Bills To Sign LB Michael Hoecht
The Bills have agreed to sign free agent linebacker Michael Hoecht, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Hoecht, who had spent his entire career with the Rams after signing with the club as a UDFA in 2020, will move across the country to continue his career.
He is also getting a nice payday, especially considering his undrafted status. According to Pelissero, Buffalo has authorized a three-year deal for the Ivy Leaguer, a deal that can max out at $24MM.
Now 27, Hoecht spent the entirety of his rookie campaign on the Rams’ taxi squad, finally getting his first taste of regular season action in 2021. By 2022, he had established himself as a regular part of Los Angeles’ defensive rotation, and he was also shifted from defensive tackle to outside linebacker to take advantage of his unique athleticism. The 6-4, 267-pound defender has frequently been asked to drop into coverage and has even lined up at slot corner from time to time.
In 2023, Hoecht became a full-time starter, starting all 17 of the Rams’ regular season games and their lone playoff contest, racking up an 85% snap share and a career-high six sacks. Pro Football Focus did not think highly of his work that season, however, grading him as the 90th-best edge defender out of 112 qualifiers. Perhaps realizing that the Brown product was better suited to a complementary role, the Rams cut his snap share to 57% in 2024 (although he did appear in all 17 games again).
The Bills, who have been busy extending their own players (including several core defenders), did release Von Miller yesterday and could use additional depth on the edge. Hoecht will provide that while also offering some schematic versatility (as detailed by The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue back in November (subscription required)).
Chargers Pursuing RB Najee Harris
The Chargers are pursuing free agent running back Najee Harris, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Earlier today, The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson reported that Harris had been saying goodbye to some of his Steelers teammates, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler subsequently noted the Bolts could have interest.
Harris is more of a grinder than explosive talent, but he is about as consistent as it gets at the position. The 2021 first-rounder has played through injuries to start every game in his four-year career. After a 1,200-yard rookie season, Harris finished with 1,034, 1,035 and 1,043 over the next three. Next Gen Stats has not viewed him as an efficient ball-carrier, however, ranking him in the bottom third in rush yards over expected in 2024 and second-to-last in 2022. A finish in the top third of this metric did transpire in 2023, perhaps marking one of Harris’ few inconsistencies in a career that has also featured between six and eight rushing TDs each season.
Los Angeles is certainly in need at the running back position, as the club released Gus Edwards several days ago and could lose J.K. Dobbins to free agency. While Harris has established himself as a high-floor, low-ceiling type of player, Chargers offensive coordinator and run game guru Greg Roman — who is plenty familiar with Harris after having operated as the Ravens’ OC for the first two years of the RB’s career — may be able to help him find another level.
Even if that does not come to pass, there is plenty of value in having a steady, durable ball carrier near the top of the depth chart. Plus, regardless of whether the Chargers can push a Harris deal across the finish line, the team could certainly seek another addition in a draft lauded for its RB talent.
The Steelers will likewise be on the lookout for RB help. While Pittsburgh has retained Harris’ more dyamic running mate, Jaylen Warren, via the second-round RFA tender, the cupboard is largely bare beyond that (save for the change-of-pace looks that Cordarrelle Patterson can provide). The need for rushing talent will be heightened if the team fills its quarterback position with the 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, whose running ability will not make anyone forget Justin Fields.
Rams Close To Cutting WR Cooper Kupp
As the 2025 league year looms, the Rams are approaching a deadline with Cooper Kupp. Although a bit more time remains until the standout wide receiver’s $7.5MM roster bonus is due, Kupp is on the verge of free agency.
The Rams have tried to trade Kupp but are close to releasing him. Barring an 11th-hour trade, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Kupp will be cut after the new league year begins. The Rams could make Kupp a post-June 1 release beginning at 3pm CT on March 12.
A parting of the ways has been expected for some time. The 31-year-old acknowledged back in January that he may have already played his last snap for the Rams, and shortly thereafter, it was reported that Los Angeles was actively shopping the 2021 Triple Crown winner. When speaking about the matter last week, GM Les Snead indicated his club could retain Kupp, though he noted that was the least likely option.
