AFC South Notes: Texans, Jaguars, Grant
The Texans shopped Cam Robinson before last week’s roster-setting deadline but held onto the $12MM tackle. However, Houston’s O-line overhaul indeed will not have a Week 1 job waiting for the ninth-year veteran. Aireontae Ersery beat out Robinson for the Texans’ left tackle position, according to the team’s depth chart. This indicates a high degree of confidence in the Minnesota product, whom the team traded up for in Round 2. Robinson joins 2024 second-round pick Blake Fisher as backup tackles. The veteran’s name could appear in pre-deadline trade rumors for the second straight year. Laken Tomlinson, Jake Andrews and Ed Ingram round out Houston’s front five. Robinson, 29, has started all 101 games he has played. That streak will end Sunday.
Here is the latest from the AFC South:
- C.J. Gardner-Johnson was feared to have suffered a training camp ACL tear. Even when the veteran safety turned out to have evaded a season-ending diagnosis, he missed time leading up to the season. As it turns out, the famed trash talker is expected to be on the field for the Texans in Week 1, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. The Texans are down Jimmie Ward, who is on the commissioner’s exempt list, but having CJGJ available alongside Calen Bullock will help one of the NFL’s best defenses.
- Houston created nearly $5MM in cap space by restructuring Dalton Schultz‘s contract, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. This is a simple restructure, rather than a true rework, with most of the veteran TE’s 2025 base salary shifted into a signing bonus to drop his cap hit from $14MM to $9.09MM. Schultz’s three-year, $36MM deal still runs through 2026, though it now carries a $18.92MM 2026 cap number.
- The Jaguars‘ backfield makeup is rather interesting entering the season. Two holdovers (Travis Etienne, Tank Bigsby) join two Liam Coen–James Gladstone rookie investments (Bhayshul Tuten, LeQuint Allen) on the depth chart. While Etienne came up as a trade candidate earlier this year, the former first-rounder remains rostered. Despite going in the seventh round, Allen has impressed Jags brass enough a role as the team’s third-down back is in play, per ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano. A two-year starter at Syracuse, Allen led the ACC with 20 touchdowns last season. His third and final Orange year produced a pass-game uptick — in the form of 64 catches for 521 yards. With Tuten clocking a 4.32-second 40-yard dash time at the Combine, the Jags have an interesting array of options here. While Travis Hunter‘s early-season deployment will garner far more attention, how the Jags’ RB hierarchy looks will also be of interest as the Coen era starts.
- Bumped off the 49ers’ 53-man roster after making the initial squad, Richie Grant is still receiving looks. The Colts worked out Grant (32 career starts) this week, ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner notes. Indianapolis also brought in Boston Scott for an audition, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. Scott has not caught on with a team yet this year; the 30-year-old RB — a six-year Eagles contributor — did not see any game action in 2024.
Offseason In Review: Pittsburgh Steelers
With Alex Smith the opposing quarterback in the Steelers’ most recent playoff win, the team had set up camp as perhaps the NFL’s lead middle-class resident. The Steelers spun their wheels at quarterback following Ben Roethlisberger‘s retirement, missing on Kenny Pickett and seeing its bargain-basement Russell Wilson/Justin Fields setup deliver predictably modest returns. The franchise’s long-held hesitancy about splashy outside acquisitions also persisted during Omar Khan‘s first years at the helm; that changed noticeably this offseason.
The Steelers operated aggressively on the trade front, extending D.K. Metcalf and Jonnu Smith upon acquiring them and taking on nearly $20MM in Jalen Ramsey money. While another T.J. Watt megadeal transpired weeks after the Dolphins swap, the team’s early-June agreement with Aaron Rodgers — after months of stalling on the future Hall of Fame QB’s part — represents the most important move for the 2025 team’s outlook. Will the high-action offseason finally move the needle for a franchise that continues to end seasons in the wild-card round?
Trades:
- Sent Seahawks Nos. 52, 223 for WR D.K. Metcalf, No. 185
- Traded WR George Pickens, 2027 sixth-round pick to Cowboys for 2026 third-rounder, 2027 fifth
- Acquired CB Jalen Ramsey, TE Jonnu Smith, 2027 seventh-round pick for S Minkah Fitzpatrick, 2027 fifth-rounder
A draft-and-develop receiver factory, the Steelers showed signs of a stripe change last year when they inquired about several pass catchers — most notably Brandon Aiyuk — via trade. The team had trade parameters worked out with the 49ers on Aiyuk, who was interested throughout the saga despite the Steelers not reaching the $30MM-per-year price point the Patriots had. Aiyuk recommitting to San Francisco changed Pittsburgh’s plan, and after Mike Williams did not accomplish much in what turned out to be his final season, the Steelers dedicated the early part of their offseason to a legitimate upgrade.
While a Deebo Samuel rumor circulated, the Steelers aimed higher. Samuel has an All-Pro season on his resume, but Metcalf has been the steadier option. The Steelers’ monthslong WR trade quest included checking in on Metcalf with the Seahawks before the 2024 deadline; Seattle balked then. Months later, Metcalf requested a trade. In the same week, Seattle unloaded 2020s pillars Metcalf and Geno Smith. The Chargers and Texans came up as preferred Metcalf destinations. The Steelers including a second-round pick in their offer sealed the deal.
