Brock Purdy Targeting Early-Offseason Extension
The 49ers have taken their time with most of their big-ticket extensions under John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan. Brandon Aiyuk and Nick Bosa signed just before the past two seasons, respectively, while the Deebo Samuel and George Kittle deals occurred during training camp. Brock Purdy is targeting a deal much earlier.
Not long after a report surfaced pointing to the 49ers not being keen on paying Purdy a top-market rate, the three-year veteran quarterback is targeting a deal that ends this matter before the team’s offseason program begins in April. Purdy made it clear he will seek a 49ers extension. All signs point to the franchise being ready to explore a deal for the seventh-round steal.
[RELATED: Assessing Purdy’s Extension Candidacy]
“I want to obviously get it done,” Purdy said, via ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner. “If that’s an opportunity to be able to get that done quick, that’d be great. Just so we can get back for phase one.”
While that has not been San Francisco’s M.O., they have hammered out a notable QB contract early in an offseason during the Shanahan-Lynch regime. The 49ers gave Jimmy Garoppolo a then-record contract in February 2018. Of course, the primary difference between a Garoppolo payday and a Purdy pact centers around team control. The 49ers paid Garoppolo weeks before he was to hit free agency; Purdy’s rookie deal runs through the 2025 season. That gives the 49ers time, and Purdy’s hopes may not align with the organization’s.
It stands to reason the 49ers will not deviate from their plans to pay Purdy, but they are under no obligation to do it early. This coming offseason, thanks largely to the 2021 and ’22 QB classes not producing many extension candidates, may also not see the market change. Josh Allen could have a say, even though the Bills have him locked down for multiple years, but the 2023 and ’24 offseasons settled a lot of business on the QB market. This would allow the 49ers to wait a bit, and Purdy’s price point will matter significantly as well.
Purdy, 25, has accomplished more than Jordan Love and Trevor Lawrence, who inked $55MM-per-year deals this past summer. It would stand to reason those accords would be the former Mr. Irrelevant’s floor. Even if the 49ers are understandably not comfortable going into the $60MM-AAV (with a player-friendly structure) neighborhood Dak Prescott populates by himself, it will then be on the team to determine whether that Lawrence-Love territory would work. Otherwise, the team would have another year of rookie-deal control and a $40MM-plus franchise tag at its disposal.
Ray Farmer, Ryan Grigson, Mike Greenberg, Mike Borgonzi Receive Jets GM Interview Requests
General managers do not receive second chances nearly as often as head coaches. The Jets’ early round of interview requests has shown, however, they are quite open to the notion of a rebound GM.
After meeting with Thomas Dimitroff and Jon Robinson, the Jets have since sent interview requests to Ray Farmer and Ryan Grigson, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter and The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Farmer and Grigson, respectively, enjoyed tenures as Browns and Colts GMs during the 2010s. As could be expected, a number of candidates seeking their first GM opportunity are also in the Jets’ plans.
Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi received a Jets request, per Russini, while Schefter adds Buccaneers assistant GM Mike Greenberg did as well. Bengals senior personnel exec Trey Brown is on the Jets’ request list, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, while Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby is as well. Halaby will interview for the position Wednesday, Pelissero adds.
Farmer has not been a part of this process for a while. Now 50, Farmer is nearly 10 years removed from his Browns GM tenure. He has conducted one GM interview — for the Jaguars’ post that went to Trent Baalke in 2021 — since the Browns fired him after the 2015 season. Once suspended for sending text messages to the sideline from his press box seat during the 2014 season — his first as Browns GM — Farmer oversaw one of the more successful seasons since Cleveland’s franchise rebooted. The Browns went 7-9 in 2014, though that year was marred by a disastrous first round that saw Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel become historic busts. Farmer is now with the Rams, working as a senior personnel exec. He picked up a Super Bowl ring for his work three years ago.
Grigson, the Colts’ GM from 2012-16, works as a Vikings exec presently. Minnesota hired him as senior VP of player personnel; he has worked under Kwesi Adofo-Mensah for two years. The two worked together in Cleveland under GM Andrew Berry as well. The Colts reached the AFC championship game under Grigson, who was present for the Andrew Luck pick, but they also struggled to build a foundation around their franchise passer, who suffered career-altering injuries to help lead to Grigson’s ouster.