Shortly after those comments were made, Snead pulled the trigger on a two-year, $46MM contract for Davante Adams, effectively confirming Kupp’s departure. As the team moves forward with Puka Nacua, Adams, and the recently-resigned Tutu Atwell at the top of its WR depth chart, Kupp will be seeking a change of scenery. By cutting him prior to March 17, the Rams will avoid paying the above-referenced roster bonus, and using the post-June 1 designation will allow LA to save $15MM in cap space (albeit with a corresponding dead cap charge of roughly the same amount, as $5MM of the bonus is guaranteed in full).
The fact that a release loomed as the probable outcome certainly put a damper on Kupp’s trade market, and his recent injury woes and general downturn in production did not help (he has seen his yards-per-game average drop from 90.2 to 61.4 to 59.2 since the start of the 2022 season while playing in 33 of a possible 51 regular season games over the past three years). Still, a healthy Kupp would be a valuable addition to any number of clubs in need of a pass-catcher, and he should not linger on the open market for too long.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Panthers Expected To Sign Tre’von Moehrig
The Panthers lost out to the Patriots in the battle to sign coveted free agent DT Milton Williams, but another big fish is still on the line. Safety Tre’von Moehrig looks to have an agreement in place with Carolina, per Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Schultz says Moehrig is set to receive a three-year, $51MM pact. While the incumbent Raiders were interested in retaining him, the 25-year-old will find himself on the move once the contract is finalized. Moehrig’s new pact can top out at $60MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com adds.
A second-round pick of Las Vegas in the 2021 draft, Moehrig has been in the starting lineup since Week 1 of his rookie campaign. The TCU alum made a successful transition from Gus Bradley’s defense in 2021 to Patrick Graham’s in the subsequent three seasons, and he saved the best for his walk year. Marcus Epps going down in Week 3 of the 2024 slate allowed for Moehrig to play near the line of scrimmage more frequently (439 box snaps in 2024 compared to 326 in ’23), and he responded with a career-best 104 tackles to go with five TFLs and a sack. Moehrig also snared two interceptions, giving him five over the past two seasons.
Per Pro Football Focus, Moehrig ranks in the top-15 among safeties in terms of INTs and forced incompletion rate from 2023-24. That production set him up as one of the most desirable DBs on this year’s free agent market, and he landed at No. 24 on our list of 2025’s Top 50 FAs.
Carolina, which finished dead last in terms of total defense and in the bottom-10 in terms of passing yards allowed in 2024, was known to be targeting defensive reinforcements for DC Ejiro Evero‘s unit. That agenda triggered the pursuit of Williams and Moehrig, and the Panthers have also agreed to sign edge rusher Patrick Jones and D-linemen Bobby Brown and Tershawn Wharton.
The Raiders, perhaps knowing they were going to lose Moehrig to another club, agreed to terms with fellow safety Jeremy Chinn earlier today.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Giants, Jets Interested In Acquiring No. 1 Overall Pick
A report from last month pegged the Giants and Jets as teams that could be interested in swinging a deal with the Titans for the No. 1 overall pick. Several few weeks later, the buzz has not died down, as Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) reiterates the Giants are a team to watch when it comes to a deal for the top overall selection, and ESPN’s Dan Graziano (subscription required) confirms both the Giants and Jets have shown interest in a trade-up with Tennessee.
The Giants, of course, would have an easier time of making such a move, as they presently hold the No. 3 pick whereas their New Jersey-based brothers have the No. 7 pick. Big Blue is reportedly eyeing both a veteran QB and a rookie, and if the team is able to land both, the veteran passer would serve as a bridge to the younger signal-caller.
Recent reporting on the matter suggests Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders could be the Giants’ collegiate QB of choice, although Miami’s Cam Ward is said to be the consensus top option in an oft-maligned quarterback class. If GM Joe Schoen wants to assure himself of the opportunity to land the prospect of his choosing, then he would obviously need to make a deal with the Titans.
In the wake of Schoen’s failed pursuit of a Matthew Stafford trade, his club was linked to soon-to-be former Jets QB Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers, however, is not viewed as the Giants’ preferred option among the veteran contingent of passers, and Graziano is skeptical that the team would actually go that route. Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Sam Darnold would appear to be likelier choices in the event those players do not re-up with their current clubs before the start of the new league year.
Kirk Cousins profiles as a fit for both the Giants and Jets if he is released by the Falcons. Atlanta continues to insist it will keep Cousins as the most expensive backup quarterback in league history, but Graziano nonetheless believes the club will release him at some point soon. Still, Graziano’s ESPN colleague, Jeremy Fowler, says not every team official is convinced a release will happen. If the Falcons believe there is a chance a trade market will form, they will be willing to pay out the $10MM roster bonus Cousins is due on March 17 and continue to explore a trade.
