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Colts Rookie CB Justin Walley Could See Field Early

July 5th, 2025 at 6:02pm CST by Ely Allen

Last year, the Colts fielded a strong trio of cornerbacks in Jaylon Jones, Samuel Womack, and Kenny Moore. The team then added Charvarius Ward on a three-year, $54MM contract in free agency. That made it all the more shocking when Indianapolis selected a cornerback — one with a Day 3 grade, mind you — in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Well, according to Stephen Holder, that selection stands a strong chance of contributing to the defense as a rookie.

The Colts cornerback trio was extremely impressive in 2024. Though the defense struggled as a whole, they ranked sixth in interceptions with Jones, Womack, and Moore combining to contribute eight interceptions and 28 passes defensed. The three players accounted for 92 percent of the team’s snaps at outside cornerback, while Moore doubled as the primary nickelback, as well, and all three defenders graded out in the top 45 players out of 116 at the position, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Then, the team added Ward to the mix. Ward had a bit of a down year in San Francisco last season, but he has been a consistently strong starter in every other season of his career. In 2023 alone, he reeled in five interceptions and led the NFL with 23 passes defensed. Ward’s presence likely pushes Womack down to CB4, granted he returns to his usual quality of play. So, with four strong cornerbacks in rotation, what could’ve prompted the Colts to use their second Day 2 pick on Minnesota cornerback Justin Walley?

A three-star recruit out of Mississippi, Walley started in six games as a rookie with the Golden Gophers and served as a full-time starter for the rest of his collegiate career. In four years, he tallied seven interceptions and 34 passes defensed. His speed and aggression put him on scouts’ radars, but his undersized frame had scouts thinking that he would be easily overpowered in that aggression against NFL competition. This led to projections of him being picked late on Day 3 of the draft in the last three rounds.

Per Holder, though, Walley has more than proved to be worth his draft stock so far in Indy. He’s reportedly been turning heads throughout the offseason, continuing his aggressive coverage while showing impressive instincts, as well. Head coach Shane Steichen noted that Walley “has been making a ton of plays through OTAs,” calling him “really sticky in coverage.”

With so many strong players at his position, he likely won’t be earning a starting role, but he’s looking to be too talented to keep off the field. The Colts are expecting for him to be part of their dime package and a frequent rotation in nickel, as well. He could end up being well worth the third-round pick used on him.

The NFL’s Longest-Tenured GMs

July 5th, 2025 at 10:57am CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL’s 2025 HC carousel brought five new sideline leaders; this year’s GM market eventually featured four new hires. Two teams made quick-trigger decisions involving front office bosses this offseason.

Not long after the Raiders fired Antonio Pierce, they booted Tom Telesco — brought in to give the inexperienced HC a seasoned GM — after just one season. New minority owner Tom Brady, who certainly appears to have downplayed his Raiders role in a recent interview, wanted a fresh start. That meant firing Telesco despite the GM’s Brock Bowers draft choice last year. John Spytek, an ex-Brady Michigan teammate who was with the Buccaneers when the team signed the QB icon, replaced him. Formerly the Chargers’ front office boss, Telesco had entered every season in a GM chair since 2013.

Ran Carthon received two years in charge in Tennessee, but owner Amy Adams Strunk — a year after the surprise Mike Vrabel firing — moved on and arranged an interesting power structure this offseason. The Titans installed Chad Brinker, who had been one of Carthon’s two assistant GMs, as president of football operations. The ex-Carthon lieutenant holds final say over new hire Mike Borgonzi, who did run the Titans’ draft this year. Borgonzi, who interviewed for the Jets’ GM job as well, comes over after a lengthy Chiefs tenure.

The in-season Joe Douglas firing brought a Jets GM change for the first time in six years. As Woody Johnson overreach became a regular talking point in New York, the Jets started over with Darren Mougey. Johnson changed up his workflow upon hiring Mougey, however. Rather than the GM directly reporting to the owner (as Douglas had), both Mougey and Aaron Glenn will do so. Mougey, though, does control the roster.

Telesco’s January firing left Trent Baalke as the NFL’s lone second-chance GM. The Jaguars had kept Baalke despite firing Doug Pederson, but as the team’s coaching search brought significant concerns from candidates about the presence of the resilient GM, Shad Khan eventually made a change. This move came after top HC candidate Liam Coen initially turned down a second interview, doing so after Ben Johnson concerns about the situation circulated. Gladstone is now in place as the NFL’s youngest GM, at 34, coming over from the Rams.

This offseason also brought three GM extensions — for Jason Licht, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Omar Khan. Licht is heading into his 12th season at the helm. Adofo-Mensah joined Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell in being extended this offseason. Also a 2022 GM hire/promotion, Khan signed a Steelers extension this week.

Although Jerry Jones and Mike Brown have been in place longer, the Cowboys and Bengals’ owners hold de facto GM titles. Mickey Loomis is not only the longest-tenured pure GM in the NFL; the Saints boss trails only Hall of Famer Tex Schramm as the longest-tenured pure GM in NFL history. Hired four years before Sean Payton in New Orleans, Loomis heads into his 24th season at the controls. Loomis hired his third HC as a GM (Kellen Moore) in February.