Rather than renting Metcalf and evaluating his fit in Arthur Smith‘s offense, the team paid up by giving the two-time Pro Bowler an extension that ranked third among wide receivers at the time. Months later, Metcalf is the NFL’s fourth-highest-paid wideout.
He had sought a $30MM-plus-AAV deal upon requesting a trade, and a Steelers team not known for big investments in its own receivers — let alone other teams’ — stepped up. Metcalf received nearly a $10MM-per-year raise, following A.J. Brown (and now Terry McLaurin) as 2019 WR draftees to land a lucrative third contract.
Metcalf’s $60MM fully guaranteed also ranks fourth among receivers. The Steelers kept their non-Roethlisberger/T.J. Watt guarantee precedent here by refusing to guarantee any of Metcalf’s post-2026 salary, splitting his full guarantee between 2025-26 salaries and a $30MM signing bonus. The Steelers have some flexibility beginning in 2027, when roster bonuses begin to appear in the contract. If rostered on Day 5 of the ’27 league year, Metcalf will see a $6.5MM roster bonus. Day 5 of the 2028 and ’29 league years will provide a $5MM roster bonus.
Although short-term second contracts for Diontae Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster commenced, the Steelers have only awarded Antonio Brown and Hines Ward long-term deals at receiver this century. Metcalf breaks stride due to being a six-year Seahawk, but the Steelers spent most of 2024 trying to add an outside hire here. They paid up to do so a year later.
Certainly more good than great, Metcalf is 2-for-6 in Pro Bowl nods and 3-for-6 in 1,000-yard seasons. While not proving himself a high-ceiling player, Metcalf has some prime years left. He is going into an age-28 season, having shown plus durability throughout his career. Metcalf has missed just three career games. The Ryan Grubb offense did not prove beneficial to the former second-rounder, who posted a 992-yard year in 2024. Mike Tomlin played a key role in recruiting Metcalf, as he did Aiyuk, and Metcalf in turn attracted Rodgers to Pittsburgh.
At the time the Steelers acquired Metcalf, Pickens was still on the roster. A future with both was technically possible, but it does not sound like Pittsburgh wanted to remain in business with its latest mercurial wideout. Pickens follows Brown, Chase Claypool, Martavis Bryant and Santonio Holmes as modern-era Steeler WRs traded during their rookie deals. Even though Pickens and Metcalf overlapped, the Steelers decided after last season they were going to get out early on the talented WR.
Rumblings about a separation emerged in January, thought it was not known if Pickens would follow the likes of Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders as WR talents who merely played out their rookie deals before leaving in free agency. Trade rumors surfaced during draft week, however. The Packers were mentioned as a suitor, but the Steelers held tight during the draft. The post-draft period does not regularly bring trades; the Cowboys were unconcerned with trade timing, as it turned out, this offseason.
Omar Khan said the Cowboys reached out post-draft, and the team will pair Pickens with CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys trading for Pickens and then unloading Micah Parsons is a rather interesting transaction log. Only going into his age-24 season, Pickens has a significant opportunity to impress after being the Steelers’ No. 1 target for much of his rookie deal. It is now quite possible he will be on a third team in three years after the 2026 free agency period, though a franchise tag — particularly with Parsons in Wisconsin — will be in play.
Attitude issues, which are not new for a Steelers wide receiver, affected the team’s view of the 2022 second-round pick. And a summer report pegged Pittsburgh as not deeming Pickens and Rodgers as an ideal partnership. Depleting a receiving corps before the QB had even committed is an interesting move, and big questions about Roman Wilson‘s viability as a WR2 — after a five-snap rookie season — exist.
The Steelers did add a weapon for Rodgers, but it involved the tight end room. Smith also became the third name in the Ramsey-Fitzpatrick swap. After acquiring a disgruntled Fitzpatrick in Year 2 of his rookie deal, as the Dolphins used 2019 as a teardown mission, the Steelers sent him back to Miami at 28. Ramsey enters the picture at 30, coming after yet another instance of the likely Hall of Fame-bound corner wearing out his welcome with a team.
Obtaining Ramsey for a third-round pick and tight end Hunter Long in 2023, the Dolphins generally received solid play from the three-time All-Pro. Ramsey missed nearly half the 2023 season after knee surgery but played 17 games last year. Pro Football Focus graded the versatile cover man 11th among CB regulars in 2024, but Ramsey became unhappy in Miami.
A clash with Mike McDaniel and general discontent with the state of the Dolphins was believed to have irked Ramsey, though his reasoning for seeking an exit after two seasons is still not fully known. Despite a rumor pointing to Ramsey eyeing another West Coast move, the Steelers became a suitor.
The extension the Dolphins gave Ramsey last summer limited his trade market. Teams were believed to have balked at taking on too much of Ramsey’s 2025 compensation, but Chris Grier — despite yet another instance of the GM catering to a star player with an early extension or guarantee package — did well on this trade.
The Dolphins are only picking up $7MM of Ramsey’s 2025 tab, leaving the Steelers with $19.6MM. Ramsey’s three-year, $72.3MM extension runs through 2028, and the Dolphins took on the dead money (a non-QB-record $35.68MM). The Steelers cutting Ramsey during one of the next three offseasons, barring the corner securing yet another payday, would not bring any dead money.
