta or some other team should call on him in 2025. Fortunately, Cousins did not require any offseason surgeries on his arm or shoulder, nor any follow-up procedures on his Achilles or ankle.
One of the obstacles to a trade is the fully-guaranteed $27.5MM salary that Cousins is due this year, as well as the $10MM roster bonus for 2026 that has already vested. Raimondi believes the Falcons would be willing to pull the trigger on a deal if the acquiring team takes on $10MM of Cousins’ 2025 pay (that team would be liable for the 2026 roster bonus as well).
Raimondi confirms recent reports indicating there is no trade market at the moment, though he also believes such a market could quickly form in the event of an injury to another team’s starting QB. Assuming the Falcons and a prospective suitor agree to trade terms, Cousins would surely waive his no-trade clause for the opportunity to start elsewhere.
Aaron Rodgers Cites D.K. Metcalf As A Reason For Joining Steelers; FA Tyler Boyd Would Welcome Pittsbugh Deal
Although he may not have had much by way of realistic landing spots in 2025, new Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers still had to think highly enough of the situation in Pittsburgh to join the team and put off retirement for one more year. Having previously cited head coach Mike Tomlin as a factor in his decision, Rodgers also pointed to another new Steeler, trade acquisition D.K. Metcalf.
[RELATED: Rodgers Expects To Retire After 2025 Season]
Rodgers, 41, said Metcalf is a “big part of the reason” he joined the Steelers (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). He went on to say Metcalf is “a really solid human being.”
The Steelers’ decision to trade former WR1 George Pickens after acquiring and extending Metcalf is in keeping with their modus operandi, as Pickens is entering his walk year, and Pittsburgh does not make a habit of rostering two wideouts on top-dollar deals. That said, the club was also wary of pairing Pickens and his history of maturity issues with the notoriously prickly Rodgers, a concern that may have helped grease the trade wheels.
By contrast, the throwing sessions that Rodgers and Metcalf had this offseason – before Rodgers officially joined the team – apparently helped sell the future Hall of Fame signal-caller on his new top target. Still, losing a talent like Pickens is a big blow to Pittsburgh’s offense, so the team is reportedly continuing to seek a veteran wideout despite having added Robert Woods in late April.
Pro Bowl stalwarts like Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper remain on the market and thus have been connected to Pittsburgh, at least speculatively. While finances are likely not a major factor in the Steelers’ calculus at this point since they have roughly $19MM in cap room, a less expensive option like Tyler Boyd may also make sense.
Boyd, 30, spent the first eight years of his career as a key part of the Bengals’ passing attack and topped 1,000 receiving yards in the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Even in his last season in Cincinnati in 2023, Boyd saw 98 targets. However, the team’s decision to use the franchise tag on Tee Higgins and the specter of a record-setting extension for Ja’Marr Chase led Boyd out of the Queen City last offseason.
The Pittsburgh native and University of Pittsburgh product was interested in joining his hometown Steelers in 2024, and the interest was reportedly mutual. But the parties could not find common ground on contract terms, so Boyd ultimately inked a one-year deal with the Titans.
As Tennessee slogged through a forgettable year with second-year passer Will Levis and veteran Mason Rudolph (now back with Pittsburgh) at the controls, Boyd put up an underwhelming stat line. Excluding the 2017 campaign, in which he appeared in just 10 games, Boyd tied or set career lows with 57 targets, 39 catches, 390 receiving yards, and a 10.0 yards-per-catch rate. He also failed to find the endzone for the first time in his career.
Of course, he had done much better with different quarterback situations, and he represents an intriguing buy-low candidate for teams in need of receiving help. For the second year in a row, he is hoping to head home to western Pennsylvania.
At this youth camp on Saturday, Boyd was asked by Pittsburgh Sports Now if he would like to sign with the Steelers.
“Absolutely,” he said (via Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports; h/t Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). “You know, all my family is here. I’d be able to have the majority of them be able to support me.”
Like many players, Boyd has a fondness for Tomlin.
“I’m real cool with Tomlin,” he added. “He’s always been a good person. … When I was at Pitt, we had a good relationship. After practice, I’d walk over there, talk to [Antonio Brown] and those guys, talk to Tomlin, and he’d just pick at different things, where I could get better and get some guidance. I think we had a great friendship.”
There have been no public reports of interest in Boyd’s services in 2025. It remains to be seen if the Steelers will reciprocate his interest this time around.