Here is how long every GM has been in place across the NFL:

  1. Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys): April 18, 1989[1]
  2. Mike Brown (Cincinnati Bengals): August 5, 1991[2]
  3. Mickey Loomis (New Orleans Saints): May 14, 2002
  4. John Schneider (Seattle Seahawks): January 19, 2010; signed extension in 2021
  5. Howie Roseman (Philadelphia Eagles): January 29, 2010[3]; signed extension in 2022
  6. Les Snead (Los Angeles Rams): February 10, 2012; signed extension in 2022
  7. Jason Licht (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): January 21, 2014; signed extension in 2025
  8. Chris Grier (Miami Dolphins): January 4, 2016[4]
  9. John Lynch (San Francisco 49ers): January 29, 2017; signed extension in 2023
  10. Chris Ballard (Indianapolis Colts): January 30, 2017; signed extension in 2021
  11. Brandon Beane (Buffalo Bills): May 9, 2017; signed extension in 2023
  12. Brett Veach (Kansas City Chiefs): July 11, 2017; signed extension in 2024
  13. Brian Gutekunst (Green Bay Packers): January 7, 2018; agreed to extension in 2022
  14. Eric DeCosta (Baltimore Ravens): January 7, 2019
  15. Andrew Berry (Cleveland Browns): January 27, 2020; signed extension in 2024
  16. Nick Caserio (Houston Texans): January 5, 2021
  17. George Paton (Denver Broncos): January 13, 2021
  18. Brad Holmes (Detroit Lions): January 14, 2021; agreed to extension in 2024
  19. Terry Fontenot (Atlanta Falcons): January 19, 2021
  20. Joe Schoen (New York Giants): January 21, 2022
  21. Ryan Poles (Chicago Bears): January 25, 2022
  22. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (Minnesota Vikings): January 26, 2022; signed extension in 2025
  23. Omar Khan (Pittsburgh Steelers): May 24, 2022; signed extension in 2025
  24. Monti Ossenfort (Arizona Cardinals): January 16, 2023
  25. Adam Peters (Washington Commanders): January 12, 2024
  26. Dan Morgan (Carolina Panthers): January 22, 2024
  27. Joe Hortiz (Los Angeles Chargers): January 29, 2024
  28. Eliot Wolf (New England Patriots): May 11, 2024
  29. Mike Borgonzi (Tennessee Titans): January 17, 2025
  30. John Spytek (Las Vegas Raiders): January 22, 2025
  31. Darren Mougey (New York Jets): January 24, 2025
  32. James Gladstone (Jacksonville Jaguars): February 21, 2025

Footnotes:

  1. Jones has been the Cowboys’ de facto general manager since former GM Tex Schramm resigned in April 1989.
  2. Brown has been the Bengals’ de facto GM since taking over as the team’s owner in August 1991.
  3. The Eagles bumped Roseman from the top decision-making post in 2015, giving Chip Kelly personnel power. Roseman was reinstated upon Kelly’s December 2015 firing.
  4. Although Grier was hired in 2016, he became the Dolphins’ top football exec on Dec. 31, 2018

Offseason In Review: Indianapolis Colts

July 4th, 2025 at 10:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts entered the offseason with decision-makers on the ropes, as the Anthony Richardson decision may well be on the verge of ending Chris Ballard‘s lengthy GM stint and Shane Steichen‘s shorter HC run. Indianapolis moved on from one exec closely involved in the Richardson choice, and the team brought in Daniel Jones as competition. Thus far, signs point to that battle veering toward the six-year Giants starter.

As Jones steps into a strange savior role, considering the damage he did to the Giants’ power structure after struggling on a big-ticket contract, the Colts deviated from their usual Ballard-era free agency philosophy by signing two pricey DBs. The Colts are attempting to snap a four-season playoff drought, and jobs may be on the line. The Colts’ equation then changed drastically in May after Jim Irsay‘s death. The late owner’s oldest daughter, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, is now in control ahead of a pivotal season for the franchise.

Free agency additions:

Give Ballard credit for following through on a January mission statement. The ninth-year GM indicated his conservative free agency blueprint — an M.O. that prioritized a draft-and-develop route to the point the Colts fielded an almost entirely homegrown starting lineup last season — likely needed to change. Ballard had provided only one $20MM guarantee to a free agent in his tenure; that was Philip Rivers in a 2020 one-off. The embattled front office boss went to work on changing his stripes this offseason, as two of PFR’s top 40 free agents ended up in Indianapolis’ secondary.

This year’s cornerback market highlighted the value of the medium-term contract. Ward joined D.J. Reed, Carlton Davis and Byron Murphy in eschewing the usual four-year second contract for three- or two-year (in Murphy’s case) accords earlier this decade. That set up the late-20-somethings for significant third contracts, deals that probably would not have been available had the quartet opted for traditional-length FA pacts earlier. A new market for the third-contract CB ended up being set in a few hours’ time in March, and the Colts outmuscled multiple suitors for Ward.

Indianapolis had kept costs low at its outside cornerback positions for most of Ballard’s tenure, allocating the most notable CB money to their slot post. Kenny Moore‘s two contracts reset the slot market in 2019 and 2024, but he had little help following the 2023 Stephon Gilmore trade. Gus Bradley‘s vanilla scheme did not feature reliable pieces outside over the past two seasons, and the Colts had seen prior developments — the Rock Ya-Sin-for-Yannick Ngakoue trade and the Isaiah Rodgers gambling suspension — affect this position. Ward now checks in as an anchor-level piece, and the Colts will hope to coax more quality work as the ex-UDFA nears 30.

The 49ers made their CB choice by extending Deommodore Lenoir last season, effectively ensuring Ward would need to sign his third contract elsewhere. Ward slogged through a down season. The former Super Bowl winner (as a Chief) did not overlap with Ballard in Kansas City, being acquired from the Cowboys (for guard Parker Ehinger) months after Ballard’s Indianapolis arrival. He signed a three-year, $40MM 49ers deal in 2022, becoming one of many Chiefs one-contract CBs under Steve Spagnuolo. Ward provided a boost for San Francisco, earning second-team All-Pro acclaim during the team’s Super Bowl LVIII season.

Ward, 29, led the NFL with 23 passes defensed in 2023 but saw his coverage metrics worsen last season. After allowing 56.8% and 54.1% completion rates as the closest defender in 2022 and ’23, Ward yielded 61.5% accuracy last year. This corresponded with a rise in passer rating allowed (116.6 – up from 2023’s 64.5 number). Pro Football Focus had rated Ward as a top-six corner in both 2022 and ’23, but it dropped him to 93rd during Nick Sorensen’s season in charge.

Ward, however, was playing after a family tragedy; his 1-year-old daughter died in October 2024. The Colts will bet on the proven cover man regaining his previous form, and other teams — the Chiefs included — were willing to do the same.