Ramsey appears set for a hybrid role in Pittsburgh. The former Jaguars boundary defender began seeing extensive slot time with the Rams, logging 325 inside snaps in 2021 and 213 in 2022. After a perimeter role under Vic Fangio in 2023, Ramsey saw 185 slot snaps last season. He still played mostly on the boundary, which will be something to monitor here. But the Steelers could best utilize their top three corners by playing Ramsey inside more; that would leave room for Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay outside.
Fitzpatrick moved himself toward at least the Hall of Fame fringe with three first-team All-Pro seasons (2019, 2020, 2022), helping the Steelers remain a top-tier defense for most of his Pennsylvania stay. The dynamic safety intercepted 17 passes from 2019-22 and just one between the 2023 and ’24 seasons. The Steelers used Fitzpatrick closer to the line of scrimmage frequently in 2023, but even after a return to more of a deep safety role last season, his playmaking did not increase. The Steelers determined a $22MM 2025 cap hit was not worth what Ramsey (and Smith) could bring.
Pittsburgh gave Fitzpatrick a then-safety-record four-year, $72.99MM extension in 2022. Two years remain on the deal. The Steelers took on just $6.86MM in dead money by dealing the eighth-year vet. Lower-cost cogs DeShon Elliott and Juan Thornhill are set to work as the first-string safeties. This could bring a substantial downgrade, but the expected cornerback improvement may offset it to a degree.
This will be Jonnu Smith‘s third time playing for Arthur Smith, the former Titans OC and Falcons HC. Two years after Atlanta traded for Jonnu, Pittsburgh was connected to yet another Smiths reunion in May. Although Jonnu Smith-Dolphins extension talks occurred and the veteran tight end — who had been attached to a two-year, $8.4MM deal agreed to shortly after his 2024 Falcons release — expressed a desire to stay in Miami. A trade came together a month later, with the Steelers readier to pay the resurgent tight end than the Dolphins, who operated more conservatively this offseason.
Chock full of tight ends thanks to the presences of Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward, Jonnu Smith completes an interesting set. With the Steelers light at receiver beyond Metcalf, plenty of two-TE sets figure to emerge. Jonnu improved on his 2023 bounce-back season under Arthur (50 catches, 582 yards, three TDs) with a banner Miami slate (88/884/8). The 30-year-old TE’s cap hit will rise from $5.13MM in 2025 to $10.87MM in 2026.
Extensions and restructures:
- Gave OLB T.J. Watt three-year, $123MM extension ($108MM guaranteed)
- Extended S DeShon Elliott two-year, $12.5MM extension ($7.17MM guaranteed)
- Re-upped RB Jaylen Warren on two-year deal worth nearly $17.5MM
- Agreed to restructure with Cole Holcomb, clearing $5MM in cap space; LB now on one-year, $2MM deal
The cost of Watt’s extension began to rise when Maxx Crosby started the offseason edge rusher market boom, but the price crystalized after the Browns convinced Myles Garrett to rescind his trade request with a $40MM-per-year extension. While Garrett’s deal reset the market, the Steelers were smart to hammer out a Watt deal when they did. Had Pittsburgh waited until September like they did in 2021, the contract would assuredly have been pricier thanks to the Packers’ Micah Parsons windfall.
Unlike in 2021, Watt skipped minicamp. Plenty of rumors pegged the sides as far apart — particularly on guarantees — but a Steelers organization that does not negotiate in-season beat its self-imposed deadline by nearly two months.
Trade rumors became part of this process, but it never appeared anything was close. Watt’s slower finish (after a torrid start) last season was believed to factor into the Pittsburgh negotiation, but with the team in Year 4 without franchise-QB money on the books, flexibility existed. It took a monster guarantee package to seal this deal, though. Considering the Steelers are 1-10 without Watt since his 2017 arrival, the ninth-year sack ace carried notable leverage in his second round of extension talks.
49ers’ Jauan Jennings Returns To Practice; No Agreement On Contract
A year after signing a modest extension as a restricted free agent, Jauan Jennings nearly reached 1,000 yards. He then saw Deebo Samuel traded and Brandon Aiyuk land on the reserve/PUP list. A push for better contract terms has commenced, but Jennings remains tied to the deal he signed last year.
Attached to a two-year, $11.89MM contract that expires at season’s end, Jennings will be expected to start for the 49ers this year. Understandably, the sixth-year veteran has tried to procure a better deal as another season with a starter’s workload is on tap. While the 49ers do not intend to resolve this matter with a trade, it does not sound like negotiations are dead in the water.
[RELATED: Recapping 49ers’ 2025 Offseason]
But the team must now begin preparations for Week 1. Decimated at receiver thanks to the injuries to Aiyuk and Jacob Cowing accompanying the Demarcus Robinson suspension, the 49ers have made a few moves — in adding Skyy Moore, Russell Gage and Marquez Valdes-Scantling — while their Kendrick Bourne workout commenced today. Jennings also returned to practice, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows.
