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2025 NFL Trades

May 28th, 2025 at 9:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

The modern NFL features four clear trade windows. While the Cowboys and Steelers’ George Pickens swap showed moves can be made at other points on the NFL calendar, early March, the draft, the 53-man roster-setting date and the November deadline reside as the primary points trades occur around the league. On that note, it is a good time to check in on what has transpired on the trade market between windows two and three.

Excluding pick-for-pick trades, here are the moves NFL teams have made thus far in 2025:

March 1

49ers chose running back Jordan James at 147

March 4

Rams traded pick to Vikings, moving up to No. 172 for linebacker Chris Paul Jr.

March 5

March 6

March 7

Seahawks chose quarterback Jalen Milroe at 92

March 9

Seahawks used No. 52 to trade up (via the Titans) 17 spots for safety Nick Emmanwori, drafted running back Damien Martinez at 223; Steelers selected quarterback Will Howard at 185

March 10

Texans added wide receiver Jaylin Noel at 79, sent 236 to Jaguars in Day 2 trade; Commanders chose wideout Jaylin Lane at No. 128 

Eagles used No. 164 to climb one spot (via Chiefs) in first round for linebacker Jihaad Campbell

March 11

March 12

Bills took Ohio State cornerback Jordan Hancock at 170; Cowboys chose guard Ajani Cornelius at No. 204

Titans drafted running back Kalel Mullings at No. 188; Cowboys chose running back Phil Mafah at 239

March 13

March 15

Vikings packaged No. 187 in trade-down move (via Texans); 49ers drafted safety Marques Sigle at 160

April 3

Patriots traded down from No. 171 (via Lions) to draft kicker Andres Borregales; Cowboys chose defensive tackle Jay Toia at 217

April 26

Seahawks selected defensive lineman Rylie Mills at No. 142; Vikings traded No. 172 to Rams

May 7

June 2

Pick could upgrade to fourth-rounder if performance-based conditions are met

Cowboys Potential Trade Destination For CB Jalen Ramsey?

May 24th, 2025 at 10:49pm CST by Ely Allen

Much of the news on the potential trade situation for Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey has already been reported. Essentially, Ramsey is looking to depart from South Beach, a potential return to the Rams has gained traction, but the Dolphins’ unwillingness to retain some of Ramsey’s salary has stalled things at the moment.

Yesterday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler claimed to have spoken to someone in the Cowboys organization who suggested that they might not be done adding players through trades this offseason. In a video provided by Brandon Loree of SB Nation, Fowler used that experience to suggest that Dallas could be a team to watch in the bidding for Ramsey, supporting that assertion by pointing out the three trades the Cowboys have already made for players on rookie contracts this offseason and saying the team could make a fourth trade on the veteran cornerback.

The connection feels like quite a bit of a stretch. The Cowboys have, in fact, made four trades this offseason already, acquiring quarterback Joe Milton and wide receiver George Pickens on offense and linebacker Kenneth Murray and cornerback Kaiir Elam on defense. While Fowler is right that the Cowboys have certainly been active on the trade market, one could argue that that might make them less likely to make another trade, considering they surrendered three draft picks in this past draft and already gave up a third- and seventh-round pick in 2026 and a fifth-round pick in 2027, as well. Dallas may not be willing to part with much more draft capital, especially whatever Ramsey will demand.

Cowboys Insider for WFAA Ed Werder voiced his own skepticism of Fowler’s assertion, stating his belief that the idea of trading for Ramsey has not “even been a topic of discussion within the Cowboys (organization) at this time.”

Cornerback had been identified as a position of need for the Cowboys this offseason. With DaRon Bland‘s injury and a down year for Trevon Diggs, nickelback Jourdan Lewis was the only bright spot of the group in 2024, and Lewis departed for Jacksonville in free agency. Still, Bland is sure to bounce back in a full year in 2025; he was still plenty good even after coming off of injury last season. And, while Diggs’ disappointing season coming off his own injuries is concerning, we’ve seen him play at a Pro Bowl level in years prior.