The Chiefs’ success figures to make Borgonzi a popular target. Kansas City lost one of its front office pieces last year, as the Panthers hired Brandt Tilis to a non-GM post. Borgonzi works as Brett Veach‘s right-hand man presently. Borgonzi’s Chiefs tenure predates Andy Reid, as he arrived in Kansas City as a Scott Pioli hire. Borgonzi has climbed the ladder during the team’s rise, moving to the AGM post in 2021. The Commanders are the only team, however, that has met with him for a GM interview thus far.
Brown has taken a few interviews previously; ditto Greenberg. The latter grew up a Jets fan on Long Island, and Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager indicates the Bucs could be in danger losing him this year. Greenberg, who has been with the franchise for two decades, serves as the Bucs’ lead cap guru and has been chiefly responsible for the team being able to retain both members of its Super Bowl LV-winning nucleus along with Baker Mayfield.
A Kansas City-area native, Brown is 39 but has been in the NFL ranks since 2010. He has worked in the Cincinnati front office since 2020. This will be Halaby’s second offseason on the GM carousel; he met with the Commanders and Panthers last year. The Eagles promoted the analytics staffer to assistant GM in 2022, when the franchise saw four of its execs become assistant GMs elsewhere.
The Jets also sent out a host of HC interview slips Monday, and they are not committing to a GM-centric power structure. That will be a pertinent question for GM candidates, as organizational power is an obvious driver for execs and coaches. The team is not committed to hiring either position first, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini indicates, adding some additional intrigue to a process that already features plenty. Woody Johnson‘s overreach has generated numerous headlines as of late, and the owner’s meddling stands to have an impact on the team’s HC and GM searches.
Panthers Endorse Bryce Young As 2025 Starting QB
When the Panthers benched Bryce Young after Week 2, rumors about a 2025 separation swirled. The team had bailed on a No. 1 overall pick after 17 starts, leading to trade offers coming in before the deadline. Plenty has changed over the past two months.
Andy Dalton sustaining minor injuries in a car accident led Young back into Carolina’s lineup, and the team did not sit him down. Young played much better during this season’s second half and is poised to have a chance to build on that momentum heading into next season. Both David Tepper and Dave Canales offered endorsements of the former Heisman winner as Carolina’s 2025 starter.
Tepper said (via NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe) he thinks the Panthers have “got our QB here,” while Canales said postgame (via The Athletic’s Joe Person) the team indeed has its guy at the position. Young closed the season with a 251-yard passing outing in a game that featured him account for four touchdowns, powering the Panthers to knock the Falcons out of the playoff race.
“Bryce is our quarterback. I’m so proud of the way that he took the challenge and he just grew,” Canales said. “Every week he took new lessons, new things, applied it to his game. Was engaged, challenging the guys, the whole thing.”
After checking in with a QBR south of 10 upon being benched, Young made significant strides under Canales after his second 2024 stint as the team’s starter. Young, who struggled throughout his rookie season while leading an undermanned offense, ranked 20th in QBR (54.5). Young piloted the Panthers to a 4-6 record once he reclaimed the reins, finishing the season with 15 TD passes (to nine INTs) and a 6.3 yards-per-attempt number. These are obviously not franchise QB-caliber numbers, but they represent an improvement that has changed Carolina’s QB outlook.
A source close to Young said (via ESPN.com’s David Newton) Canales gave up on Young upon benching him, and Young wondered at points if he had a future in Charlotte. With Canales not classifying the benching as a reset — instead shifting to Dalton on a full-time basis — Young was certainly within his rights to express concern about his long-term NFL future. Th0ugh, the team had planned to give Young more starts before season’s end; Dalton’s car accident accelerated that timetable. The Panthers, though, rebuffed midseason trade interest — as the Colts did with Anthony Richardson — even if they still were noncommittal about Young’s post-2024 status at that point. That stance has since changed.
After the Panthers made several signings and draft investments to beef up their offense to better equip Young, they are now again committed to bettering his situation. The Panthers will have some work to do at wide receiver, having traded Diontae Johnson and Jonathan Mingo and with Adam Thielen wrapping an age-34 season, but the team added high-priced guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis — before extending Chuba Hubbard. More work can certainly be done around Young’s rookie contract, which runs through 2026. The Panthers do not need to make their fifth-year option call on the 5-foot-10 QB until May of that year.
