Latest On Dolphins, CB Jalen Ramsey
It’s only been two days since we talked about the Dolphins–Jalen Ramsey trade situation, but what a two days it has been. We insinuated in our most recent post that a trade could be on hold until after June 1 for cap reasons, and a lot of signs appear to be pointing in that direction. 
The reasoning for this is fairly clear. Were the Dolphins to trade their star cornerback before June 1, the team would eat $25.21MM in dead money with Ramsey still taking up $8.55MM of cap space. If the team makes the trade after June 1, that dead money figure reduces to $6.75MM with the team also getting $9.92MM of salary cap relief.
As if to mark June 1 as a finish line, Ramsey simply posted, “5…” on his X account yesterday, likely indicating the number of days until Miami will be willing to trade him. In a string of posts today, Ramsey reiterated that targeted date, telling his followers to “finish the week strong.” He also indicated that things have “ended” and that “a new chapter awaits.”
Head coaches of two teams offered quotes today on the situation, as well. Miami’s Mike McDaniel made it clear today that his focus is on the players who are at the team’s facilities — Ramsey doesn’t appear to have any intentions of attending any offseason activities with the Dolphins. McDaniel said that he’s “very excited to coach a team” and that he’s “just worried about the players on the field today,” per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
The Rams have been heavily linked as a team that could reunite with Ramsey, and head coach Sean McVay was the other coach to comment on the situation today. According to ESPN’s Sarah Barshop, McVay told reporters that “there hasn’t been any meaningful, tangible dialogue as of late…but that can always change pretty quickly.” “Quickly” could end up being as soon as June 1.
In a mailbag Q&A, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated addressed what a realistic return could look like in a Ramsey trade. Miami has plenty of incentive to get Ramsey’s salary off their books, but that probably doesn’t mean they’ll be willing to discount him too much. While teams acquiring the veteran defender will theoretically be getting three years of control, those years come with cash payouts of $21MM in 2026, $21.7MM in 2027, and $24MM in 2028.
In those final three years, Ramsey will be playing at 32, 33, and 34 years old. Breer points out that, should Ramsey’s age finally catch up to him and affect his abilities to play cornerback, there are people who believe he can transition into a top-tier safety. Even the highest-paid safeties, though, aren’t averaging $21.7MM and $24MM per year today, and the highest-paid safety over 30 years old is only averaging $6.5MM per season.
Breer speculates that this could mean that we’ll see whichever team acquires him cut the veteran after his first season with the team in order to get out of his current contract and potentially work towards a newer, cheaper one. It’s looking likely that we’ll get to find out exactly which team will have that opportunity in 5…4…
Dolphins OLBs Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips Nearing Full Strength
Although Tua Tagovailoa‘s health and Tyreek Hill‘s mercurial trajectory overshadowed the Dolphins’ lack of edge rusher availability last season, the latter storyline lingered throughout 2024 in Miami. Bradley Chubb missed all of last season, while Jaelan Phillips‘ recovery from a 2023 Achilles tear produced a handful of games before another major setback.
The Dolphins reworked Chubb’s extension this offseason, a move that amounted to a pay cut for a player once acquired in a blockbuster trade, and have Phillips in a contract year. While 2024 first-rounder Chop Robinson is in place, the Dolphins will need their veteran duo to return. In some rare good news involving the team’s OLB corps, both are on the homestretch of their respective recovery efforts.
Mike McDaniel said (via Outkick.com’s Armando Salguero) Wednesday have been able to participate in “most things most days.” Considering where both starters were last year, each being nearly recovered before minicamp represents significant progress. Chubb has not played since suffering an ACL tear — the second of his NFL career — in Week 17 of the 2023 season; Phillips followed up a November 2023 Achilles tear with an October 2024 ACL tear.
These injuries have prevented the Dolphins from being able to bank on a long-term future featuring these two. Phillips is in a contract year — on a fifth-year option Miami exercised in the time between his Achilles and ACL tears — while Chubb saw his $19.45MM 2025 base salary slashed; no guaranteed money remains on the former top-five pick’s deal following 2025. The Dolphins have Robinson signed through 2027, and they will need to see some positive returns from their more experienced OLBs in order to justify 2026 employment.
Phillips’ recovery from his second major injury as a pro involved harvesting his patellar tendon, according to The Athletic’s Dan Pompei, who details the injuries and past surgeries — while Phillips was at UCLA — that had doctors advising him to retire. Phillips sustained a major wrist injury in a moped accident, leading to multiple operations — including one removing three bones. Phillips also endured multiple concussions before transferring to Miami. This coming season will be pivotal for the 2021 first-round pick, who was enjoying a breakthrough year (6.5 sacks in eight games) in 2023 before suffering the Achilles tear in the Dolphins’ Black Friday game.