Even if injuries continue to doom the room, Dallas’s offseason moves of trading for Elam and drafting East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel in the third round should bolster the team’s confidence in the position a bit. That’s not to say that Dallas should be totally disregarded as a potential trade suitor for Ramsey, but at the moment, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of evidence to support that theory.

Cowboys RB Javonte Williams Addresses Knee Recovery

May 24th, 2025 at 8:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

Javonte Williams showed plenty of potential during his rookie season. A 2022 knee injury which included ACL and LCL tears has proven to be a major hindrance since then, however.

Williams was limited to just four games in his second Broncos campaign as a result of the injury, and he was unable to regain his previous efficiency during the 2023 and ’24 seasons (3.6, then 3.7 yards per carry). While the former second-round wanted to remain in Denver, it came as little surprise when he departed in free agency. The Cowboys added him on a one-year, $3MM pact as part of their backfield renovations.

The terms of that deal illustrate the extent to which Williams’ value was impacted by the injury and its lingering effects. The 25-year-old managed to play 16 games in his first season upon returning to action and he appeared in every contest last year. Williams nevertheless feels better now than he did at any point over the past two years.

“I feel completely like myself,” he said (via the team’s website). “I probably can get more flexible and things like that, but as far as healing up, that I feel like is done. It just depends on who you are, it depends on your body… mine might take this amount of time, but somebody else might be different.”

There are of course plenty of examples of players enjoying a true return to form during their second season after a major injury like an ACL tear. Williams’ underwhelming showing in 2024 (859 scrimmage yards, four total touchdowns) came about while he handled a similar snap share to the other three years of his career, however. With a drop in workload not contributing to his statistical output, the North Carolina product will aim to spark a resurgence in Dallas another year removed the injury.

The Cowboys also inked Miles Sanders to a one-year pact, meaning he will look to help replace Rico Dowdle‘s production in 2025. Rookies Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah will provide depth to a backfield which is unlikely to see any further additions at this point in the offseason. If Williams is able to rebound this year, a much more lucrative free agent market will await him next spring.

Jerry Jones, Micah Parsons Have Not Been In Recent Contact

May 22nd, 2025 at 10:41am CST by Adam La Rose

At the beginning of April, a report emerged stating an in-person meeting between Micah Parsons and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones resulted in the framework of an extension agreement. Since then, it has become clear plenty of work still needs to be done, though, and the parties have not spoken directly in some time.

“I haven’t talked with him in about four or five weeks and of course that’ll be necessary if he’s going to get a [new] contract,” Jones said of Parsons during this week’s owners meeting (via Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports). “But he’s got a contract. That’s the point — be sure and clear about that.”

Indeed, Parsons remains on track to collect $24.01MM in 2025 on his fifth-year option. That figure is guaranteed and represents his scheduled cap hit as things stand. Lowering his immediate cap charge could be attained with a long-term pact, one which will carry a much larger AAV. The four-time Pro Bowler could very well find himself as the league’s highest-paid defender, which would require surpassing Myles Garrett‘s $40MM-per-year Browns pact. Topping the deal Ja’Marr Chase inked with the Bengals ($41.25MM anually) would make Parsons the league’s highest earner for non-quarterbacks.

In the absence of an extension agreement, Parsons’ participation in voluntary spring workouts was a talking point. The 25-year-old was in attendance for the start of Dallas’ offseason program, which marked the beginning of new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus‘ scheme install. As for the opening days of OTAs, first-time head coach Brian Schottenheimer said (via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News) Parsons was present on Monday. That was not the case the following day, though, as noted by DLLS’ Clarence Hill Jr.

Schottenheimer has spoken publicly on a number of occasions about the importance of Parsons taking part in spring practice in advance of mandatory minicamp next month and training camp during the summer. Hill notes it is unclear if the two-time All-Pro participated in on-field work Monday or if his attendance simply took the form of meetings.