Cousins would of course be much more appealing to other teams if he becomes a free agent, at which point he would likely sign for the veteran minimum while Atlanta pays out his $27.5MM salary for 2025. One would imagine the Jets and Giants would only be interested in Cousins as a free agent and not as a trade target.
Per Fowler, the Jets (like the Giants) would also have interest in Fields if he becomes available, though the Steelers seem as if they are pushing hard to keep their 2024 trade acquisition in the fold and reinstall him atop the depth chart. Regardless of where the Jets’ pursuit of an experienced QB takes them, a move from No. 7 to No. 1 to select a rookie passer or (in theory) a top non-QB talent like Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter would certainly qualify as a bold strike for the rookie GM/HC combo of Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn.
Chiefs Could Be In Veteran RB Market, Will Not Extend Isiah Pacheco Before Season
With Kareem Hunt and Samaje Perine eligible for free agency this month, Isiah Pacheco and Carson Steele are the only running backs the Chiefs have under contract for 2025 (excepting futures deal signee Keaontay Ingram). As such, it would come as no surprise if Kansas City were to explore the veteran RB market, as Dianna Russini of The Athletic writes (subscription required).
The free agent class of running backs is not as robust as it was in 2024, when Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry changed teams and had tremendous impacts on the fortunes of their new clubs. The Vikings’ Aaron Jones is perhaps the top option that could be available, though he and Minnesota may come to terms on a new deal before free agency opens. Other high-profile targets include Nick Chubb, who (understandably) struggled a bit in 2024 after suffering a devastating knee injury early in the 2023 slate, and Najee Harris, who is durable and steady but who lacks explosiveness.
Of course, if Pacheco can recapture the form he displayed over his first two years in the league from 2022-23, the Chiefs would be more than happy to have him atop their depth chart while simply seeking a complementary talent this offseason. Unfortunately, Pacheco suffered a fractured fibula in Week 2 of the 2024 season, and though he was ultimately able to make it back on the field, he failed to hit the 4.0-yards-per-carry mark in any of his final seven games of the campaign (including playoffs).
Hunt and Perine also failed to impress, so KC is interested in looking elsewhere for an established back to provide some insurance at the RB spot. And, while Pacheco is eligible for an extension for the first time, Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline says the Chiefs will not enter into contract talks until after the season gets underway and they can see if Pachecho looks like his old self.
Such a development would certainly go a long way towards the Chiefs’ aim of winning the AFC Championship for the fourth consecutive year. The Rutgers product averaged 4.7 yards per carry over his first 375 regular season totes from 2022-23, and he recorded a 4.3-YPC average across 118 rushes during Kansas City’s Super Bowl runs at the end of both of those seasons.
This year’s draft class of RBs is said to be one of the deepest in years, and after GM Brett Veach & Co. struck gold on Pacheco in the seventh round of the 2022 draft, they could certainly consider reinforcing the depth chart with a rookie even if they add a veteran before then.
Deebo Samuel Notes: Draft Compensation, Jonathan Allen, Broncos, Texans
The 49ers made good on their promise to honor WR Deebo Samuel’s trade request, shipping him to the Commanders in exchange for a fifth-round pick. Given Samuel’s disappointing 2024 season, San Francisco knew it would be selling low on the 2021 First Team All-Pro, and a Day 3 selection was seen as the likely return. That said, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini says Niners GM John Lynch was seeking a fourth-rounder before agreeing to take back the fifth from former subordinate and current Washington GM Adam Peters.
Albert Breer of SI.com says that selection will be a 2025 pick (No. 148 overall), which means Washington’s first pick on the third day of April’s draft will not be until the sixth round (the team dealt a third- and fourth-rounder to the Saints as part of the November trade that brought CB Marshon Lattimore into the fold, and the pick going to San Francisco is the same one Washington acquired in the Lattimore trade). As such, Breer believes the club could seek trade-down opportunities to backfill the holes that the Lattimore and Samuel deals created.