Jennings, 28, had been out for more than a month with a calf injury. That malady surfaced shortly after his contract push became known. Players have used injuries as de facto hold-in measures during a CBA that makes holdouts difficult to wage. Kyle Shanahan, however, said Jennings had not formally requested a trade and ultimately expected him to play in Week 1. It seems that is on track to happen, as the 49ers will have Jennings teaming with 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall as their top wide receivers against the Seahawks.
Even if Jennings returns for Week 1, his contract situation will be one to monitor. The 49ers may be leery about a second notable WR deal after ending the monthslong Aiyuk saga with a $30MM-per-year deal. Jennings is not a candidate to land a contract on that level, but the 49ers also paid Brock Purdy this offseason and handed out third contracts to George Kittle and Fred Warner. San Francisco’s budget may not include a significant Jennings raise, which would make this a pivotal year for the former seventh-round pick.
With Pearsall and ex-Arizona State teammate Aiyuk in place as the 49ers’ long-term weapons alongside Kittle, Jennings — absent an extension — will be a player to monitor ahead of the 2026 free agency period. With 2026 set to be Jennings’ age-29 season, he may have one real chance to cash in. And even that might bring an age-driven discount. For now, Jennings will be a crucial part the 49ers’ offense — particularly while Aiyuk is sidelined due to a longer ACL recovery timetable.
Jalen Sundell Earns Seahawks’ Center Job
Reminding of the Panthers’ pre-Ikem Ekwonu left tackle streak or the Broncos’ run of pre-Mike McGlinchey right tackles, the Seahawks have amassed a lengthy string of their own up front. They will have a new Week 1 center for the seventh straight season.
A recent UDFA from the Division I-FCS level, Jalen Sundell has done enough to be tabbed to snap to Sam Darnold in Week 1. After The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar indicated Sundell was on track to start the season at center, Mike Macdonald (via ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson) confirmed Sundell will be at center and Anthony Bradford at right guard. This wraps monthslong competitions.
For Sundell, this represents quite the climb. It will also bring two North Dakota State alums alongside each other along the Seahawks’ O-line. The team drafted Grey Zabel in Round 1 and slotted him at left guard. Zabel played with Sundell at the FCS powerhouse. The duo started together for the Bison during the 2022 and ’23 seasons, while Sundell — who began his college career two years earlier than Zabel — was a Bison starter during the two prior seasons.
The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped all of the divisions’ seasons south of the FBS level, forcing FCS players to play spring and fall 2021 seasons (Previous Bison QB Trey Lance opted out of the spring slate as a high-end draft prospect). Sundell started 20 North Dakota State games at center that year and continued as the team’s top snapper in 2022. After an injury-marred ’22 season, Sundell kicked out to left tackle in 2023 and became a first-team All-American. The Seahawks did not add him as a UDFA until July 2024, but he made the 53-man roster and played as a 12-game backup.
With Zabel immediately given the LG job and Bradford the favorite to stick at RG, Zabel unseated Olu Oluwatimi. The team had turned to Oluwatimi following Connor Williams‘ in-season retirement, but the 2023 fifth-round pick suffered a back injury during training camp. That allowed Sundell an extended audition, and the Seahawks will go with him to open the season. While Macdonald said Oluwatimi is a candidate to reclaim his job in-season, the Seahawks will return three 2024 starters up front to go with their North Dakota State imports. If Bradford or Zabel went down, Macdonald said (via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta) Sundell would slide to guard while Oluwatimi would take over at center.
Sundell follows Williams, who succeeded Evan Brown. From 2019-22, the Seahawks used Justin Britt, Ethan Pocic, Kyle Fuller and Austin Blythe as their season-opening centers (though, Pocic was still Seattle’s primary center in 2021, starting 10 games after missing Week 1). The Seahawks do not have much invested at center presently, but they will give a long-odds option a chance to provide stability.
Rams’ Alaric Jackson Expected To Play In Week 1
SEPTEMBER 1: Jackson’s return to team work has not produced a setback, and McVay said (via the Orange County Register’s Adam Grosbard) the plan is for the team’s starting left tackle to be protecting Stafford in Week 1.
This would be a well-timed ramp-up period for the Rams, who had a backup LT protecting Jimmy Garoppolo for most of training camp. Although McVay confirmed the blood-clot issue will need to still be monitored to open the season, the Rams are poised to be at full strength on offense against a top-tier Texans defense.
AUGUST 28: Sidelined by the second blood-clot issue of his career, Alaric Jackson moved out of the picture for an extended period this summer. D.J. Humphries resides as the Rams’ emergency left tackle starter, with Jackson not taking part in team drills throughout training camp.
While the Rams spent much of camp trotting out backups at LT and quarterback, the prospect of Jackson being ready to protect Matthew Stafford — who has returned to practice after an extended bout with back trouble — is on the table. Jackson returned to 11-on-11 drills this week, Sean McVay said (via the Los Angeles Times’ Gary Klein).
[RELATED: Assessing Rams’ 2025 Offseason]
McVay voiced an expectation Jackson will be ready for the Rams’ opener, which would represent a significant development considering how long he has been sidelined. The blood-clot diagnosis emerged in mid-June, and while the recently re-signed blocker remained on the Rams’ roster throughout, he had not been cleared for team drills. This led to a Humphries-Warren McClendon competition for the emergency role.