Parsons aims to have his extension in hand in time for training camp, and if that does not prove to be the case the possibility of a hold-in will loom. Time remains for a deal to be reached, but a gap exists between the asking price from the former Defensive Rookie of the Year’s camp and what Dallas has been prepared to offer so far. Based on Jones’ remarks, the Cowboys – a team regularly criticized for its pace with respect to working out long-term deals – are not on the verge of ensuring Parsons’ post-2025 future.

The Most Lucrative ILB Contract In Each Franchise’s History

May 21st, 2025 at 10:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 49ers have again made Fred Warner the NFL’s highest-paid off-ball linebacker. The franchise did this in 2021 as well. A team that has employed All-Pro NaVorro Bowman and Hall of Famer Patrick Willis over the past 15 years, the 49ers have spent on the high end to fortify this position. Other clubs, however, have been far more hesitant to unload significant cash to staff this job.

The $20MM-per-year linebacker club consists of only two players (Warner, Roquan Smith), but only four surpass $15MM per year presently. Last year saw the Jaguars and Jets (Foye Oluokun, C.J. Mosley) trim their priciest ILBs’ salaries in exchange for guarantees, and the Colts did not make it too far with Shaquille Leonard‘s big-ticket extension. Although some contracts handed out this offseason created optimism about this stubborn market, franchises’ pasts here do not depict a trend of paying second-level defenders.

Excluding rookie contracts and arranged by guaranteed money, here is (via OvertheCap) the richest contract each franchise has given to an off-ball ‘backer:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Milano’s first extension (in 2021) brought more in overall value and fully guaranteed money, but the 2023 pact provided more in total guarantees

Carolina Panthers

Shaq Thompson‘s 2019 extension brought a higher AAV ($13.54MM), but Kuechly’s included more in guarantees

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Dre Greenlaw‘s 2025 contract (three years, $31.5MM) brought a higher AAV but a lower guarantee

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Azeez Al-Shaair checks in atop franchise history in AAV ($11.33MM) but fell short of McKinney’s in guarantees

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Rolando McClain‘s 2010 rookie contract, agreed to in the final year before the rookie-scale system debuted, checked in higher in terms of guarantees ($22.83MM)

Los Angeles Chargers

Kenneth Murray‘s rookie contract (a fully guaranteed $12.97MM) narrowly eclipses this deal

Los Angeles Rams

Mark Barron‘s 2016 contract brought a higher AAV ($9MM) but a lower guarantee

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

  • Jerod Mayo; December 17, 2011: Five years, $48.5MM ($27MM guaranteed)

Robert Spillane‘s $11MM AAV leads the way at this position in New England, but the recently dismissed HC’s contract brought more guaranteed money

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Blake Martinez‘s free agency deal included a higher AAV ($10.25MM) but a lower guaranteee

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Warner secured more guaranteed money on this extension than he did on his five-year 2021 deal ($40.5MM guaranteed)

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Jamin Davis‘ fully guaranteed rookie contract brought a higher guarantee ($13.79MM)

NFC East Rumors: Cowboys, Eagles, Strahan

May 18th, 2025 at 3:23pm CST by Ely Allen

The Athletic beat writer Charlotte Carroll was astute to notice that someone other than head coach Brian Daboll was calling plays at Giants minicamp recently. This report was confirmed when SportsNet New York’s Connor Hughes saw assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka calling plays for the second day in a row.

While this may suggest some uncertainty about who will be calling the offense for New York in 2025, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post was quick to report that a change isn’t likely at this time. Kafka was originally given play-calling duties for the first time in his career during Daboll’s first year as the head coach. Daboll had wanted his focus to be more big-picture and had assigned the responsibility to Kafka. Just before the 2024 season, though, Daboll took over play-calling duties for the whole year.

A time may come in which Kafka gets another opportunity to call plays in the NFL, but for now, his lack of experience in comparison to Daboll’s is likely to keep the responsibility with the head coach in 2025.