It was certainly interesting to see the Colts win not one but two free agency derbies for DBs. Bynum checks in as a more traditional pickup, being on his second contract and attached to a four-year pact. But the 6-foot safety will turn 27 this month. Cashing in now is paramount to a player who became an important piece as Brian Flores rebuilt the Vikings’ defense. Part of the DC’s top-five unit, Bynum excelled in a complex scheme and will join a Colts team that had mostly turned to the draft (Nick Cross, Julian Blackmon, Malik Hooker, Clayton Geathers) to staff this position over the past decade.

The safety market has fluctuated over the past several years, and the past two free agencies saw money dry up after the top targets (Jessie Bates, Xavier McKinney) signed. This year, however, teams prioritized the position. As two-high looks populate NFL defenses, four teams — the Colts, Giants (Jevon Holland), Panthers (Tre’von Moehrig) and Broncos (Talanoa Hufanga) — doled out at least $13MM per year to add a safety. Bynum is now the NFL’s 10th-highest-paid safety.

The former fourth-round pick talked terms with the Vikings, but they made Murphy a higher priority. Bynum has been durable (51 starts since 2022) and productive (eight rookie-contract INTs). PFF graded Bynum 21st among safety regulars in 2023 but slotted him outside the top 60 last year. Teams were undeterred, driving up the market.

Bynum will join Cross, who enters a contract year after leading all DBs in 2024 tackles, as the Colts’ starting safeties. Lou Anarumo‘s group will carry considerably more firepower compared to Bradley’s Moore-dependent secondary.

Jones’ contract does not approach where the Colts went for Rivers, but the stakes attached to this Indy QB move are higher. The Giants gave the oft-underwhelming Eli Manning heir apparent six years. After two unimpressive seasons under Jason Garrett, Jones delivered a surprising breakthrough in Brian Daboll‘s 2022 Coach of the Year season. The former No. 6 overall pick ranked sixth in QBR and elevated an overmatched (save for Saquon Barkley) skill-position corps to the divisional round.

The well-timed season garnered Jones a four-year, $160MM deal. The QB’s production on that contract represents the main reason Daboll and Joe Schoen are on hot seats, making it fascinating he is now in Indy potentially tasked with cooling the temperature on Ballard and Steichen’s chairs. The Giants benched Jones after a 2-8 start, and he was no better before his midseason ACL tear in 2023. Being nearly two years removed from that injury could help unlock the former dual threat’s run-game element; Jones’ 708 rushing yards in 2022 represented an important part of the Giants’ playoff formula. But after the Giants waived Jones and the Vikings did not make him their backup, he comes to Indy with little momentum.

Briefly connected to Trey Lance, the Colts outbid the Vikings for Jones. They made no secret of the fact Richardson would need to compete to keep his job. Considering the concerning accuracy the former No. 4 overall draftee displayed last season, Jones viewed the Colts as a rebound gateway due to the playing time that could be available. The Vikings being set to give J.J. McCarthy the reins made that job less appealing for Jones, who still has a chance, despite the New York disappointments, to travel a Baker Mayfield– or Sam Darnold-like path via this Colts opportunity. Despite Jones’ recent struggles, he collected more guaranteed money than Mayfield or Darnold did in their rebound seasons.

The Colts turning to Jones would make them only the second franchise since 1970 to use eight Week 1 starting QBs in a nine-season span; Washington’s journey to Jayden Daniels represents the other. While the Commanders’ QB carousel has stopped, Richardson faces an uphill battle to stop the Colts’. Next to nothing has gone right since Indianapolis drafted Richardson, and the dual-threat (in theory) quarterback missed key offseason time due to another shoulder injury. Richardson is expected back by training camp, but missing minicamp gave Jones a “significant” lead in the QB competition.

As previously mentioned in this space, Richardson became just the eighth 21st-century QB to complete fewer than 50% of his passes in a season on 200-plus attempts. Also on that list: Tim Tebow, JaMarcus Russell and Bengals megabust Akili Smith. Five of the seven pre-Richardson QBs on that list lost their jobs the following year; Richardson pairing his alarming 47.7% completion rate with durability concerns and maturity issues works against him — even as Jones stands at a career crossroads.

The one-year Florida starter, who completed 53.8% of his passes for the 2022 Gators, has been unable to secure the reps necessary to develop properly. Richardson has missed 19 starts, and Steichen being concerned enough with his QB’s work habits — with the bizarre tap-out in Houston bringing that issue to light — to bench him for Joe Flacco last season gave the Colts reason to add competition. While Richardson is only 23 and tied to a fully guaranteed deal through 2026, time is running out.

Not doing much to replace Zack Moss behind Jonathan Taylor last year, the Colts added the Bengals’ Moss injury fill-in to man that spot. Herbert has flashed as a pro, averaging 5.7 yards per carry in 2022 — for a Bears offense that led the NFL in rushing — and 4.6 in 2023. The sixth-round speedster combined to amass 1,342 yards in that span, but the Bears signed D’Andre Swift to take over their backfield in 2024. Herbert ranked fourth in Next Gen Stats’ rush yards over expected metric in 2022; that form assuredly helped the Colts look past a down contract year (36 carries, 130 yards with the Bears and Bengals).

Re-signings:

Quietly, Alie-Cox has become one of the longest-tenured tight ends in Colts history. The college basketball convert can move into fifth place for games played among Colts tight ends, past Dallas Clark, by playing only eight games this season. Sitting on 108 for his career, Alie-Cox will match Clark, Jack Doyle and Hall of Famer John Mackey‘s nine-year Colt tenures in 2025. Only two tight ends (Marcus Pollard and Tecmo-era staple Pat Beach) have played 10 seasons with the team.

Alie-Cox, 31, has played between 38-55% of Indy’s offensive snaps over the past five seasons. Jelani Woods‘ injury struggles have kept him a key piece, though the enduring presence accepted a steep pay cut — after playing out a three-year, $17.55MM contract — weeks before the Colts’ Tyler Warren move.