Acquired in a trade headlined by a first-round pick going to the Broncos, Chubb signed a five-year, $110MM extension days later. He remains on a through-2027 contract, but having spent all of last year on the reserve/PUP list has brought a derailment. The Dolphins had expected Chubb (29 in June) to return late last season and designated him to practice, but no activation commenced as Miami’s playoff hopes waned.
Chubb already missed most of the 2019 season with an ACL tear, and a two-ankle-surgery 2021 limited him to seven games (and no sacks) that year. Moving back on track in 2022 prompted the Dolphins to pay the high trade price, and while Chubb reached 11 sacks in 2023, the Dolphins entered the playoffs decimated on the edge and did not see their situation improve last year.
In addition to missing Chubb for the full season and Phillips for 13 games, the Dolphins signed Shaq Barrett and then saw him retire before suiting up. Barrett ended the season back with the Buccaneers. Despite this run of misfortune at outside linebacker, the Dolphins focused on other areas in the draft and free agency. They will count on Chubb and Phillips’ returns. Having both back alongside Robinson should raise the ceiling for Anthony Weaver‘s defense, but each’s injury past has certainly become a concern as the DC readies for his second season in charge.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/27/25
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DL Patrick Jenkins
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Ryan Cooper Jr.
- Placed on IR: CB Jason Maitre
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Montana Lemonious-Craig
We learned last week that the Cardinals were moving on from DL Ben Stille, and we’ve now got some clarity on his direct replacement on the roster. The team has signed Patrick Jenkins, an undrafted rookie out of Tulane. The defensive lineman got a look at Saints rookie minicamp but left without an offer. His showing at Tulane included 13 sacks and 28 tackles for loss.
Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver Addresses Pending Jalen Ramsey Trade
Over one month has passed since it became clear Jalen Ramsey and the Dolphins are looking to part ways. Potential suitors have known about the possibility of a trade for even longer, but the All-Pro corner remains a member of the organization for now. 
That is still expected to change shortly, however. Neither finances nor skill are seen as the driving forces for a split between team and player in this case. Rather, tension between Ramsey and head coach Mike McDaniel was reported to have resulted in a mutual decision to move on. The latest comments on the matter from defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver confirm that is the case.
“In this game, things change by the day,” Weaver said (via C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald). “I have a tremendous amount of respect [for] Ramsey. He played very good ball for us but relationships are hard. Both sides have mutually chosen to go the other way. I respect that and wish him nothing but the best.”
Ramsey has spent the past two seasons in South Beach, and after a knee injury limited him to 10 games in 2023 he managed a full season last year. The seven-time Pro Bowler is under contract for the next four years as a result of Miami’s willingness to keep him in place through the remainder of his prime, but a reversal of that move should be coming soon. A trade after June 1 rather than before will be more feasible for the Dolphins from a cap perspective, leaving time for an agreement with an interested party to be worked out.
Ramsey hopes to continue his career on a contender, and a reunion with the Rams has been mentioned on multiple occasions as something Los Angeles would welcome. It remains to be seen how much – if any – of the 30-year-old’s outstanding guarantees the Dolphins are prepared to absorb in a trade, something which will no doubt be a crucial factor in any agreement. The Cowboys could find themselves in the running for a Ramsey acquisition, but that does not appear to be likely at this point.
The Dolphins created one need for a new starting cornerback when they released Kendall Fuller. Moving on from Ramsey will open another first-team vacancy, so it comes as no surprise they have shown interest in some of the top remaining free agents at the position. Miami has been in contact with Asante Samuel Jr., while an offer has already been made to Rasul Douglas. James Bradberry could be an outside option, although expectations would be limited in his case if he signs anywhere for 2025.
Miami’s in-house corners will also be counted on to develop this season with multiple starters no longer in the fold; Cam Smith in particular could be in store for an uptick in workload. Plenty of uncertainty looms over how the Dolphins’ secondary will take shape this season, although it remains a foregone conclusion in the team’s view that Ramsey will not suit up for them again.
Cowboys Potential Trade Destination For CB Jalen Ramsey?
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.
AFC Front Office Updates: Bengals, Bills, Jets, Dolphins
Last week, we noted that former Patriots southeast area scout Josh Hinch would not be returning to New England in 2025. Now we know why as Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com reports that Hinch will be joining the Bengals in 2025.