Added on a one-year, $2.5MM deal that came nearly fully guaranteed, Humphries joined the Rams around the time Jackson’s blood-clot issue surfaced. The former Cardinals mainstay did not make much of an impact with the Chiefs last season, suffering an injury in his first assignment and not earning his starting job back. After an apparent 49ers commitment, no deal commenced. That kept Humphries an option to fill in for Jackson. While the eight-year Arizona starter brings considerable experience to the table, his most recent work revealed a substantial quality gap between he and Jackson.
Given a three-year, $57.75MM deal to pass on free agency and stay in Los Angeles, Jackson secured $30MM guaranteed on this contract. He has worked as L.A.’s starting left tackle for the past two seasons, helping the Rams recover from a Joe Noteboom misevaluation as the Andrew Whitworth successor. While Jackson missed eight games due to blood clots in 2022, he returned to win an LT competition over Noteboom.
Jackson began last season serving a two-game suspension but did not miss any more time (beyond a Week 18 rest). If the former UDFA find is not ready for Week 1, his return to practice points to an early-season return.
Broncos Notes: Nix, Contracts, Ehlinger, LBs
While the Broncos have a rookie-QB salary headlining their roster, they are still not out of the woods on the Russell Wilson contract. The 2022 trade/extension mistake — which the NFLPA grievance shed more light on — still has Bo Nix‘s predecessor on the Broncos’ cap sheet for $32MM. This has influenced how the Broncos have structured contracts and approached acquisitions.
As ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold notes, the Saints had 11 Sean Payton-era draft classes in which they chose fewer than seven rookies. The Broncos grabbed seven in 2024 and ’25. This was by design, as Legwold indicates the Wilson release influenced the Broncos to pivot from the veteran-heavy roster constructions Payton preferred in New Orleans. Denver did enjoy a more notable free agency period this year than last, signing the likes of Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga and Evan Engram. But the team also minimized its usage of void years. While Denver added a void year to Patrick Surtain‘s extension to help with 2025 cap space, the cap-manipulating tactic did not surface in Zach Allen‘s four-year, $104MM deal.
Void years savants, the Saints continue to navigate historic cap issues each offseason. The Broncos began their Payton years by using this route regularly — via the Mike McGlinchey, Ben Powers and Garett Bolles deals. Even Courtland Sutton‘s extension includes two dummy years, but a source told Legwold Broncos ownership seems to have an influence in this matter. Payton’s Saints past injects some “prove it” vibes to any notions of a stripes change regarding cost conservation, but many in the league noticed some changes this offseason.
It will be interesting to see if more comes from CEO Greg Penner regarding contract structure in the near future. Here is the latest out of Denver:
- The Nix pick drew reach labels last year, but Payton helped coax a strong rookie season from the No. 12 overall selection. When the Broncos assembled their 2024 QB big board, they ranked Nix behind only Jayden Daniels, per Legwold. Payton’s Nix infatuation has been well chronicled, and it is certainly interesting the Broncos appear to have ranked the polarizing Oregon prospect above no-doubt No. 1 Caleb Williams. We are still far too early in this quarterback class’ run to establish a clear hierarchy. This year, when seven 2024 QB draftees (counting the Saints’ Spencer Rattler) will start in Week 1, will provide more evidence on each second-year QB talent.
- Behind Nix and Jarrett Stidham, Sam Ehlinger resides on Denver’s practice squad. Ehlinger is believed to have received two active-roster invites following his Broncos release, veteran insider Jordan Schultz notes. They were each viewed as contending teams, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. Considering the gulf between veteran-minimum money and practice squad payouts, Ehlinger’s decision is interesting. The Broncos can up his rate via gameday elevations or a potential signing off the practice squad in-season.
- Denver will count on two starters recovering from at linebacker, in Greenlaw and Alex Singleton. Greenlaw, who suffered an Achilles tear in Super Bowl LVIII and missed most of last season, also was down due to multiple injuries this offseason. Payton pointed to (via the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel) pitch counts for the two LBs early in the season. The Broncos re-signed Justin Strnad, Singleton’s primary sub after the starter’s Week 3 ACL tear, and kept rookie UDFA Karene Reid as backups. Those two may see more time earlier, as Greenlaw and Singleton round into form.
- Tight end Nate Adkins remains on the Broncos’ 53-man roster, rather than being stashed as an IR-return player, after undergoing tightrope surgery to address a high ankle sprain. Adam Prentice is the current Denver fullback, but when Atkins returns, Tomasson adds the team is considering sliding him to a fullback role. Adkins is one of four Broncos TEs, joining Engram, Adam Trautman and Lucas Krull.
- Four RBs (J.K. Dobbins, R.J. Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie) are on the active roster, and Tomasson indicates the team could circle back to Blake Watson. The Broncos reached an injury settlement with the second-year UDFA after he suffered a preseason PCL strain. They want him back on the P-squad, per Tomasson, who notes it is a three-week injury settlement. No deal can commence until that time passes.
Landon Dickerson Moving Toward Week 1 Return; G Kenyon Green On Eagles’ 53-Man Roster
Undergoing meniscus surgery in mid-August, Landon Dickerson was viewed as a candidate to come back early in the season. But missed time was still squarely on the radar for the Eagles’ Pro Bowl left guard.