Notable losses:

The last link to the Ryan Grigson rosters, Kelly expressed interest over multiple offseasons in staying with the Colts. The 2016 first-round pick played out a four-year, $49.65MM extension and joined Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith as staples that helped both Taylor to the rushing title and Andrew Luck post a Comeback Player of the Year campaign three years prior. While Kelly and the Colts talked, it became clear he would hit the market. Both he and Fries ended up in Minnesota, where Grigson is a front office staffer.

Fries commanded a big market despite going down in Week 5 of last season with a broken leg. Being 32, Kelly did not attract similar free agency interest, but he still will replace Garrett Bradbury as the Vikings’ starting center — on a two-year, $18MM deal. Fries was the only free agent to sign a five-year deal this offseason, scoring $87.72MM on a deal that secured $34MM guaranteed at signing. Minnesota’s O-line overhaul will deal a blow to the Colts.

Kelly missed seven games last season, undergoing knee surgery that keyed an IR placement. Prior to last season, though, the Alabama alum earned four Pro Bowl nods and a second-team All-Pro honor. ESPN’s pass block win rate metric still placed Kelly 10th among interior O-linemen last season, and PFF graded Kelly’s most recent full season (2023) well by placing him eighth among centers.

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2025 Offseason In Review Series

July 4th, 2025 at 9:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

Here are PFR’s breakdowns of each NFL team’s 2025 offseason. The list will be updated between now and Week 1.

AFC East

  • Buffalo Bills
  • Miami Dolphins
  • New England Patriots
  • New York Jets

AFC North

  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Cincinnati Bengals
  • Cleveland Browns
  • Pittsburgh Steelers

AFC South

AFC West

NFC East

NFC North

  • Chicago Bears
  • Detroit Lions
  • Green Bay Packers
  • Minnesota Vikings

NFC South

  • Atlanta Falcons
  • Carolina Panthers
  • New Orleans Saints
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC West

  • Arizona Cardinals
  • Los Angeles Rams
  • San Francisco 49ers
  • Seattle Seahawks

Largest 2025 Cap Hits: Defense

July 4th, 2025 at 9:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 2025 offseason has been defined in no small part by extensions amongst the league’s top edge rushers. A number of high-profile situations on that front remain unresolved at this point, which will make for interesting storylines over the coming weeks. Still, pass rushers once again account for some of the top cap charges around the NFL.

Just like on offense, here is a breakdown of the top 25 defensive cap hits in 2025:

  1. Maxx Crosby, DE (Raiders): $38.15MM
  2. T.J. Watt, OLB (Steelers): $30.42MM
  3. DeForest Buckner, DT (Colts): $26.6MM
  4. Daron Payne, DT (Commanders): $26.17MM
  5. Rashan Gary, OLB (Packers): $25.77MM
  6. Montez Sweat, DE (Bears): $25.09MM
  7. Denzel Ward, CB (Browns): $24.56MM
  8. Micah Parsons, DE (Cowboys): $24.01MM
  9. Derwin James, S (Chargers): $23.86MM
  10. Roquan Smith, LB (Ravens): $23.72MM
  11. Dexter Lawrence, DT (Giants): $23.64MM
  12. Chris Jones, DT (Chiefs): $23.6MM
  13. Jeffery Simmons, DT (Titans): $22.7MM
  14. L’Jarius Sneed, CB (Titans): $22.58MM
  15. Vita Vea, DT (Buccaneers): $22.47MM
  16. Minkah Fitzpatrick, S (Dolphins): $22.36MM
  17. Jonathan Greenard, DE (Vikings): $22.3MM
  18. Jessie Bates, S (Falcons): $22.25MM
  19. Myles Garrett, DE (Browns): $21.92MM)
  20. Quinnen Williams, DT (Jets): $21.59MM
  21. Jaylon Johnson, CB (Bears): $21MM
  22. Nick Bosa, DE (49ers): $20.43MM
  23. Kenny Clark, DT (Packers): $20.37MM
  24. Danielle Hunter, DE (Texans): $20.2MM
  25. Zach Allen, DE (Broncos): $19.8MM

Crosby briefly held the title of the league’s highest-paid pass rusher when his latest Raiders extension was signed. That $35.5MM-per-year pact was quickly overtaken in value, but it put to rest speculation about a potential trade. Now fully healthy, Crosby’s level of play in 2025 will be critical in determining Vegas’ success.

Garrett currently leads the way in terms of AAV for edge rushers (and, in turn, all defensive players). He landed $40MM in annual compensation from the Browns in a deal which ended his long-running trade request. The four-time All-Pro sought a change of scenery to a Super Bowl contender but then altered his stance following communication with Cleveland’s front office. Garrett is now on the books through 2030.

Other notable pass rushers face an uncertain future beyond the coming campaign, by contrast. That includes Watt, who is not close to reaching an agreement on a third Steelers contract. The former Defensive Player of the Year is reported to be eyeing a pact which will again move him to the top of the pecking order for pass rushers. He thus finds himself in a similar situation to fellow 30-year-old All-Pro Trey Hendrickson with the Bengals.

While Hendrickson is believed to be aiming for a new deal similar in average annual value to those like Bosa and Hunter’s, Parsons could leapfrog Watt atop the pecking order by the time the season begins. Little (if any) progress has been made since Parsons and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reached a handshake agreement on the framework of a deal. Time remains for a pact to be finalized before training camp; failing that, the possibility of a hold-in will increase.

Recent years have seen a major spike in the valuation of interior defensive linemen capable of producing against the pass. It comes as no surprise, then, to see a multitude of D-tackles on the list. Buckner and Chris Jones are among the veterans with the longest track record of success in terms of sacks and pressures (along with disruptive play against the run, of course). Payne, Lawrence, Simmons and Williams were among the players who helped moved the position’s market upward with similar second contracts during the 2023 offseason.

Gary, Sweat and Greenard will again be counted on to lead the way in terms of pass rush production for their respective NFC North teams. Green Bay, Chicago and Minnesota each have upside elsewhere on the depth chart, but expectations will remain high for those three based on their lucrative deals. The highly competitive division will no doubt come down to head-to-head games, and they will be influenced in large part by the performances of each defense.