It’s assumed that Hinch will be stepping into the role vacated when Christian Sarkisian departed to serve as the general manager at Northwestern University. Hinch spent some time with the XFL and AAF alternative football leagues before working with the Buccaneers in the NFL. He’s spent the last four years in New England’s scouting department.
Cincinnati will also add Tyler Ramsey as a scout, per Stratton. A Seattle native, Ramsey spent 12 seasons in the Seahawks’ scouting department, starting as a personnel intern and working his way through promotions to scouting assistant and area scout. He spent three years after with the Panthers, starting as a national scout before getting promoted to assistant director of pro personnel. Ramsey was let go by Carolina a little over a year ago.
Here are a few other front office updates, all coming out of the AFC East:
- Stratton also noted that the Bills have hired Mk Collins as their new player personnel coordinator, citing the updated position on her LinkedIn page. After completing a training camp internship with the Rams in 2023, Collins served four months as the assistant director of recruiting and personnel at Cornell before joining North Carolina as a player personnel analyst and, eventually, a scouting assistant. Stratton tells us that the position was open because former player personnel coordinator Andrea Gosper has been promoted.
- The Jets are bringing Bird Sherrill back to the NFL for a front office role, according to Graham Hall of 247Sports. Sherrill had previously spent six years with the Lions, starting as a scouting assistant before being promoted to a scout. Sherrill arrived in Gainesville alongside Billy Napier in 2022 and served as the Gators director of college personnel.
- Lastly, the Dolphins have hired Rachael Kaplan as the team’s new football analytics staff assistant, per ESPN’s Seth Walder. Kaplan previously worked an internship with the Buccaneers. She entered a submission into this year’s NFL Big Data Bowl and earned an honorable mention in the competition.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/22/25
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: DT Ben Stille
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: QB Brett Gabbert
- Waived: LB William Bradley-King
In addition to placing Sean Murphy-Bunting on the reserve/non-football injury list today, the Cardinals moved on from Ben Stille. Despite only spending three seasons in the NFL, Stille has true journeyman status, with the defensive lineman spending time with the Dolphins, Browns, Cardinals (twice), and Buccaneers. The 27-year-old got into six total games last season, compiling four tackles and one sack.
William Bradley-King joined the Dolphins practice squad last August and spent the entire year there. He was retained via a reserve/futures contract back in January. A former seventh-round pick, Bradley-King has collected seven tackles and 0.5 sacks in four career games. He’ll be replaced on the roster by QB Brett Gabbert, the younger brother of Blaine Gabbert. Brett was invited to rookie minicamp last month after going undrafted in this year’s draft. The QB got into 53 games during his time at Miami (OH), tossing 80 touchdowns vs. 30 interceptions.
The Most Lucrative ILB Contract In Each Franchise’s History
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
- Jordan Hicks; March 12, 2019: Four years, $34MM ($20MM guaranteed)
Atlanta Falcons
- Deion Jones; July 17, 2019: Four years, $54MM ($34MM guaranteed)
Baltimore Ravens
- Roquan Smith; January 10, 2023: Five years, $100MM ($60MM guaranteed)
Buffalo Bills
- Matt Milano; March 12, 2023: Two years, $28.33MM ($27.15MM guaranteed)
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
- Luke Kuechly; September 10, 2015: Five years, $61.8MM ($33.36MM guaranteed)
Shaq Thompson‘s 2019 extension brought a higher AAV ($13.54MM), but Kuechly’s included more in guarantees
Chicago Bears
- Tremaine Edmunds; March 13, 2023: Four years, $72MM ($50MM guaranteed)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Logan Wilson; August 4, 2023: Four years, $36MM ($10MM guaranteed)
Cleveland Browns
- Jamie Collins; January 23, 2017: Four years, $50MM ($26.4MM guaranteed)
Dallas Cowboys
- Jaylon Smith; August 20, 2019: Five years, $63.75MM ($35.41MM guaranteed)
Denver Broncos
- Brandon Marshall; June 14, 2016: Four years, $32MM ($20.1MM guaranteed)
Dre Greenlaw‘s 2025 contract (three years, $31.5MM) brought a higher AAV but a lower guarantee
Detroit Lions
- DeAndre Levy; August 5, 2015: Three years, $33.74MM ($24MM guaranteed)
Green Bay Packers