Here are a few more rumors from around the NFC East:

  • After missing his entire rookie season with a torn ACL in the preseason, Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown had a productive debut season in 2024. In 13 games, Overshown started 12 contests and stuffed the stat sheet in the process. He tallied 90 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks, five quarterback hits, four passes defensed, an interception returned for a touchdown, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Unfortunately, that production came to a screeching halt when he suffered late-season tears to his ACL, MCL, and PCL. Overshown is making sure not to rush anything in his recovery, telling RJ Ochoa of SB Nation that, while he hasn’t ruled out starting in Week 1, he knows he’ll probably be starting the season on the physically unable to perform list. Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram adds that November has been identified as a realistic target for Overshown’s return.
  • Ben VanSumeren is entering his third season with the Eagles. While he has made two starts in his career, his main impact has come on special teams. Even more interesting, VanSumeren’s rookie-year start was on defense at linebacker, but his second-year start was on offense as a fullback. In fact, all of his non-special teams snaps were on defense as a rookie and on offense in his sophomore campaign. According to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer, head coach Nick Sirianni disclosed that, after re-signing VanSumeren, the third-year player has been officially labeled a fullback. While the team intends to cross-train him in both rooms, he will begin in the running backs room in 2025.
  • Lastly, it was recently reported that Eli Manning is not the only former Giant looking to acquire an ownership stake in the franchise. According to Schwartz, Hall of Fame pass rusher Michael Strahan will compete with Manning in an attempt to buy up to a 10 percent ownership stake in the Giants. Strahan is pairing with billionaire Marc Lasry to put together their bid.

Cowboys Unlikely To Make Further RB Additions

May 17th, 2025 at 9:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

Rico Dowdle‘s departure in free agency will leave the Cowboys without their leading rusher from 2024 next season. A number of moves have been made this spring which were aimed at improving the team’s ground game, though.

In March, Dallas made it clear Dowdle would not be retained when Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders were signed in short order. Dowdle wound up taking a one-year, $2.75MM pact with the Panthers on the open market. Rather than matching that commitment, the Cowboys elected to rely on outside additions in the backfield.

Those veteran moves meant the team was not forced turn to the draft for 2025 contributors, but a pair of rookies were acquired nonetheless. Fifth-rounder Jaydon Blue and seventh-rounder Phil Mafah will look to compete for a depth role this year while offering contributions in the backfield in the future. With those four new running backs in the fold, ESPN’s Dan Graziano unsurprisingly reports Dallas is unlikely to be active at the position for the rest of offseason.

Williams enjoyed a strong rookie campaign, notching 1,219 scrimmage yards while operating in a backfield timeshare. The former second-rounder suffered an ACL tear early in his second season, however, and he has not been able to regain his pre-injury efficiency since then. With 158 receptions to his name, Williams could at least offer value in the passing game even if his yards per carry average remains underwhelming on his new team.

Sanders’ fourth and final year with the Eagles saw him set new career highs across the board and collect a Pro Bowl nod. Expectations were high when the 28-year-old inked a long-term Panthers deal, but he was unable to deliver on them in 2023 or ’24. It came as no surprise when he was released earlier this offseason. Just like Williams, Sanders took a one-year pact to join the Cowboys, and his value for next spring will be dictated by his ability to rebound from his poor Carolina stint.

Currently holding nearly $32MM in cap space, Dallas could certainly afford another free agent signing (with Nick Chubb and J.K. Dobbins among the options still on the market) or a trade acquisition at the RB spot. Training camp will see the new additions join returnee Deuce Vaughn in training camp, however, and that group can be expected to remain intact until roster cuts.

Cowboys’ Tyler Smith Changes Agents

May 15th, 2025 at 9:00am CST by Adam La Rose

Tyler Smith is one of several extension-eligible players on the Cowboys’ radar for a new deal. The Pro Bowler will have new representation when his second NFL contract is signed, though.

Smith is now a client of Athletes First, per an agency announcement. Joe Panos and Todd France now represent the 24-year-old, who as expected had his fifth-year option picked up this spring. That means Smith is on the books through 2026, giving team and player plenty of time to negotiate a long-term pact.