The cornerback market reached $30MM per year this offseason thanks to Derek Stingley Jr.‘s Texans extension. Given the term remaining on his rookie pact, though, his cap charge for this season checks in at a much lower rate than that of teammates like Hunter or other top CBs. Ward and Jaylon Jones are on the books through 2027, and the same is true of Sneed. The high-priced Tennessee trade acquisition did not enjoy a healthy debut season with his new team in 2024, but he appears to be set for full participation in training camp.

Safety and linebacker are among the positions which have witnessed slower growth than others recently. Still, a few top performers are attached to deals landing them on this list. Smith has been a first-team All-Pro performer during his tenure with the Ravens; he will be expected to remain one in 2025 and beyond. James and Bates will likewise be counted on as key playmakers in Los Angeles and Atlanta. Fitzpatrick will, interestingly, return to his original team after being part of the blockbuster Steelers-Dolphins trade from earlier this week.

Vea helped the Buccaneers rank fourth against the run last season while Clark and the Packers finished seventh in that regard. Both veterans have multiple years remaining on their deals, although in both cases the final season does not include guaranteed money. Vea and/or Clark could thus find themselves discussing an extension next offseason.

Allen is among the players listed who could have a new deal in hand before Week 1. The former Cardinal is coming off a career-best 8.5 sacks from the 2024 season. To no surprise, then, Allen is high on Denver’s list of extension priorities, and it will be interesting to see if the pending 2026 free agent works out a new pact prior to the start of the campaign.

The NFL’s Longest-Tenured Head Coaches

July 3rd, 2025 at 10:26pm CST by Adam La Rose

By the end of the 2024 regular season, the Bears, Jets and Saints had already moved on from their head coaches. Those teams were joined by Cowboys, Jaguars, Raiders and Patriots in making a change on the sidelines.

After their midseason terminations, Matt Eberflus, Robert Saleh and Dennis Allen each landed defensive coordinator gigs during the 2025 hiring cycle. The staffers who remained in place through the end of the campaign have yet to line up their next NFL opportunity, however. Mike McCarthy withdrew from the Saints’ search, setting the 61-year-old for at least one year out of coaching (just like the pause between his Packers and Cowboys stints).

Meanwhile, Doug Pederson was unable to parlay interest in an offensive coordinator position into a hire this spring. The former Super Bowl winner is thus set to be out of coaching for 2025. The same will also be true of Antonio Pierce and Jerod Mayo after their one-and-done stints as full-time head coaches did not go as planned.

While recent months have brought about the latest round of changes, many of the longest-tenured head coaches around the league remain in place. McCarthy was the only staffer within the top 10 on last year’s list in that regard who has been replaced. In all, nine head coaches hired at the beginning of this decade (or earlier) will carry on with their respective teams in 2025.

Six of those reside in the AFC, with Mike Tomlin – who became the league’s longest-tenured head coach last year in the wake of Bill Belichick’s Patriots departure – once again leading the way, albeit with questions about his future beyond this season present. The NFC will include Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur handling their familiar roles in 2025, although the latter (who has two years left on his deal) will not receive an early extension.

Here is a look at how the league’s head coaches shape up entering the 2025 campaign:

  1. Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers): January 27, 2007; extended through 2027
  2. John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens): January 19, 2008; extended through 2028
  3. Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs): January 4, 2013; extended through 2029
  4. Sean McDermott (Buffalo Bills): January 11, 2017; extended through 2027
  5. Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams): January 12, 2017; extended through 2027
  6. Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers): February 6, 2017; extended through 2027
  7. Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers): January 8, 2019: extended through 2026
  8. Zac Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals): February 4, 2019; extended through 2026
  9. Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland Browns): January 13, 2020; signed extension in June 2024
  10. Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions): January 20, 2021; extended through 2027
  11. Nick Sirianni (Philadelphia Eagles): January 21, 2021; signed offseason extension
  12. Brian Daboll (New York Giants): January 28, 2022
  13. Kevin O’Connell (Minnesota Vikings): February 2, 2022; signed offseason extension
  14. Mike McDaniel (Miami Dolphins): February 6, 2022; extended through 2028
  15. Todd Bowles (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): March 30, 2022; extended through 2028
  16. Sean Payton (Denver Broncos): January 31, 2023
  17. DeMeco Ryans (Houston Texans): January 31, 2023
  18. Shane Steichen (Indianapolis Colts): February 14, 2023
  19. Jonathan Gannon (Arizona Cardinals): February 14, 2023
  20. Brian Callahan (Tennessee Titans): January 22, 2024
  21. Jim Harbaugh (Los Angeles Chargers): January 24, 2024
  22. Dave Canales (Carolina Panthers): January 25, 2024
  23. Raheem Morris (Atlanta Falcons): January 25, 2024
  24. Mike Macdonald (Seattle Seahawks): January 31, 2024
  25. Dan Quinn (Washington Commanders): February 1, 2024
  26. Mike Vrabel (New England Patriots): January 12, 2025
  27. Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears): January 20, 2025
  28. Aaron Glenn (New York Jets): January 22, 2025
  29. Liam Coen (Jacksonville Jaguars): January 23, 2025
  30. Pete Carroll (Las Vegas Raiders): January 24, 2025
  31. Brian Schottenheimer (Dallas Cowboys): January 24, 2025
  32. Kellen Moore (New Orleans Saints): February 11, 2025

WR Alec Pierce, Colts Haven’t Discussed Extension

July 1st, 2025 at 6:44pm CST by Ben Levine

Alec Pierce had a breakout campaign in 2024, as the receiver paced the NFL with 22.3 yards per reception. As a 2022 second-round pick, the wideout is set to enter the final season of his rookie pact, and it sounds like the Colts are going to let the player simply play out that contract.

According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, there are no current contract talks between the Colts and Pierce. The reporter writes that “there remains much uncertainty” about the player’s future in Indy, and there’s a “looming possibility” of Pierce playing elsewhere in 2026.