That may not end up being required. After the defending Super Bowl champions kept Dickerson on their active roster — rather than making an IR move — Dickerson has returned to practice, per the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. Adding Dickerson appears “full go,” McLane points to the four-year Philly starter opening the season on time.
[RELATED: Assessing Eagles’ 2025 Offseason]
While the Eagles could take a safer route with one of their top players and give him their upcoming mini-bye to return ahead of Week 2 (after a Thursday-night Cowboys clash), the team having him back at practice days ahead of the opener certainly puts a debut against Dallas in play. A Pro Bowler three years running, Dickerson has only missed one start due to injury over the past three years.
The Eagles gave Dickerson a then-record four-year, $84MM extension in March 2024. He then served as a vital part of Saquon Barkley‘s 2,000-yard rushing season, teaming with Pro Bowlers Lane Johnson and Cam Jurgens — along with left tackle mainstay Jordan Mailata and the resurgent Mekhi Becton — to power another strong Jeff Stoutland group. Becton parlayed his bounce-back season into a two-year Chargers deal, with Tyler Steen on track to start at RG.
With Steen a two-year backup set to debut as a regular starter, it would naturally benefit the Eagles not to need a Dickerson sub to start their title defense. Dickerson’s surgery was also believed to be minor, which kept the door open here. The team has Brett Toth and swingman Matt Pryor as backup options, and McLane adds Kenyon Green is now on the team’s 53-man roster.
Acquired in the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade, Green did not make a strong push to replace Becton and did not secure a spot on Philadelphia’s active roster this week. The former No. 15 overall pick follows Becton in being a disappointing first-rounder now in Philly’s O-line developmental program, but he is up from the practice squad and set to back up Dickerson and Steen. Green, who made 23 starts in Houston during a wildly underwhelming tenure, replaces waiver claim Willie Lampkin on the Eagles’ active roster. Lampkin landed on IR soon after being claimed.
Cowboys Limited Micah Parsons Trade Conversations To Teams With DT Depth; No Talks Occurred Pre-Draft
One of this century’s most significant NFL transactions occurred Thursday, when the Cowboys shockingly traded Micah Parsons to the Packers for two first-round picks and 10th-year defensive tackle Kenny Clark. After a monthslong saga that brought a host of rumors (and Jerry Jones confirming them in his rather pivotal Michael Irvin interview) no trade would happen, Parsons has since arrived in Green Bay and is now tied to a record-smashing defender contract.
While the topic of a trade came up multiple times during this process — including an early-February report indicating internal dialogue transpired on a deal — no real waves surfaced regarding a swap until this week. Parsons’ camp had attempted to reengage with Jones, who had waged an interesting crusade against the defensive end’s agent (David Mulugheta) during this saga, this week but was told he would either play on his fifth-year option number or be traded.
Parsons has barely a week to prepare for the Packers’ opener. It does not sound like the four-time Pro Bowler will be a full-time participant — after a de facto hold-in — according to Brian Gutekunst (via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky). Parsons attended Cowboys minicamp and training camp but did not practice, using a back injury as cover during training camp. That was never viewed as a major issue, the Thursday trade haul confirming the Packers’ minimal concerns here.
Jones’ stance of Clark replacing Parsons on the 2025 being a net gain is a tough sell, as the 2026 and ’27 first-rounders are the lead assets here — for a Cowboys team that has drafted eight All-Pros in Round 1 since 2010. But the longtime owner did say the team’s interest in adding a D-tackle impacted the team’s search.
The 37th-year owner indicated (via NFL.com’s Jane Slater) the Cowboys only discussed trades with teams who carried sufficient DT depth and would be willing to meet Parsons’ contractual demands. The latter component goes without saying in a trade like this, but it is interesting the Cowboys made the DT position a central part of this deal.
This included “several” conversations with the Packers, per Jones (via TMJ4’s Ashley Washburn) in recent days. While the Cowboys would presumably have a much better chance to justify Jones’ comments about potential post-Parsons improvement in 2025 had they unloaded the superstar EDGE before the draft, the owner/GM said (via Slater) the team did begin considering it in the spring. Though, the 82-year-old Cowboys honcho added the team did not discuss Parsons with other clubs pre-draft.
Jones (via Slater) cited the Cowboys’ D-end depth as a reason they felt OK making this seismic move. Dallas used a second-round pick on a defensive end for the third time in four years, adding Donovan Ezeiruaku a year after selecting Marshawn Kneeland. Sam Williams is also a former second-rounder, but the 2022 draftee is coming off an ACL tear.
Dallas also reunited with Dante Fowler, who registered a Washington-best 10.5 sacks last season. That said, ESPN.com’s Bill Barnwell relayed a telling stat about Parsons’ value to the team. From 2021-24, Dallas led the league in defensive EPA per play with Parsons on the field. In 1,039 snaps without Parsons in that span, the Cowboys’ defense ranked 31st in that metric.
Jones (via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo) cited run defense as a key need. The Cowboys, who have not invested much at linebacker in recent years, ranked 29th in run defense last season and 22nd in 2022. In their 2021 and ’23 playoff years, the team ranked 16th.