Bears Request HC Interviews With Aaron Glenn, Mike Kafka, Drew Petzing, Anthony Weaver
In addition to a much-anticipated Ben Johnson meeting, the Bears are using Black Monday to roll out other interview requests. Four more assistants received invites for meetings.
The Lions’ other top coordinator, Aaron Glenn, will be a popular name once again; he is part of the Bears’ initial batch of requests. Chicago also sent out interview slips to Giants OC Mike Kafka, Cardinals OC Drew Petzing and Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport report.
These meetings will take place along with a Thomas Brown interview. The interim Bears HC is expected to meet with the team, via ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin. Although the Bears have realized the difficult situation they put Brown in, it would be rather surprising if he drew serious consideration given the team’s freefall during the season’s second half. It would then stand to reason Brown — the team’s pass-game coordinator, interim OC and interim HC this season — will be relocating for a third straight offseason.
Glenn, 52, has been the Lions’ DC for four seasons. Detroit’s group took a leap to start this season, with Aidan Hutchinson surging to Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner status. Hutchinson’s broken leg gutted Detroit’s pass-rushing capabilities, and other injuries impacted the Lions on that side of the ball. The NFC’s No. 1 seed, however, still finished the season seventh in points allowed. Glenn’s unit also closed the regular season with a strong showing in the winner-take-all matchup with the Vikings, a game that turned into a blowout thanks largely to a bounce-back Lions defensive effort.
While this might be the year for Glenn to break through, this is new territory for Petzing and Weaver. The Cardinals’ OC came up as a name to watch on the HC circuit earlier this season, though Arizona struggled after moving into playoff contention around midseason. Kyler Murray has also not taken a noticeable step forward under Petzing, who came to the desert after residing as Browns QBs coach under Kevin Stefanski. The 37-year-old play-caller coached the Cards to a 12th-place finish in scoring offense, however; that brought a nice jump from 24th in Jonathan Gannon‘s debut.
Landing the Miami DC job last year, Weaver was among three 2023 Ravens assistants to move up last year. The 44-year-old DC’s Dolphins unit also made strides despite not having Bradley Chubb throughout and not having Jaelan Phillips for most of this season. The Dolphins ranked 10th in scoring defense and fourth in yardage, marking improvements from Vic Fangio‘s year in charge. These marks came despite an offense that took major steps back as Tua Tagovailoa battled injuries. Additionally, Russini notes Ryan Poles has done extensive homework on Weaver — in the event the Bears want to follow a defensive hire with another.
Kafka’s stock may have actually received a slight boost this season, as Brian Daboll taking over Giants play-calling duties brought a steep descent. Kafka was at the controls when the Giants made a surprising run to the divisional round in 2022, though his unit — largely without Daniel Jones at the helm — declined in 2023. Kafka may also be a candidate for other OC jobs, with rumors about a split with Daboll — as the Giants may not block him from a lateral move this year — surfaced over the weekend.
Ben Johnson Planning To Meet With Bears, Patriots; No Jets Interview Expected
The Lions clinched the NFC’s No. 1 seed, finishing 15-2. This season has obviously done nothing to cool interest on Ben Johnson, who has been one of the league’s most popular HC candidates for the past two offseasons.
Requests are coming in for Detroit’s play-caller. The Bears and Patriots have submitted interview requests, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer and The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Although Johnson has become rather famous for backing out of coaching searches, Breer indicates he will meet with both teams.
It still is not certain Johnson is set to leave Detroit, with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio noting some indeed believe he is happy being a mad-scientist offensive coordinator while Dan Campbell handles the top responsibilities with the Lions. Though, Jay Glazer’s latest FOX offering conflicts with that. Johnson is “more apt” to take a job during this year’s cycle than he has been previously, per Glazer. Johnson backed out of the Panthers’ HC search in 2023 — as a rumored early favorite — and informed the Commanders he was out as they had sent reps to Detroit for an interview.
Dialing up hook-and-ladders — to wide receivers and right tackles — and other creative plays to help the Lions secure home-field advantage in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, Johnson is expected to draw widespread interest. His Washington backtrack should not do much to deter teams, as Josh McDaniels once landed a head coaching job after having backed out of an actual agreement with the Colts. Johnson, 38, will have considerable momentum once again.