As Holder points out, both sides may be struggling to assign a price tag to Pierce. The receiver has only topped out at 823 receiving yards, and his 41 receptions as a rookie still represents a career-high. While there’s uncertainty if the 25-year-old can truly lead a depth chart, there’s no denying his big-play ability. According to Holder, Pierce’s seven catches of 40 or more yards is second to Ja’Marr Chase since 2022.

Part of Indy’s apprehension about a Pierce extension may be due to their continued investment at the position. The Colts have used some recent draft capital at the position, even after using their 2022 second-round pick on Pierce. The team used a 2023 third-round pick on Josh Downs, and they used a 2024 second-round selection on Adonai Mitchell. The team handed Michael Pittman Jr. a three-year, $71.5MM extension last offseason, so the team already has their WR1 spot accounted for.

For what it’s worth, Pierce isn’t overly concerned about his lame-duck status. In fact, the receiver told Holder that he’s ignoring his expiring contract altogether, and he’s simply focused on taking his game to another level in 2025.

“I like to take a very day-to-day approach with things,” Pierce said. “I don’t really think too far in advance. … That’s why I’ve got agents. They focus on that type of stuff and what’s coming up in the short term.”

Daniel Jones Holds ‘Significant’ Lead On Anthony Richardson For Colts’ QB1 Job

June 24th, 2025 at 9:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Daniel Jones made the strange jump from a player who underwhelmed wildly on a pricey second contract to one who did not earn a backup job — after signing with the Vikings — into one who has the inside track to start for the Colts a year later.

The latest Trade Rumors Front Office piece explored this dynamic, noting how rare it is for a team to use eight Week 1 starting quarterbacks in a nine-season span (and the big-picture impact Jones suddenly seems to have in Indianapolis). As it stands, Jones is on track to become Indianapolis’ eighth Week 1 starting QB since Andrew Luck‘s shoulder injury shelved him for the entire 2017 season.

Because Richardson missed time during Indy’s offseason program due to reaggravating a shoulder issue that once required surgery, The Athletic’s James Boyd notes Jones has a “significant” lead to become the team’s Week 1 starter. This was set to be an even competition, but with one participant losing so much time and entering after glaring accuracy issues, Jones is poised to benefit.

Based on Richardson’s career arc, this should not surprise. The Colts expressed considerable disappointment in the former No. 4 overall pick last season, benching him for performance and maturity issues, and they have seen him miss 17 games — due to myriad issues — because of injury. Richardson joined first-round busts Akili Smith, JaMarcus Russell and Tim Tebow among the select few of 21st-century QBs to attempt at least 200 passes in a season and complete fewer than 50% of them. On the heels of the Florida product’s concerning 2024, the Colts signed Jones to a one-year, $14MM deal that included $13.15MM fully guaranteed.

The Giants demoted Jones after starting 2-8 last season, making the predictable move due in part because of a $23MM injury guaranteed that would have vested had the then-starter failed a March 2025 physical. While the Giants’ benching avoided that money from entering the equation, they cut their six-year starter in November and preempted a post-June 1 2025 release — one that would have allowed them to split the dead money (from Jones’ signing bonus) — as a tool to move on. The Vikings did not sign Jones from their practice squad until January 7, and they still made him a healthy scratch for their wild-card game against the Rams.

Indy’s issues finding a post-Luck solution, with Richardson struggling to become the answer after a line of veterans stopped through town, led to the team outbidding the Vikings for Jones in March. Minnesota made one-year offers to Jones and Darnold, undoubtedly extending a larger proposal to the latter, but did not end up — after passing on an interested Aaron Rodgers — adding a notable bridge option. J.J. McCarthy is almost certain to start in Week 1, as the Colts emerged in the Jones mix days before the legal tampering period. A viable path to a starting job sold Jones on Indy.

Although the Colts have not revealed a Richardson timetable, the third-year passer expects to be ready by the start of training camp. He has now been in Shane Steichen‘s system for three offseasons, but a player that only started one season in college has not logged the reps the team hoped for since being drafted. And his decision to ask out of a Texans game for a play became a flashpoint regarding simmering maturity issues.

Richardson will still have a shot to topple Jones in the fight for the Colts’ starting gig in camp, but he will reenter that pursuit behind on the scorecards.

Colts’ Anthony Richardson Expects To Return By Training Camp

June 23rd, 2025 at 8:34pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is expecting to recover from a shoulder injury suffered during OTAs in time for training camp in July, per CBS Sports’ Zach Goodall.

Richardson said that he is “all good” and downplayed his recent injury as “not really even a bump in the road. However, it is a worrying sign for a former top-five pick who only played 15 games in his first two seasons. Richardson was already considered a raw prospect coming out of college, and his struggles to stay on the field have stunted his development in the pros.

Even when Richardson has been healthy, he has not been a starting-caliber quarterback. In 2024, he completed less than 50% of his passes and threw more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (eight). That caused the Colts to bring in Daniel Jones for $14MM this offseason as legitimate competition for the starting quarterback job.

Missing minicamp may not have put Richardson behind Jones, who had to learn a new offense, but an extended absence could put him at a disadvantage against the former Giant. Jones may have lost his starting job in New York, but he has still performed better than his new teammate in the last two years.

Richardson is determined, however, to not let his latest setback sideline him for training camp.

“I feel like I tripped, I fell,” continued Richardson (via Goodall). “Just got back up and hit the ground running again.”

Checking In On 2025 Fifth-Year Option Performers

June 21st, 2025 at 10:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 2021 draft class has produced some of the NFL’s best players. Patrick Surtain claimed Defensive Player of the Year acclaim, after signing a monster extension that reset the cornerback market, and Ja’Marr Chase posted a triple-crown campaign that ended up pushing the wide receiver market past $40MM per year. Penei Sewell remains the NFL’s highest-paid tackle, and the DeVonta Smith/Jaylen Waddle deals helped shape other WR contracts over the past year.

Several players from that first round also did not pan out, with the quarterback crop being the most notable underachievers. Only Trevor Lawrence received an extension among the five 2021 first-round passers, though Justin Fields did do fairly well as a free agent this offseason. The 2021 first-round class did see 15 options exercised (and three players extended; Rashod Bateman has already been extended twice), marking a bump from the 2020 first-round contingent.