- De’Vondre Campbell; March 14, 2022: Five years, $50MM ($15MM guaranteed)
Houston Texans
- Benardrick McKinney; June 14, 2018: Five years, $50MM ($22.16MM guaranteed)
Azeez Al-Shaair checks in atop franchise history in AAV ($11.33MM) but fell short of McKinney’s in guarantees
Indianapolis Colts
- Shaquille Leonard; August 8, 2021: Five years, $98.5MM ($52.5MM guaranteed)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Foye Oluokun; March 14, 2022: Three years, $45MM ($28MM guaranteed)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Nick Bolton; March 9, 2025: Three years, $45MM ($30MM guaranteed)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Cory Littleton; March 17, 2020: Three years, $35.25MM ($22MM guaranteed)
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
- Donald Butler; February 28, 2014: Seven years, $51.8MM ($11.15MM guaranteed)
Kenneth Murray‘s rookie contract (a fully guaranteed $12.97MM) narrowly eclipses this deal
Los Angeles Rams
- James Laurinaitis; September 8, 2012: Five years, $41.5MM ($23.62MM guaranteed)
Mark Barron‘s 2016 contract brought a higher AAV ($9MM) but a lower guarantee
Miami Dolphins
- Jerome Baker; June 13, 2021: Three years, $37.5MM ($28.41MM guaranteed)
Minnesota Vikings
- Anthony Barr; March 12, 2019: Five years, $67.5MM ($33MM guaranteed)
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
- Demario Davis; September 13, 2020: Three years, $27MM ($18.35MM guaranteed)
New York Giants
- Bobby Okereke; March 13, 2023: Four years, $40MM ($21.8MM guaranteed)
Blake Martinez‘s free agency deal included a higher AAV ($10.25MM) but a lower guaranteee
New York Jets
- C.J. Mosley; March 12, 2019: Five years, $85MM ($51MM guaranteed)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Zack Baun; March 5, 2025: Three years, $51MM ($34MM guaranteed)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Patrick Queen; March 12, 2024: Three years, $41MM ($20.51MM guaranteed)
San Francisco 49ers
- Fred Warner; May 19, 2025: Three years, $63MM ($56MM guaranteed)
Warner secured more guaranteed money on this extension than he did on his five-year 2021 deal ($40.5MM guaranteed)
Seattle Seahawks
- Bobby Wagner; July 26, 2019: Three years, $54MM ($40.25MM guaranteed)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Lavonte David; August 9, 2015: Five years, $50.25MM ($25.56MM guaranteed)
Tennessee Titans
- Cody Barton; March 10, 2025: Three years, $21MM ($13.33MM guaranteed)
Washington Commanders
- London Fletcher; March 3, 2007: Five years, $25MM ($10.5MM guaranteed)
Jamin Davis‘ fully guaranteed rookie contract brought a higher guarantee ($13.79MM)
Dolphins Interested In CB Asante Samuel Jr.; Rasul Douglas, James Bradberry On Radar
Jalen Ramsey is still a member of the Dolphins, but a trade remains the expectation in that case. Moving on from the All-Pro will create a notable cornerback vacancy, and to no surprise a few free agent options are on the team’s radar.
The Dolphins have made contact with Asante Samuel Jr., Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports. He adds no formal visit is on the books at this point with no offer being made yet. Samuel is recovering from neck surgery, but the Dolphins are among the teams which will watch his situation closely over the coming weeks.
As Jackson confirms, Samuel is scheduled for a checkup in early July. Provided that goes well, the 25-year-old will likely not need to wait long to land a deal. He visited the Saints last week, and a Cardinals meeting also took place prior to the surgery. If a bidding war is to ensue, Miami will likely be involved (especially if Ramsey is on another team by that point).
Samuel is one of two corners to land among PFR’s top 50 free agents who remain unsigned. Rasul Douglas joins him, and the Dolphins had placed themselves in that market as well. Miami met with Douglas as well, extending an offer. No deal emerged, and Douglas then visited the Seahawks. The Dolphins, however, remain in touch with Douglas, Jackson adds.
James Bradberry also came up as a potential solution earlier this offseason, with Jackson indicating the Dolphins engaged in dialogue with the free agent. Bradberry will be unlikely to convince a team to spend much, as he is north of 30 (32 in August) and coming off a missed season. Prior to Bradberry’s summer Achilles tear, he had attempted to convert to safety. Eyeing a return to corner, Bradberry will attempt to recapture the form he displayed with the 2022 Eagles, as it catapulted him to a three-year, $38MM Philly deal in March 2023. The Bills also spoke with Bradberry, whom the Eagles designated a post-June 1 cut, this offseason.