For now, Micah Parsons represents priority No. 1 for Dallas since he is entering his option season. Making the two-time All-Pro the league’s highest-paid defender may be necessary to finalize an agreement on that front, but in any case Smith is a logical target for a lucrative pact of his own. The Tulsa product handled blindside duties as a rookie out of necessity, but since then he has primarily been used as planned at guard. Smith has missed three total games during that span, but he has collected a Pro Bowl nod each time.

Having posted top-15 PFF grades amongst guards in 2023 and ’24, Smith’s performance and age could set him up for a notable payday. As things stand, he is set to earn $21.27MM in 2026. That figure outpaces the AAV of Landon Dickerson‘s Eagles pact, the most lucrative multi-year deal in the league for guards (Trey Smith is currently scheduled to earn more on his Chiefs franchise tag this year, but an extension would change that). Having Smith in place at a $21.27MM cap charge would be challenging for Dallas, of course, creating added incentive for a long-term accord.

Dallas has invested considerable draft capital up front in recent years. The Cowboys used their top choice in 2024 on left tackle Tyler Guyton, and they went with guard Tyler Booker at No. 12 last month. Those two are in place to handle starting roles for years to come if things go according to plan, and Smith will join them as a key figure up front. Strong O-line play will be critical if Dallas is to bounce back from an underwhelming 2024 showing this year.

In addition to Smith, Athletes First represents Parsons along with quarterback Dak Prescott and recent trade acquisition George Pickens. Of that group, only Prescott’s future beyond 2026 is assured, so negotiations with those clients will be interesting to monitor over the coming weeks and months.

Steelers Faced Small George Pickens Trade Market; Latest On Cowboys’ Acquisition Plan

May 13th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

By the time George Pickens was dealt, it hardly came as a surprise given the chatter surrounding a trade from the Steelers. The Cowboys acquired him last week, but not because they won a wide-ranging bidding war.

Few teams showed interest in the pending free agent receiver, Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show reports. Acquiring Pickens as a one-year rental would have provided a boost to the passing attack of any number of suitors, but the cost of doing so would be weighed against the off-field concerns which played a key role in Pittsburgh’s decision to move on. Pickens is eligible to sign a long-term pact with Dallas, but he is not focused on that right now.

Kaboly adds the Steelers were not prepared to accept anything less than a third-round pick for Pickens; Dallas originally offered a fourth-rounder but eventually met that asking price while also swapping seventh-round picks in 2027. In spite of that marginal return relative to the 24-year-old’s on-field abilities, his absence is not expected to be an issue moving forward. Per Kaboly, multiple Steelers players became “fed up” with Pickens over the course of his three years in Pittsburgh to the point they saw retaining him as something which could be “counterproductive.”

When addressing the trade, Steelers general manager Omar Khan said the agreement with Dallas came about in short order after the draft. Selecting a rookie receiver was seen by many as a Cowboys priority, and the team did indeed have a number of prospects on its radar at the position. In the end, though, Dallas elected to take the highest-rated players at other spots during the opening rounds, thus waiting until the post-draft period to explore a receiver addition via trade.

“We had a nice list of guys that we were looking at, comparing that to what was available in the draft, and giving up the pick versus picking one,” Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said in an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. “And as you know, when you pick a receiver in the draft, you get him for a good number for four years, so obviously that was one of the routes we were looking at hard.”

For now, Pickens represents a one-year investment as a wideout to complement CeeDee Lamb. The latter is attached to a $34MM-per-year pact, so finding cost-effective receivers is key for Dallas. Pickens has amassed over 2,800 yards and scored 12 touchdowns to date in his career, one which has been spent on less-than-stellar Steelers offenses. A strong showing with his new team could put the Georgia product on track for a notable payday next spring, but improvement with respect to the factors driving his trade would no doubt be required as well.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/12/25

May 12th, 2025 at 10:04pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The following 2025 draft picks signed their rookie contracts today:

Arizona Cardinals

Dallas Cowboys

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

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