Bills Extend DE Gregory Rousseau
The Bills are checking several items off their to-do list before free agency. After extending Khalil Shakir and Terrel Bernard, they have a deal in place with Gregory Rousseau.
Buffalo’s top pass rusher agreed to terms on a four-year, $80MM extension Saturday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Rousseau will see $54MM guaranteed. The Bills have announced the extension. This will keep a cornerstone piece in Buffalo through 2029, which coincides with the timelines Shakir and Bernard’s contracts created. Rousseau was going into his fifth-year option season.
Although the Bills looked to have Von Miller humming as their top pass rusher during his 2022 season, the future Hall of Famer’s Thanksgiving ACL tear changed the equation. Miller has not closely resembled his pre-tear form, but Rousseau coming along gave the Bills vital support during that period. With Miller’s future in Buffalo uncertain, Rousseau is staying on what could be a team-friendly deal.
Rousseau’s $20MM AAV checks in 13th among edge rushers. His $54MM total guarantee comes in ninth. While Rousseau has yet to make a Pro Bowl roster or post a 10-sack year, he is only going into his age-25 season. The Miami product is likely only coming into his prime. It is quite possible the Bills will generate considerable value on this pact, which was agreed to after another cap spike ($24MM).
In terms of rate as his position, Bernard has fared the best among the three early Bills extension recipients. James Cook is asking for a high-end running back contract, and Christian Benford will command an upper-crust CB salary. But Rousseau and Shakir did not approach the top tier at their respective positions.
Rousseau matched his career high with eight sacks last season but established a new personal standard with 24 QB hits and 16 tackles for loss. Even as Miller returned to usable form, after a woeful 2023, Rousseau remained the Bills’ D-end anchor. The team still has A.J. Epenesa signed as well and has been mentioned as a Myles Garrett suitor (in the event the Browns relent on their no-trade stance), but this extension shows faith in Rousseau.
The Bills now have both their cornerstone D-linemen on what look like favorable contracts. They inked Ed Oliver to an extension in 2023; the former first-rounder’s deal now checks in 17th among D-tackles. Rousseau opted to avoid a contract year and potential 2026 franchise tag by taking a $20MM-per-year deal now. That might not have been the best value play, but it will ensure he is a long-term Buffalo cog. The $54MM guarantee is not anything to scoff at, either.
Seahawks To Trade Geno Smith To Raiders
Rumored to be still looking into trades after the Matthew Stafford push failed, the Raiders have found a solution. Pete Carroll will be reuniting with a QB — just not via free agency.
Rather than a Russell Wilson signing, the Raiders are trading for Geno Smith, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports. The Raiders will send the Seahawks a 2025 third-rounder for Smith, Seattle’s former Wilson backup-turned-three-year starter. Suddenly, it is the Seahawks who need a quarterback.
[RELATED: Seahawks Want D.K. Metcalf Trade Done By Draft]
While we mentioned Smith as a prospective solution minutes ago, it is still fairly stunning the Seahawks are parting with a proven starter. One season remains on Smith’s three-year, $75MM contract. This trade will almost definitely bring a Smith extension, as the Raiders were on the cusp of giving Stafford a monster guarantee package.
Smith is not in Stafford’s skill class, but he is two years younger. Going into his age-35 season, Smith likely has secured another starter year without the threat of an immediate QB heir apparent coming in. Indeed, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports Smith is likely to land a new deal in Vegas; he has been seeking a contract between $40-$45MM per year. The Seahawks came in at around $35MM per year, SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets. Smith entered the offseason as the NFL’s 19th-highest-paid QB, with no one really around his $25MM AAV.
The 2022 Comeback Player of the Year, Smith is due a $14.8MM base salary in 2025. That money is not guaranteed, but again, it would be quite surprising if the 12th-year veteran were still attached to that deal by Week 1. This represents a major swing by a Raiders team that has shuffled through QBs since benching Derek Carr in December 2022. Smith is one year older than Carr, but he has displayed durability since replacing Wilson in Seattle.
Smith stunned the football-following world by being far more than a mediocre Wilson successor, rising from longtime backup — a player who had drawn low-end salaries from the Seahawks for four years — to the NFL’s completion percentage leader. Smith broke Wilson’s single-season Seahawks passing yardage record in 2022, also throwing 30 TD passes, and then re-broke it this past season. He finished with 4,320 passing yards last season, though the 15 interceptions brought concerns for the Seahawks, who had passed on acquiring an heir apparent for multiple offseasons. Smith ranked just 21st in QBR last season, after coming in at seventh (2022) and 14th (2023) in his other Seattle starter years.
Talks had begun between Smith and the Seahawks, but NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicates the sides did not make much progress. This will end a six-season partnership, one that brought three winning seasons — including a 10-7 2024 season — and a playoff berth with Smith at the wheel. The Seahawks are now exploring a Sam Darnold addition, providing a tremendous shakeup to the QB market days before free agency. Smith had pushed for an extension in 2024, but the Seahawks did not greenlight one.