In light of Lattimore’s recent injury woes and Samuel’s inability to recapture his 2021 form, those acquisitions come with some risk. However, the potential reward is also quite high. When looking at the net impact on the Commanders’ cache of draft picks, the high-profile transactions allowed Washington to address areas of obvious need with Pro Bowl-caliber players in exchange for a 2025 third-rounder, fourth-rounder, and sixth-rounder (h/t ESPN’s Field Yates). The Niners, meanwhile, now have 11 selections in April’s draft (h/t/ Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle), which could be critical for a club that may put a high-end QB contract on its books in the near future.
One of the ways Peters could acquire additional draft capital is by dealing longtime DT Jonathan Allen, who has been given permission to seek a trade. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Allen’s name did come up when the Commanders and 49ers were discussing Samuel, but the 30-year-old defender remains on Washington’s roster for the time being. Although Allen could have been a replacement for presumptive cap casualty Javon Hargrave, Allen’s salary – he is due $15.5MM in base pay in 2025 – was perhaps an insurmountable hurdle.
Regardless of whether they retain or jettison Allen, the cap-flush Commanders have the financial wherewithal to take a risk on a player with Samuel’s upside (as noted previously, the team is absorbing the entirety of Samuel’s $17.55MM salary for 2025, the last year of his current deal). As we also discussed earlier this month, the South Carolina product is technically due a $15.4MM option bonus on March 22, and Washington could utilize the option to spread out the $17.55MM cap charge and incur just $5.21MM against the cap this year. However, that would push additional money into void years, and since the Commanders are expected to have over $80MM in cap room, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com believes the team will simply take on the entire $17.55MM hit in 2025. Of course, Samuel and his new team could explore an extension, a possibility that Fitzgerald and others have acknowledged.
The Texans joined the Commanders as teams that had serious interest in Samuel, and the dynamic “wide back” would have been interested in joining Houston, per Russini (subscription required). He also would have been intrigued by the possibility of landing with the Broncos. There have been conflicting reports about whether Denver was actually interested in Samuel, but Russini indicates that neither the Broncos nor the Texans actually made an offer.
Patriots Targeting Ronnie Stanley, Jamien Sherwood; Team Has “Kicked Tires” On D.K. Metcalf
The Patriots are known to be targeting additions to the offensive and defensive lines this offseason, and new head coach Mike Vrabel has indicated his club will be active in free agency (after all, New England does have nearly $130MM in cap space, the most in the league by a comfortable margin). To that end, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports the Pats will aggressively pursue Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley should Stanley hit the open market.
Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald also hear that Stanley is one of New England’s top targets. Offensive line play was a major issue for the team in 2024, as the Pats finished 31st in Pro Football Focus’ metrics with respect to pass protection and last in run blocking. Stanley had struggled with injuries in recent years, and even when he was on the field, he did not look like the same player that earned a First Team All-Pro nod in 2019. After being forced to accept a $7.5MM pay cut in advance of the 2024 season, Stanley turned in a terrific platform campaign, landing his second Pro Bowl bid and playing a full complement of games for the first time in his career.
Naturally, the Ravens want Stanley back and have prioritized a new contract for him. However, the franchise tag is not considered as an option because of how it would hinder a team that is just outside the bottom-10 in cap room and because the $23.4MM tag number for O-linemen would set the floor in negotiations above where Baltimore is willing to go. New England reportedly values Stanley’s leadership and experience in big games in addition to his raw ability, and if Stanley and the Ravens cannot come to terms before the onset of free agency, Vrabel & Co. appear ready to pounce.
If their Stanley pursuit is unsuccessful, Callahan and Kyed say the Patriots are nonetheless comfortable with the Steelers’ Dan Moore or the Vikings’ Cam Robinson – a New England trade target at the 2024 deadline – as fallback plans (the team also had interest in the Rams’ Alaric Jackson before he re-upped with Los Angeles). And, even if they are able to acquire an established OT, the Pats will presumably not be done in their search for better protection for QB Drake Maye and their rushing attack
LSU OT Will Campbell is a real possibility for the Patriots’ No. 4 overall selection in April’s draft, with league evaluators seeing Campbell or Michigan DT Mason Graham as the most likely candidates for the pick. If QB-needy teams select both Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders before New England is on the clock, though, the Pats will have the opportunity to take one of the top non-QBs in the 2025 class (Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter).