The Bears and Patriots each fired defensive coaches, and teams regularly veer in the opposite direction after ousters. Rumors pointed to Johnson commanding a high HC salary last year. Given the struggles Chicago has gone through (and its interest in developing Caleb Williams) and Robert Kraft‘s about-face involving Jerod Mayo, that might not be a dealbreaker for these teams. But Glazer’s report would seemingly point to Johnson being more interested in this year’s batch of jobs compared to 2023 and ’24.
Initial reports did not peg Johnson as overly interested in the Bears’ job, but more recent submissions have changed that assessment. Johnson is believed to be “intrigued” by the Chicago gig. Candidates are curious regarding team president Kevin Warren‘s role, even as GM Ryan Poles is believed to be running Chicago’s search. Considering Johnson’s past, teams will need to check boxes for the hotshot coordinator to sign on. It would not surprise to see Johnson draw multiple offers during this year’s cycle, as he is again set to be selective.
It is also worth noting the Jets are not planning to reach out to Johnson, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Johnson has made it clear — both now and in the past — he will be choosey, and Russini adds if the Jets had a better quarterback situation, more interest would emerge on the candidate’s part. This would help explain why the Jets are not planning to bother.
Whereas the Bears and Pats drafted potential franchise options in Williams and Drake Maye last year, the Jets do not have a similar answer. They are expected to release Aaron Rodgers, though that may not be a lock just yet, and they are not in a great position to draft a high-end prospect this year. The Jets have also seen Woody Johnson‘s meddling affect the perception of their HC and GM jobs. For now, Johnson is not a candidate to end up in New York.
Packers’ Christian Watson Tears ACL
The non-contact injury Christian Watson sustained Sunday has produced a worst-case scenario for the Packers. Ahead of their playoff outing, the Pack will be without Watson. Green Bay may be without him for more games beyond this season.
Watson sustained a torn ACL and additional damage in Week 18, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. While players regularly make Week 1 returns after late-season injuries, it is also not too uncommon for reserve/PUP list stays to commence. The additional damage the third-year wide receiver sustained may key such a move.
This injury came after Watson was iffy to play against the Bears with a knee injury. After missing Week 17, Watson had missed two practices last week but logged a limited session Friday. The 6-foot-4 wideout suited up for a Packers team that ended up resting some starters, even as the NFC’s No. 6 seed was on the line. Jordan Love is not believed to have suffered a significant hand injury, but one of his top weapons will not be available for the Packers in these playoffs. And it will be worth monitoring later whether Watson will begin his contract year on time.
Injuries have dogged Watson throughout his career. This past offseason, the former second-round pick saw a hamstring specialist to determine the cause of his repeated issues. After missing eight games last season, Watson returned to play 15 in Year 3. While he averaged 21.4 yards per reception, the North Dakota State alum only caught 29 passes. The 620 receiving yards were still a career-high total, as the Packers have regularly used a bevy of rookie-contract wideouts over the past two seasons. Watson still operated as Green Bay’s top deep threat, which will make an upset in Philadelphia more difficult.
The Packers still have a host of options available heading into that game, as the team has continued to use the draft — after the first round, of course — to stockpile receiver options. Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks and Tucker Kraft are healthy for the Packers, who are the NFC’s No. 7 seed. Watson, however, has proven to be a promising downfield playmaker who opens up the offense.
Still, three other Packers (Reed, Kraft, Doubs) topped 600 yards in one of the NFL’s most balanced attacks. Green Bay will attempt to get by while Watson tackles his most serious injury yet. His long-term future is suddenly much cloudier.
Seahawks Fire OC Ryan Grubb
Ryan Grubb made his professional debut this season, but the Seahawks did not like how it went. After rumors of making Grubb a one-and-done surfaced, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports the team will move on from the former college play-caller.
The Seahawks had poached Grubb from Alabama’s staff. The former Washington OC had followed Kalen DeBoer from Seattle to Tuscaloosa in 2024, but Mike Macdonald made an outside-the-box hire, with other NFL teams not showing interest in Grubb. While college interest should come Grubb’s way again, this is a quick dismissal at the pro level.
Although the Seahawks improved in total offense by going from 21st to 14th from 2023-24, they ranked 28th on the ground. That was believed to have driven Grubb to the hot seat. Macdonald may well target a more experienced option soon, as his college hire did not distinguish himself. Offensive line coach Scott Huff worked with Grubb at Washington, and the two were therefore seen by many as a package deal. Macdonald said on Monday, however, that despite Grubb’s dismissal Huff is likely to remain on staff (h/t The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar).