Nine players from that first round, however, exited this year’s offseason programs still tied to their rookie deals. Even though the 2020 CBA helped players on this front by making fifth-year options fully guaranteed, it can still be argued the options do first-rounders a disservice due to teams having five years of player control compared to four on deals ranging from Round 2 to Round 7. But the option system — now in its 15th year — is not going anywhere. And more than a fourth of the NFL’s franchises are moving toward training camp with big decisions to make.

Here is a look at where things stand between those teams and the batch of 2021 first-rounders on fifth-year options:

Kyle Pitts, TE (Falcons); option salary: $10.88MM

Flashes of upper-crust tight end play have emerged for Pitts, but Terry Fontenot leaving Chase on the board — months before the Falcons traded Julio Jones — was obviously a mistake. Pitts joined Mike Ditka (and now Brock Bowers) as the only rookie-year tight ends to clear 1,000 yards; the Florida product has not approached that range since. While Pitts has played 17 games in each of the past two seasons, the MCL injury he sustained in 2022 brought a hurdle that became difficult to negotiate. QB play has hurt Pitts, but the Falcons have not seen him justify the No. 4 overall investment. A contract-year uptick certainly could provide a gateway to a big 2026 free agency payday, however.

No Falcons extension rumors have surfaced this offseason, but Pitts has been the subject of trade talk. The Falcons are believed to have listened on Pitts earlier this offseason. A Day 2 pick was believed to be the desired asking price for the 24-year-old pass catcher. Barring a trade, Pitts will be counted on to help Michael Penix Jr.‘s development, alongside fellow Fontenot top-10 skill-position draftees Drake London and Bijan Robinson. Pitts’ age still points to a big-ticket 2026 deal being a reasonable outcome; he can remove notions of a “prove it” contract being necessary with a quality contract year.

Micah Parsons, DE (Cowboys); option salary: $24MM

In NFC East drama, the Cowboys traded the No. 10 overall pick to the Eagles, as Philly’s plan to outflank the Giants on Smith worked. Dallas won the prize here, landing Parsons at 12. Although Surtain has received the top honor among this draft class and Chase has become the highest-paid player, Parsons is also one of the NFL’s best players. He will be paid like it, and the Cowboys are operating on an eerily similar timeline compared to their slow-playing of other recent extensions.

A three-time All-Pro, Parsons is the best player still attached to a fifth-year option. And the EDGE market has changed significantly this offseason. Parsons, 26, confirmed the Cowboys’ latest delay will prove costly. A strange subplot between Jerry Jones and Parsons’ agent (David Mulugheta) also became known during these drawn-out negotiations. The former No. 12 overall pick has expected to become the NFL’s highest-paid defender, and it seems likely he will eclipse Chase’s $40.25MM-per-year deal as well. The Cowboys, whose slow-paced dealings with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb defined their 2024 offseason, have been in talks with Parsons.

Even after a value gap was revealed, a report of common ground surfaced. A franchise that accustomed to — prior to the Lamb and Prescott deals, that is — long-term contracts also looks to have hit a term-length snag here. Trade rumors came out here months ago, but nothing on that front has surfaced in a while.

After Maxx Crosby eclipsed Nick Bosa‘s defender AAV record, Danielle Hunter cleared $35MM (albeit on a one-year bump) as well. Myles Garrett‘s $40MM-per-year accord now sets the market, and T.J. Watt and Aidan Hutchinson should benefit. Parsons having waited boosts his prospects as well, and being nearly four years younger than Garrett will present a clear case for the Penn State alum’s second contract to come in noticeably higher. When will the Cowboys complete their latest arduous contractual journey?

Rashawn Slater, LT (Chargers); option salary: $19MM

The Bolts did well to add Slater at No. 13. Like Parsons, not much doubt appears to exist about Slater’s prospects for a mega-deal. The Northwestern alum, who joined Parsons and Sewell in opting out of the 2020 COVID-19-marred college season, has started every game he has played with the Chargers. After missing 14 games due to injury in 2022, Slater bounced back and earned his second Pro Bowl nod (in 2024).

Last year brought extensions for Sewell, Christian Darrisaw (chosen 10 spots after Slater) and 2020 first-rounder Tristan Wirfs. Slater’s market will check in at a similar place. Extension talks began early this offseason, as the Jim Harbaugh–Joe Hortiz regime has now observed him for a season. Slater skipped OTAs but expects his second contract to come from the Chargers.

The period between minicamp and Week 1 regularly brings extensions, and this will be the most likely window for the Chargers to come to terms with their O-line anchor. Slater signing a second contract soon would allow it to overlap with at least two Joe Alt rookie-deal years, providing a benefit to an L.A. team with a $53MM-per-year Justin Herbert deal on the books.

Alijah Vera-Tucker, G (Jets); option salary: $15.31MM

After bouncing between guard and tackle, Vera-Tucker has settled at his natural position. The USC product, whom the Jets chose 14th overall in 2021, worked exclusively at right guard last year. Although the Jets faceplanted in Aaron Rodgers‘ only full season leading the charge, Vera-Tucker stayed healthy after suffering season-ending injuries in 2022 and ’23. Vera-Tucker started 15 games last year; Pro Football Focus graded him as the NFL’s ninth-best guard.

The Jets are believed to be eyeing the post-draft period to discuss a second contract with Vera-Tucker, though the team — its struggles notwithstanding — has several extension candidates. Even if Breece Hall may not be one of them, the Jets have 2022 first-rounders Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Jermaine Johnson extension-eligible now.

Vera-Tucker, who turned 26 this week, could take precedence due to being in a contract year. It is also possible a new Jets regime would want to see more given the guard’s injury struggles. Another quality year would make Vera-Tucker one of the top 2026 free agents, but the Jets hold exclusive negotiating rights until March 2026.