Of that duo, Hunter is viewed as the more likely to fall to No. 4. As opposed to Carter, Hunter would not address the Pats’ top goal of bolstering their trenches, but beyond OL and DL help, the Boston Herald sees cornerback, wide receiver, and linebacker as the next positions of priority. Regardless of whether New England sees Hunter as a CB or wideout, the two-way blue-chipper would be a major get.
With respect to the linebacker need, the Patriots reportedly “covet” Jets LB Jamien Sherwood, particularly since he exhibits the speed and physicality that Vrabel is hoping to inject into his front seven. The 2021 fifth-rounder was mostly quiet through his first three professional seasons before bursting onto the scene in a big way in his walk year, starting 16 of New York’s 17 games while tallying 158 total tackles – including a league-leading 98 solo stops – and 10 tackles for loss while finishing as PFF’s 18th-best LB. The Jets and Sherwood have mutual interest in an extension, though it appears the Pats are eyeing the situation closely.
As for the WR position, there were several reports connecting the Patriots to Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins this offseason. Those reports were published before it became clear Cincinnati was prepared to put the franchise tag on Higgins for a second time. While a tag presumably remains a possibility, Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) reports the team has not told Higgins whether he will actually receive the tag before Tuesday’s deadline.
Nonetheless, sources tell Callahan and Kyed that Higgins will not be available (either as an FA or as a trade candidate). Should the Bengals change their mind on that front, the Patriots would be back in the mix, despite some conflicting reports to the contrary.
It has been said that the Patriots would explore trades for a WR, though the Boston Herald believes the team would prefer to address their need for a proven pass-catcher through free agency to avoid surrendering premium draft capital. The Bucs’ Chris Godwin would be a top target if Tampa Bay allows him to test the free agent waters, and on the trade front, the Pats have reportedly “kicked the tires” on the Seahawks’ D.K. Metcalf. It is presently unclear if those discussions gained any traction.
Given New England’s areas of need, it is not surprising that Callahan and Kyed – whose piece is well-worth a read for Pats fans in particular given its scope and comprehensiveness – name Eagles DT Milton Williams and 49ers CB Charvarius Ward as several of New England’s other top FA targets.
Eagles Expected To Move On From CB Darius Slay, Re-Sign CB Isaiah Rodgers?
Eagles cornerback Darius Slay has indicated he wants to retire at the end of the upcoming season. He also said he would like to finish his playing career with Philadelphia, and his contract with the club does run through 2025.
However, there has been some question as to whether the Eagles will retain the six-time Pro Bowler, and according to Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com, the club is not expected to bring Slay back. Given the high quality of Slay’s performance even as he nears the end of his career – he limited opposing passers to an 81.9 QB rating in 2024 and finished with a strong 73.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus – one would think that such a decision would be largely motivated by salary cap considerations.
But releasing or trading Slay prior to June 1 would result in a dead money charge of $22.71MM and would actually decrease Philadelphia’s cap space. Even a post-June 1 maneuver would create only $4.32MM of space while still saddling the team with over $9MM of dead money.
That makes Shorr-Parks’ report even more intriguing, especially since fellow corner Isaiah Rodgers is an impending free agent. Shorr-Parks believes the Eagles could have bigger plans for Rodgers, who saw a modest 36% snap share in 2024 after serving a year-long suspension in 2023 for violating the NFL’s gambling policy.
Despite the somewhat limited action, Rodgers played well last season, finishing as PFF’s 24th-best corner out of 116 qualified players (just one spot below Slay, albeit in a considerably smaller sample size). One of the biggest reasons for Philadelphia’s turnaround from its one-and-done showing in the 2023 playoffs to a Super Bowl title in 2024 was the improvement of its pass defense, and Rodgers – along with rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean – was a key addition to the secondary.
Shorr-Parks suggests Rodgers – who is a popular and vocal player – could be retained on a fairly modest two-year contract worth around $10MM. He could also take over Slay’s role and play opposite Mitchell as a starting boundary corner, which would allow Super Bowl hero DeJean to remain in the slot. The team is still rostering 2023 fourth-rounder Kelee Ringo as well, and he could at least compete for the CB2 gig (though defensive coordinator Vic Fangio appears to prefer Rodgers to Ringo).
If the Eagles do move on from Slay, the longtime Lion has said he would like to return to Detroit. The Lions could certainly be in the market for CB help, particularly if Carlton Davis departs in free agency.