While Geno Smith has not taken steps forward after his Comeback Player of the Year campaign, he is at worst a middling starting QB. Grubb’s offense also produced a breakthrough effort from 2023 first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who had struggled to establish consistency under Shane Waldron. Smith-Njigba jumped from 628 receiving yards as a rookie to 1,130 this season. That will certainly help Grubb if/when he returns to the college level, but this early ouster would stand to trip alarms in the NFL.
Grubb had been the play-caller during Michael Penix Jr.‘s two dominant seasons at Washington, doing plenty to elevate the left-hander to top-10 draft status. Smith finished 21st in QBR, dropping a bit from 2023; the resurgent passer also threw 15 interceptions after finishing 2023 with just nine. Granted, the latter total came in just 15 starts due to two injury-driven absences. Smith played all 17 games this season, guiding the Seahawks to a 10-7 record. Untimely INTs did help define his season, though, and it will now be three play-callers in three seasons — assuming Seattle retains its Russell Wilson successor — for the 34-year-old vet.
The Seahawks interviewed Giants OC Mike Kafka for their HC position and tried to meet with him for their OC post soon after hiring Macdonald; New York blocked the latter effort. With the Giants rumored to have Kafka on the hot seat upon retaining Brian Daboll, the two-year Big Blue play-caller could be a name to watch for this Seahawks post.
Panthers To Retain DC Ejiro Evero
Ejiro Evero has managed to become a regular HC candidate despite coaching on struggling teams. He received tremendous interest after a 5-12 Broncos season, and teams also pursued him after he was part of a 2-15 Panthers team. Carolina’s defensive regression this season may change that, but Evero will not be fired from his current gig.
The Panthers intend to bring back Evero for a third season, Dave Canales said Monday (via The Athletic’s Joe Person). While the door appears open to other staff changes, Canales clarified Evero will not be fired.
This is somewhat interesting due to Canales inheriting Evero, whom Frank Reich hired in 2023. Evero had interviewed for the job Reich landed, only to be eventually let out of his Broncos DC contract. This led to an agreement to be one of Reich’s right-hand men. The Panthers finished fourth in total defense (but 29th in scoring) during their woeful 2023 season. Evero’s unit cratered this season, however, falling to last in total defense. The Panthers also dropped from 29th to 32nd in points allowed.
Despite this, Evero is coming back. As of early December, he was also on track to receive more HC interest. Even in a shallow pool of candidates, Evero landing a job after the Panthers ranked last defensively across the board would be borderline shocking. The Panthers, however, blocked him from leaving for another DC post last year. The Dolphins, Giants and Jaguars requested meetings. It appeared Evero would have been fine with another move, but the Panthers had him under contract and could block a move. It appears that will happen again in 2025.
Carolina went 5-12 in Canales’ first season, showing improvement down the stretch. Changes should certainly be expected to boost the Panthers’ defense, particularly in the pass-rushing department. Evero, however, also coached most of the year without top defensive lineman Derrick Brown, whom the team extended this past offseason. Brown is due back, and while a new OLB contingent should be considered likely, Evero will be the one leading the charge.
Latest On Raiders, HC Antonio Pierce
The Raiders stumbled to a 4-13 finish, dropping a one-sided Chargers rematch after winning two straight. This dropped the Silver and Black out of the top five in the draft order, which will impact the team’s ability to select one of the top quarterbacks in this year’s prospect pool.
Antonio Pierce remains in place as the Las Vegas HC, but rumors about a potential firing persist. Many around the league expected an ouster after Week 18. With Black Monday upon us, Pierce has thus far avoided it. But a dismissal may be close. Pierce is “absolutely” not safe, per Outkick.com’s Antonio Salguero.
Mark Davis met with Pierce after the Raiders’ loss to the Bolts, and another meeting may well be on tap for Monday morning. The Raiders placed Pierce in a difficult position this season, outfitting him with a bottom-tier quarterback situation. Pierce had pushed for a monster trade-up for Jayden Daniels, and while the Raiders were most likely the team that sent the Commanders the only offer for No. 2 overall, a 13-to-2 move-up was never viewed as realistic. The team’s inability to land a better QB option looks to have created issues between Pierce and GM Tom Telesco.