A 2016 first-round pick, Clark was a nine-year Packers starter en route to two extensions. He earned Pro Bowl nods in 2019, 2021 and 2023, being regarded as one of the NFL’s better DTs. Pro Football Focus ranked Clark 53rd among interior D-linemen last season — a career-worst finish — but ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric slotted him 18th among DTs in 2023.
Clark, 30 in October, also underwent offseason foot surgery to address an issue that hampered him in 2024. Clark joins the recently re-signed Osa Odighizuwa (four years, $80MM) as high-priced DTs in Dallas, which took on Clark’s three-year, $64MM extension that runs through 2027.
Although Gutekunst said Friday (via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman) he only believed a legitimate shot at landing Parsons existed a couple days ago, the Packers had the framework of a trade by Wednesday (via Demovsky) were both among the first teams to reach out and appealed to Parsons. Green Bay reminding Parsons of Penn State, where he attended college, increased his interest, per the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins. The $47MM-per-year windfall — $6MM north (in AAV) from T.J. Watt‘s previous non-QB record and $6.5MM higher than Dallas had offered — didn’t hurt, either.
Jones said (via Garafolo) the intra-NFC component of this trade did not matter to him, indicating he would only have avoided trading within the NFC East. Parsons, 26, will return to Dallas as a Packer in Week 4. While we might learn some dissenting opinions down the road, depending on how this trade goes, Jones said (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) the front office and coaching staff were “unanimous” this was the right trade to make.
Clark was “shocked” by the trade; he joins some Cowboys in reacting that way. Brian Schottenheimer said (via WFAA’s Ed Werder) he talked to between 12 and 14 players, including Dak Prescott and Trevon Diggs, about the move at it was completed. Schottenheimer had said he was confident Parsons would suit up for the Cowboys in Week 1, but days after he spoke with the disgruntled player about his actions during the Cowboys’ preseason finale, the new HC will oversee a lower-profile pass-rushing group. Schottenheimer added Friday this trade was “not an overnight thing.”
“This is not something we came about; it wasn’t something where it was like an overnight thing,” Schottenheimer said. “We had talked about it, and at the end of the day, I think when you look at a football team, when you can potentially add up to four or five players and things like that, it gives you the ability to do some things.”
It certainly seems like the Cowboys pivoted, as their aim had been to extend Parsons in 2025 for a while. They prioritized Prescott and CeeDee Lamb deals in their 2024 contract years, giving them top-end contracts — Prescott’s a still-unapproached $60MM-per-year accord — just before last season. This Parsons zag naturally prompted Jones to bring up the seminal Herschel Walker trade, which ignited the Cowboys’ rebuild into a three-Super Bowl run between 1992-95.
In Jones and Jimmy Johnson‘s first year at the helm, the Cowboys received a staggering haul for the then-superstar running back in October 1989, landing three first-round picks, three second-rounders, a third and a sixth between the 1990 and ’92 drafts. The Parsons haul does not compare to the Walker swap, which would be an impossible deal to pull off today.
These extension talks breaking down led to the Cowboys betting they can improve based on the two additional first-round picks — and whatever Clark can provide in his early 30s — they collected from the Packers. Early proclamations for the Green Bay side as the trade winner have emerged, but Dallas has two first-round choices to make before the judges’ scorecards are turned in on this momentous swap down the road.
AFC East Notes: White, Wright, Jets, Pats
Teams do not have to release injury reports until next week, but the Bills may have a second issue at cornerback to open their season. Maxwell Hairston is on IR, being one of the 41 players to receive a return designation Tuesday, but the Bills’ preferred option behind the rookie — Tre’Davious White — now appears uncertain for Week 1. White suffered what the Bills are calling a lower leg injury during the final training camp practice, The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia notes, and did not travel to the team’s preseason finale in Tampa. White did not practice at the Bills workout open to the media Wednesday.
White certainly has a history of injury trouble, going down with an ACL tear in 2021 and an Achilles tear in 2023. Those maladies altered White’s first Bills stint, as he became a cap casualty in March 2024. Re-signing on a one-year, $3MM deal, White has a prime opportunity to be Buffalo’s boundary CB opposite Christian Benford — the team’s 2023 season-opening setup. This is not a season-ending injury, per GM Brandon Beane, and White not landing on IR points to a September return. If White is unable to go, the Bills have Ja’Marcus Ingram, sixth-round rookie Dorian Strong and practice squad stash Dane Jackson. If the Bills place White on IR now, he would not count against their eight-activation total like Hairston and Tylan Grable do.
Here is the latest from the AFC East:
- A question mark late in White’s first stint (and generally in Bills-Chiefs playoff matchups), cornerback is one of Buffalo’s few roster issues entering the season. The Bills are confident in their offense, but ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano notes a trade or two to bolster the defense should be monitored ahead of the November deadline. Buffalo allowed 5.5 yards per play last season (22nd), and Graziano mentions safety as a possible position to watch regarding a trade. The Bills have Cole Bishop set to complement Taylor Rapp, with Damar Hamlin back as a backup. Jordan Poyer also re-signed as practice squad insurance, reminding of Micah Hyde‘s 2024 NFL finale.