Jaelan Phillips, OLB (Dolphins); option salary: $13.25MM

While Vera-Tucker created some distance from his injury issues last season, Phillips sank deeper into that abyss by suffering an ACL tear after a November 2023 Achilles tear sent him off course. Chosen 18th overall in 2021, Phillips already carried injury baggage based on his UCLA past. He rocketed onto the first-round radar following a transfer to Miami, and the ex-Hurricane showed promise during the early years of his rookie contract. Phillips posted 25 QB hits and seven sacks in 2022 and was on pace to clear that career-high sack mark by a comfy margin in ’23, but the Dolphins soon saw injuries derail their edge rusher plan.

Phillips and Bradley Chubb‘s returns from malady-marred stretches represent a central Dolphins storyline. Their returns, which are nearly complete, will be paramount for a regime suddenly in some hot water. The GM who selected Phillips (Chris Grier) 18th overall remains in place, potentially helping the 26-year-old OLB in the event he can shake the injury trouble. But no extension rumors have emerged. This season will be about Phillips reestablishing his old form. If he does, a 2026 franchise tag or a lucrative deal coming in just south of that rate may await.

Kwity Paye, DE (Colts); option salary: $13.39MM

Paye’s value checks in below the Parsons-Slater tier, but he may also not be in “prove it” territory like Phillips. The former No. 21 overall pick has not battled major injury trouble nor has he delivered A-list production. Settling in as an upper-middle-class edge rusher thus far, the Michigan alum has recorded 16.5 sacks since 2023.

Paye, 26, played a big role in the Colts setting an Indianapolis-era record for sacks in a season (51) in 2023 and has certainly not been a bust for Chris Ballard‘s team. A decision will need to be made soon, though, even as the Colts have bigger issues to sort out. The Colts have done well to extend or re-sign their core players, but Ballard backtracked on an inward-focused approach this offseason by paying Charvarius Ward and Camryn Bynum. Will those deals affect Paye’s standing?

Indianapolis also has two veteran D-tackle contracts on the books (for DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart), and the team used a first-round pick on D-end Laiatu Latu last year. A Paye payday would complement Latu’s rookie-deal years, and the Colts acting early could create a discount opportunity due to Paye never eclipsing nine sacks or 12 QB hits in a season. Those numbers also could give the team pause about Paye’s long-term viability. Paye was not interested in a 2024 extension, but it would stand to reason he would be prepared to talk terms now. No extension rumors have followed, though.

Travis Etienne, RB (Jaguars); option salary: $6.14MM

An Urban Meyer draftee, Etienne has now been a Lawrence teammate for eight years. The Clemson-developed running back delivered quality work for the 2022 and ’23 Jaguars teams, becoming a high-usage player under Doug Pederson in that span. Meyer had telegraphed a hope the Jags could draft Kadarius Toney in 2021, but Etienne proved the far better pick by posting back-to-back seasons of 1,400-plus yards from scrimmage after missing his rookie year with a foot injury. However, Etienne’s stock mirrored that of the team last year. Tank Bigsby cut into his RB1 role, and career-worst marks followed.

Etienne does not appear an extension candidate in Jacksonville, and trade rumors emerged before the draft. Linked to Ashton Jeanty at No. 5, the Jags pulled off a smokescreen operation centered around Travis Hunter. Even with Jacksonville going with Hunter over Jeanty, the team drafted two running backs (Bhayshul Tuten, LeQuint Allen) ahead of Liam Coen‘s first year in charge. Coen did throw cold water on an Etienne trade, but the 26-year-old RB appears set to play out his rookie contract and test free agency in 2026. It will be interesting to see if Coen, who coaxed a promising rookie-year season from Bucky Irving, can move Etienne back on track. But a post-draft report also indicated the new Jags HC is not especially high on the former No. 25 overall pick.

Greg Newsome, CB (Browns); option salary: $13.38MM

As Hunter headed to Jacksonville instead of Cleveland, Newsome saw his status receive an 11th-hour update ahead of the draft. Rather than see Hunter’s two-way role impact him, Newsome enters 2025 in a similar spot. The Browns traded down from No. 2 and took Mason Graham — in a draft that did not see Cleveland draft a cornerback — but Newsome still may not be long for Cleveland.

The Browns dangled the 25-year-old corner in trades before the draft; that followed a pre-deadline trade rumor. In April, it looked like Hunter’s part-time CB role would affect Newsome. But the Browns and Jags had been working on a trade for more than two weeks before the draft. Those trade talks may have been merely a reflection of the organization’s view of Newsome, the 2021 No. 26 overall pick.

Former third-rounder Martin Emerson has operated as Denzel Ward‘s perimeter complementary performer during his career, relegating Newsome to a slot role in sub-packages. Last season, that meant only three starts for Newsome, who described some frustration with his role during the winter. A trade may still be something to monitor ahead of the November deadline, especially if the Browns want to keep stockpiling ammo for a 2026 QB move.

Odafe Oweh, OLB (Ravens); option salary: $13.25MM

Like Paye, Oweh has submitted an extended sample of quality production. Neither had revealed themselves to be difference-making presences going into 2024, but after the Ravens moved on from Jadeveon Clowney, Oweh took a long-awaited step forward. The former No. 31 overall pick broke through for 10 sacks and 23 QB hits. Oweh had never previously surpassed five sacks or 15 hits in a season, with 2024 representing a significant development for a Ravens team that has otherwise relied on veteran stopgaps since Matt Judon‘s 2021 free agency departure.

With David Ojabo not yet panning out, Oweh still has a clear runway in Baltimore. An extension is in play for the ex-Parsons Penn State teammate. Not too much has come out on this front just yet, and the Ravens may also be interested in seeing if Oweh can replicate his 2024 production. Then again, the team has four years of intel on the 26-year-old pass rusher.

Waiting until 2026 to make a play here would run the risk of Oweh’s price rising beyond Baltimore’s comfort zone. No stranger to letting pass-rushing talent walk in free agency and recouping compensatory picks, the Ravens have also not been able to rely on a homegrown pass rusher since Judon. That would stand to make Oweh a reasonable priority in his contract year.

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