A report in April indicated the HC and GM disagreed on a quarterback trade-up, with Pierce landing in the camp that one was necessary. He may well have been right, as the Raiders ended up shut out of the 2024 first round. They deemed target Michael Penix Jr. a player of interest, just not one they viewed as worthy of a trade-up. Brock Bowers‘ arrival looks good on Telesco’s resume, but the Raiders now need a quarterback in what appears to be a worse offseason to do so. They sit sixth in the 2025 draft, and supply and demand points to Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward being off the board by then. Another trade-up effort may be required if the Raiders want either player.
Pierce-Telesco disagreements do not look to have ceased after the Bowers pick. Pierce privately continued to express disappointment over the QB situation he was handed, Salguero notes, indicating friction between he and Telesco continued into the season. This could well end up keying a Pierce firing, which will obviously not go over well with the former linebacker-turned-HC given the hand he was dealt. That said, Pierce does not bring a tactical background and needs both offensive and defensive play-callers. He also fired OC Luke Getsy midway through their first season together. Will Davis give his HC the chance to hire a new play-caller on that side of the ball?
Players stumped for Pierce last January, as he had gone 5-4 as Vegas’ interim HC. This year’s 4-13 outing has him squarely on the hot seat. Minority owner Tom Brady also looks likely to snare some of Telesco’s decision-making power, with Davis expected to turn to the legendary QB-turned-announcer for help to fix the quarterback situation. Brady is also on track to have a major say on the HC matter, though his Super Bowl LIX responsibilities with FOX may interfere on the latter front. Despite Pierce making it into Black Monday (unlike Jerod Mayo), he may not end the day as the Raiders’ HC.
Kirk Cousins Intends To Play In 2025
Kirk Cousins‘ days of maneuvering his way into windfall contracts are almost definitely over, as the Falcons came to regret the deal they authorized in March. Michael Penix Jr. replaced Cousins late in the season, leading to rumors of the veteran quarterback contemplating retirement.
The deliberation looks to have produced an answer. Cousins is aiming to continue his career next season, Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson notes. This effort will, of course, be centered around landing with a fourth NFL team. The Falcons are expected to release the longtime starter, a move that will come sign significant dead money.
Atlanta guaranteed Cousins $90MM at signing, which will make a release painful. A 2025 cut will carry a $65MM dead money hit, one that will undoubtedly be spread out over two offseasons via a post-June 1 designation. The Cousins release, even in a world in which the Jets cut Aaron Rodgers, would rank second in NFL history for dead money (behind the Broncos’ Russell Wilson cut). If/once Atlanta designates Cousins a post-June 1 release at the start of the 2025 league year, a $40MM 2025 cap hit would hit the books. As Penix will have a full offseason to prep as the Falcons’ starter, his short-lived mentor will look elsewhere.
The Falcons had long planned to use Cousins as their starter for two seasons, but their top-10 Penix investment interfered with that reality from the start. As it turned out, the team pulled the trigger late in Year 1. Penix will enter the offseason as Atlanta’s unquestioned starter.
Cousins’ concerning 2024 form will drastically alter his market, though a degree of interest should still emerge. This may not be a good year to need a quarterback. The 2025 QB draft class is not viewed as a group on the level of the past two crops, and the Vikings could take Sam Darnold off the market via the franchise tag. The likes of Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Daniel Jones would move up the free agency board in that event. Rodgers has not decided on playing in 2025; that will also be a variable that affects Cousins. The Steelers’ late-season swoon also stands to affect Wilson’s market, as the 36-year-old may not be too far north of where Cousins checks in financially come March.
The supply-and-demand issue at QB should still generate interest in Cousins, who turned 36 just before this season. Teams who will find themselves unable to land Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward will need to look into bridge options. Cousins carried strong enough value in 2024 he was seemingly able to avoid a bridge scenario — or, so he believed at the time of signing — but nothing in the realm of a four-year, $180MM contract is coming. It will, then, be interesting to see what kind of numbers the 10-year NFL starter commands.
Cousins led the NFL with 16 interceptions, despite being benched after 14 games. He did elevate the Falcons’ passing attack compared to where it was with Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder, helping the team to seven wins while averaging 7.7 yards per attempt. Now being nearly 18 months removed from the October 2023 Achilles tear also would stand to help the immobile vet, but his 2024 form will still factor prominently into his market.