- The Dolphins will begin the season shorthanded in the backfield. While De’Von Achane is expected to be ready after missing late-summer work, Mike McDaniel said Jaylen Wright will not. Wright underwent minor leg surgery but is expected to miss multiple games, with McDaniel (via NFL’com’s Cameron Wolfe) replying “September-ish” as a return window for the second-year RB. Sixth-round rookie Ollie Gordon would be positioned as Achane’s backup, though the Dolphins did reunite with Jeff Wilson on a practice squad deal.
- We are less than 10 days from the season opener, and the Jets have not determined a starting center yet. Aaron Glenn confirmed (via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy) the competition is ongoing. Considering the team employs a new starting quarterback (Justin Fields) and a new OC, it is interesting no winner in the Joe Tippmann–Josh Myers battle has been determined. A recent John Simpson injury kicked Tippmann to guard, but an expected return from the LG will move one of the center competitors to the bench. That would leave Tippman set for a demotion or Myers’ low-cost contract (one year, $2MM) set to relegate the ex-Packer to backup status for the first time.
- The Patriots were the only team to submit a waiver claim for Tommy DeVito, according to the Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi. The ex-Giant joins Drake Maye and Josh Dobbs on New England’s QB depth chart. The Pats, however, made an unsuccessful claim for Jaylon Jones, ESPN.com’s Field Yates tweets. One of two Jaylon Joneses currently working as an NFL CB, the recent Cardinals cut — a fourth-year UDFA out of Ole Miss — returned to the Bears via waivers.
- Nick Folk, the Jets‘ kicker from 2010-16, agreed to return recently. The 40-year-old specialist agreed to a one-year, $2.9MM contract that includes $1.4MM guaranteed, per ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini. With Folk a vested veteran, the rest of the $2.9MM will lock in next week.
Ravens Extend S Kyle Hamilton
AUGUST 29: Hamilton’s fully guaranteed money includes a signing bonus, his 2025 and ’26 base salaries, and a 2026 option bonus, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes. More significantly in the long term, Hamilton secured a rolling guarantee structure. His $17MM 2027 base salary shifts from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee in 2026. His $17MM 2028 base salary makes that shift in 2027, providing advanced security for the young standout.
While Hamilton’s 2029 base salary ($17.9MM) is nonguaranteed, he will collect a $1MM roster bonus on Day 5 of the ’29 league year, Florio adds. Since the deal tacks four years onto his through-2026 rookie contract, Hamilton is signed through 2030. There is also a $1MM roster bonus on Day 5 of the 2030 league year. This marks the second time (in the fifth-year option era) the Ravens have paid a first-rounder with two years left on a rookie contract; they did the same with Marlon Humphrey in 2020.
AUGUST 27: The Ravens have eyed a Kyle Hamilton extension for a lengthy stretch. As the season nears, Baltimore has one of its 2022 standout first-rounders locked in long term.
Hamilton has agreed to a deal that makes him the NFL’s highest-paid safety, the team announced (via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec). While fellow 2022 first-rounder Tyler Linderbaum remains on his rookie deal, Hamilton has reset the safety market.
This extension will move the bar far north at safety, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting the Ravens are giving Hamilton a four-year, $100.4MM deal. Of that amount, $82MM is guaranteed, including $48MM in fully guaranteed money, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. While this is a significant increase over the top of the safety market – set earlier this year by Kerby Joseph just over $21MM – it’s also somewhat reflective of increase in cornerback pay this offseason.
More than anything, of course, Hamilton’s contract is a reflection of his status as one of the best – if not the best – safeties in the NFL. He’s coming off back-to-back Pro Bowls and a ninth-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting after turning around Baltimore’s pass defense with his move to a more traditional safety role in 2024. His versatility and impact can be felt at all three levels of the field, similar to the Chargers’ Derwin James.
Appropriately, Hamilton’s deal is essentially James’ 2022 extension adjusted for cap inflation. James received $19MM per year, which accounted for 9.1% of the salary cap at the time, per OverTheCap. Hamilton’s $25MM APY represents just under 9.0% of the 2025 cap. Though it’s an expensive deal, the 24-year-old has two years remaining on his rookie contract. Adding four years and $100.4MM to that deal will keep Hamilton in Baltimore through the 2030 season for $20.3MM per year, which could become a steal as the cap continues to rise in the coming years.
The Ravens drafted Hamilton 14th overall in 2022 and have seen him soar to the All-Pro tier. With two original-ballot Pro Bowls on his resume, Hamilton secured the top fifth-year option price at safety ($18.6MM). His new deal checks in well north of that in terms of per-year average, and it will give future impact safeties a price to target.
The recent CB boom — which Patrick Surtain reset last year only to see the deal topped a few times over since — illustrates how quickly a market-setting contract can be eclipsed by others using it as a benchmark. After all, Antoine Winfield Jr. became the NFL’s first $20MM-per-year safety barely a year ago. That said, safety value has fluctuated over the years. As a result, Hamilton’s AAV may top the market for a while — particularly given the Notre Dame alum’s versatile skillset that is so pivotal to Baltimore’s defensive blueprint.
Hamilton is now the second-highest-paid Raven — behind only Lamar Jackson — representing rare status for a safety. The Ravens will now turn their attention to Linderbaum, who did not see his fifth-year option exercised due to the option formula grouping all O-linemen together. The Ravens want to pay their All-Pro center before season’s end.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this post.