These connections point both to a Ramsey separation coming to fruition — presumably after June 1 due to the extension the nine-year veteran signed last September — and the Dolphins being ready to supplement his unproven supporting cast. Miami has not seen much to indicate its second-round Cam Smith selection will pan out (153 career snaps), and the team did not draft a corner until Round 5 (Jason Marshall) this year. Former UDFAs Kader Kohou and Storm Duck remain in the mix. The Dolphins also signed former first-rounder Artie Burns as a depth piece, but if Ramsey is out of the picture, this looks like one of the more vulnerable position groups in the NFL.
Bradberry has made 124 starts during a nine-year career. Samuel has made 47, and while his injury-plagued 2024 has impacted his market, the second-generation NFL corner joins Douglas among the top free agents left. Douglas, 29, has made 80 career starts. Twenty-three of those came with the Bills since a 2023 deadline trade sent him to Buffalo, where the ex-Philadelphia draftee complemented Christian Benford for a Bills team that has continued to see its top corner unavailable in its biggest games. The Bills extended Benford, however, and used a first-round pick on Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston to signal Douglas will need to find a new home.
The Dolphins released Kendall Fuller, but the CB market also houses Shaquill Griffin, Jack Jones, Cameron Sutton and Michael Davis as potential boundary options. Stephon Gilmore remains available as well, but the former Defensive Player of the Year is entering what would be his age-35 season. It is fairly clear Miami will make a move here, and it appears likely to happen before training camp.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
AFC Staff Updates: Jaguars, Patriots, Steelers, Jets, Dolphins, Titans, Colts
With rookie general manager James Gladstone and rookie head coach Liam Coen taking over in Jacksonville, we’ve seen a mass migration of coaches and front office staff from Los Angeles to Duval this offseason. Gladstone and Coen created several connections during their time with the Rams, and Sean McVay has never been known to keep his coaches from pursuing positions with upwards mobility elsewhere.
The latest staff members we see making the move are former national scout Brian Hill and former director of draft management JW Jordan. Per Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com, Hill is set to become the new director of college scouting in Jacksonville. Hill had been with the Rams since 2013, spending two years as a scouting assistant and ten years as an area scout responsible for the Midwest region. He had just been promoted to national scout in March, but he will pass up the opportunity for an even bigger elevation with the Jaguars.
Jordan has been with the Rams for 13 years, spending the last six in his role as director of draft management and serving as a scouting consultant before that. His new role has not yet been announced, but Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 tells us that it will be an executive role.
Here are some other staff updates from around the AFC:
- Stratton also gave us two recent updates for the Patriots scouting staff. Just over a week after Tennessee moved on from scouting director A.J. Highsmith, he has found a role in New England as the new director of pro scouting. The move puts Highsmith on the same team as his father, Alonzo Highsmith, who is entering his second season as a senior personnel executive with the Patriots. Stratton also informed us that southeast area scout Josh Hinch will not be returning to the team in 2025.
- After four years with the Steelers, it appears Mike Sullivan will not be back next season. It’s unclear if something occurred, but ESPN’s Brooke Pryor pointed out that he no longer appears on the team’s website. The 58-year-old spent three years as Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks coach before moving to a senior offensive assistant role last year. Additionally, the Steelers have hired Luke Smith to serve as a quality control coach for the team in 2025. The nephew of Steelers special teams coordinator Danny Smith, Luke has spent the past eight years as the wide receivers coach at nearby Duquesne, per Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. This will be Smith’s first position in the NFL.
- Stratton gave us another front office update recently, pointing out a change to the LinkedIn profile of Jets assistant director of pro personnel Kevin Murphy. Murphy seems to have indicated on the account that his time with New York has come to an end. The profile currently does not indicate any next steps for the pro personnel specialist who spent time with the Texans, Bills, and Jets over the last 19 years.
- Jordan Happle has been hired as a new player personnel scout for the Dolphins. According to Stratton, the former collegiate safety who played at both Boise State and Oregon was recently added to Miami’s website in the new position.
- Stratton also tells us that the Titans are hiring former Pitt director of college scouting Alex Kline to their scouting department this season. Kline began his football career as a wide receiver at John Caroll University before becoming a grad assistant and, eventually, a coach and coordinator at Saint Vincent College. He worked for a year at Pitt as an offensive quality control coach before leaving for a recruiting role at Akron. He returned to Pitt as the wide receivers coach before leaving once again for the director of player personnel job at Memphis. He returned once more to Pitt in 2022 in his most recent role before making the trip back to Tennessee. It stands to be seen whether or not he’ll attempt to continue his back-and-forth career movement between coaching and personnel.
- Lastly, Seth Walder of ESPN informs us that Ashleigh Prugh is joining the Colts as a football analytics fellow. This will be Prugh’s first position in the NFL following an internship with SumerSports.