Browns Rumors: Bitonio, Cousins, Newsome
Towards the end of the Browns’ disappointing 2024 season, left guard Joel Bitonio said he had not yet decided whether to return for 2025 – the last year of his current contract – or retire. As Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported just yesterday, Bitonio is still working through his decision, though he plans to let the team know before free agency opens next month. The 33-year-old blocker confirmed retirement remains “within the realm of possibilities” (via Zac Jackson of The Athletic).
Like teammate Myles Garrett, Bitonio said he wanted to hear the Browns’ plans for a return to contention in 2025, including their quarterback strategy. However, he also made clear that his decision to keep playing or hang up his cleats would primarily be informed by health and family considerations.
Retaining a player as good as Bitonio on a $1.26MM base salary and $3MM roster bonus would doubtlessly be a welcome development for the Browns. Indeed, Cleveland has a major question mark at left tackle – regardless of whether Dawand Jones is medically cleared in time for training camp, as expected – and the team must also navigate Garrett’s trade request and meaningfully address the quarterback position despite having the second-worst cap situation in the league as of the time of this writing.
Previous reports indicated the Browns will sign a veteran QB in free agency even if they plan to select one in April’s draft, and Kirk Cousins was mentioned as one FA possibility. The fact that Browns HC Kevin Stefanski worked as Cousins’ quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator with the Vikings from 2018-19 is a driving force behind Cousins-Cleveland speculation, as is the fact that the cap-strapped Browns could likely sign the 36-year-old for the veteran minimum. Albert Breer of SI.com confirms Cousins’ contract with the Falcons includes offset language, meaning that if he is released as expected, the only way he will land a deal in excess of the minimum in 2025 is if another team believes he is worth more than the $27.5MM for which Atlanta is already on the hook (which is highly unlikely, and Cousins has no real incentive to seek a higher payout and reduce his number of potential suitors).
Breer appears to agree that the signs pointing to an accord between Cousins and the Browns are real. He also expects the team to draft a QB regardless of whether Cousins or a different free agent is added to the mix. Cleveland, which presently holds the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, is already assured of landing either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders – the top prospects in an admittedly maligned class of collegiate QBs – though GM Andrew Berry has said he believes the class includes starting-caliber passers outside of Ward and Sanders.
Many people around the league agree Cousins will be a Browns target, Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline writes. Especially if Cleveland does not manage to land Ward in the draft, the veteran could rebuild his value with a familiar face in the form of Stefanski while providing the team with a much-needed affordable short-term option under center.
The Browns have understandably stated they do not want to trade Garrett, but if they reverse course and unload him, they could also have a decision to make on their top cornerback, Denzel Ward. Ward, who is under club control through 2027 but who has no guaranteed salary due to him beyond 2025, has said Garrett’s trade request has a “huge impact” on his own future (thereby suggesting he could be planning his own exit strategy if Garrett were to be dealt).
For what it’s worth, Ward’s fellow CB, Greg Newsome II, previously said he wants to remain with the Browns for the long haul, a desire that he recently reiterated (via Cabot). He said he would try to talk Garrett out of his trade request, as he believes the team is just a quarterback away from being a legitimate contender.
Newsome is due to play out the 2025 campaign on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, which will pay him over $13MM. His hope to be a long-term member of the Browns notwithstanding, he indicated he is looking for a larger role in the defense.
In 2024, the former first-round pick played a career-low 70% of Cleveland’s defensive snaps, as Martin Emerson – who is extension-eligible for the first time this offseason – was Ward’s primary partner on the boundaries. That left Newsome to man the slot, and with opposing offenses favoring two-tight end sets, he did not see as much action as he would have liked.
“[T]here were games I was on the field 25% and 30% of the game, and as a football player, I feel like fans don’t understand, you can’t get in a rhythm for being on the field, out of 50 snaps, 15 snaps,” Newsome said. “That’s not how you play football. And that’s never what I’ve had to do in my career so far, so this was the first year of that and it was obviously a little frustrating, but I think we’ll figure this out.”
Newsome added that there have been no real extension talks between his camp and the Browns this offseason. Such conversations may not be at the top of Berry’s agenda at the moment, and if and when substantive talks do take place, Newsome’s recent trouble with his left hamstring – he had surgery on it prior to last summer’s training camp and then reinjured it in December – will be raised.
Nonetheless, Newsome said he is fully healthy and is ready to prove as much in what could be a platform year.