Seattle’s shocking Smith trade comes after John Schneider had said there was no doubt the QB would remain at the controls in 2025. The deal also comes two days after D.K. Metcalf requested a trade. The Seahawks, who cut Tyler Lockett minutes before the Metcalf news surfaced, are making wholesale changes after back-to-back playoff misses. Seattle had not previously missed two straight postseasons since the 2008-09 seasons — before Carroll and Schneider arrived.
Metcalf is believed to be targeting a deal to a warmer-weather team, with Russini indicating during a radio interview with Mike Golic and Mike Golic Jr. that the standout receiver also wants more QB stability. Metcalf has since seen the Seahawks deal a proven starter, as the team joins a handful of clubs in pursuit of a free agent. Effectively, the Raiders and Seahawks have swapped places. This is a long time coming for the Raiders, who have come off back-to-back seasons featuring struggles staffing the position.
The Raiders cut Carr and signed Jimmy Garoppolo. After Garoppolo became a post-June 1 release — following another injury-plagued season that involved a midyear benching — the team gave Gardner Minshew a two-year, $25MM deal. Also benched, Minshew sustained a season-ending injury and will follow Garoppolo in being a post-June 1 cut. Aidan O’Connell remains on the roster, but he no longer has a realistic path to the starting job. This will at least buy the Raiders time, as they could now — barring a renewed Cam Ward trade-up effort — wait for a better offseason to strike. This has widely been viewed as an unspectacular QB draft class.
Las Vegas picked up an extra third-rounder via the Davante Adams trade, closing the book on the wide receiver’s two-plus years with the team. The Raiders carried more than $80MM in cap space entering Friday; some of that figures to go to Smith’s extension, but the team will have necessary funds to improve around him, after a 4-13 season cost Antonio Pierce and Tom Telesco their jobs. In stepped Tom Brady, who has been a central presence in the Raiders’ QB pursuit.
Carroll is on a three-year contract, coming in as a hopeful culture-resetting presence after tumult consumed the Raiders following Jon Gruden‘s forced resignation. Carroll had stumped for Smith during the months between the Wilson blockbuster and the 2022 season, and Smith beat trade pickup Drew Lock for the starting job. He was unchallenged for the position in 2023 and ’24, but Mike Macdonald and new OC Klint Kubiak will be working with a new passer in 2025. Kubiak had said Smith was a “huge draw” to bring him to Seattle; Smith will now get to work in Chip Kelly‘s offense.
Eagles To Extend Saquon Barkley
MARCH 7: On his second Eagles contract, Barkley will see a whopping $36MM fully guaranteed, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio adds. The full guarantees cover Barkley’s 2025 and ’26 base salaries and two loftier option bonuses. Barkley’s 2025 option bonus checks in at $15.08MM, his ’26 bonus at $15.45MM. Of Barkley’s 2027 option bonus ($14.41MM), $2.5MM is fully guaranteed. A $1MM roster bonus will be due on Day 3 of the 2028 league year. Barkley will not have a cap number above $10MM until 2027, but the Eagles would not see any cap savings from a release until 2028 because of this contract structure, which also includes four void years.
As the Eagles’ recent contract structure is present here, so are additional incentives. Surpassing 1,500 scrimmage yards will land Barkley $250K, with that number increasing to $500K if he reaches 2,000, Florio notes. The same structure is in place for first- and second-team All-Pro honors, with a first-team appearance bumping him to $500K. A 1,000-yard rushing season and an Eagles NFC championship earns Barkley $250K, with a 1,000-yard rushing year plus another Super Bowl title increasing that number to $500K.
MARCH 4: Saquon Barkley enjoyed one of the most productive running back seasons in NFL history during his debut campaign with the Eagles. That has resulted in a new contract and accompanying raise.
Barkley has agreed to a two-year extension worth $41.2MM, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Two years remained on the Offensive Player of the Year’s original pact prior to this news, but it will substantially increase his earnings. Barkley is now not only the league’s highest-paid running back in terms of annual compensation, but he is the first to sign a deal with an AAV above $20MM.
As part of the financial resurgence of the running back market last offseason, Barkley inked a three-year, $37.75MM deal. The $12.58MM average of that pact moved the former Giant into third in the position’s pecking order and its $26MM in guarantees represented a major investment on the part of the Eagles. Barkley proved to be a worthwhile signing, though, and an even larger commitment has been made. Schefter notes this latest deal includes $36MM locked in at signing, along with an additional $15MM in incentives and escalators.
It will be interesting to see the structure of this new contract. Barkley was set to carry a cap hit of just $7.36MM in 2025, a figure which could raise depending on how his new compensation is paid out. If much of his guaranteed money comes in the form of a signing bonus, though, the added cap charges could be spread out over time (especially if void years are used, which was the case when he signed last spring). Just like the 49ers did last summer with Christian McCaffrey, the Eagles will move forward with a renewed and lucrative investment in a veteran back after seeing him operate as the focal point of the their offense.
Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards in 2024 despite being rested for the Eagles’ regular season finale. That figure was sufficient to break the franchise’s single-season rushing record, and his 2,283 scrimmage yards for the regular season ranked 13th in NFL history. When taking into account the 28-year-old’s output in the playoffs, his 2,504 total yards on the ground represent an all-time record for combined regular and postseason production.
The Eagles will be counting on Barkley being able to replicate that level of success when attempting to defend their Super Bowl title. The team already has a offense featuring a quarterback (Jalen Hurts), two receivers (A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith) and a tight end (Dallas Goedert) each near the top of their respective markets on their current deals. Philadelphia also, course, has a number of notable commitments along the offensive line. The team’s financial planning will now take into account a major Barkley raise over the coming years.
The running back market has long lagged well behind that of other positions. 2024 saw a rebound to an extent, and McCaffrey’s pact (averaging $19MM per year) has now been surpassed in value. Whether or not this Barkley deal represents a turning point from a financial perspective will be an interesting league storyline to follow.
Jaguars Release TE Evan Engram, WR Devin Duvernay
MARCH 7: The Jags have announced the Engram and Reynolds releases. This will mean Engram cannot be designated a post-June 1 cut. While the eight-year veteran is free to sign with any team now, the Jags will take on more dead money as a result of making him a standard release.
MARCH 6: A Jacksonville skill-position purge will continue with two more veterans. Following the team’s intra-division Christian Kirk trade, Evan Engram and Devin Duvernay are also out.
The Jags are releasing the veteran tight end and All-Pro return man, ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero respectively report. One season remained on Engram’s extension, which was signed after the Jags franchise-tagged him in 2023.
Count Josh Reynolds among the skill-player cap casualties as well, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. The Jags had claimed Reynolds off waivers from the Broncos late last season. This release will save the Jags $4.26MM, as they had taken Reynolds’ two-year, $9MM contract from the Broncos.
If the Jaguars are moving on from Engram via a standard release, they would take on $13.5MM in dead money. If they wait to officially cut the former first-rounder on March 12 and give him a post-June 1 release designation, the team would be tagged with just $4MM in 2025 dead cap and would save $15.5MM in cap room. Engram, 30, was due to count $19.49MM on Jacksonville’s 2025 cap — the second-highest total on the team’s payroll.
The Duvernay release will save the Jags $2.7MM this year. Jacksonville added Duvernay last March, doing so as it signed Gabe Davis as well. Davis did not live up to his $13MM-per-year contract in his first season, but he is the only veteran skill player left standing after this week’s moves. While the team is prepared to build around Brian Thomas Jr., it will need to fill out some spots alongside the blossoming first-rounder.
Given the tag over Jawaan Taylor in 2023, Engram signed a three-year, $41.25MM extension. That deal called for a $14.75MM 2025 base salary. Three void years tacked onto the end of it will bring the dead money, which would stretch to 2026 if the Jags make Engram a post-June cut. This could certainly make Engram the top tight end on the market, one that includes the likes of Mike Gesicki, Juwan Johnson and Tyler Conklin.
A 2017 Giants first-round pick, Engram has a Pro Bowl (2020) on his resume but became more consistent with the Jags. He twice set the franchise record for receiving yards by a tight end, accumulating 766 in 2022 and then 963 in ’23. Engram was not a strong red zone option for Trevor Lawrence, but the now-well-paid QB peppered him with targets. Engram caught 114 passes in 2023; only Jimmy Smith‘s 1999 featured more receptions (116) by a Jaguar.
Even as Engram scored only nine touchdowns in three seasons and is heading into his age-31 season, he should be in line for a starting job elsewhere soon. The Jags have given him a few days to beat the market. This release does come after Engram closed last season on IR with a labrum tear; he totaled 365 receiving yards in nine games.
Duvernay, 27, arrived during an offseason that saw the departures of Calvin Ridley and Zay Jones. The Jags had attempted to re-sign Ridley, being outbid by the Titans, before releasing Jones. In 2023, the team had deployed four veteran skill-player contracts around Lawrence’s rookie deal. They are now down to one (Davis’), and the ex-Bills WR2 totaled just 239 receiving yards last season.
Known more for his return-game skills than at receiver, Duvernay caught 11 passes for 79 yards in 2024. The two-time Ravens Pro Bowler served as the Jags’ kickoff and punt returner, leaving more jobs open amid this transition. Reynolds, 29, caught just one pass in four games as a Jaguar. He does have two 600-plus-yard seasons on his resume — including the 2023 season in Detroit — but has now been cut twice since December.
Kirk and Engram both had signed with the Jags in 2022, with each helping Lawrence after a woeful rookie season. Kirk is Houston-bound, while Engram — who has five seasons of at least 575 yards on his resume — should find a new home soon. The Jags have moved past $40MM in cap space with these moves and will be on the lookout for new Thomas supporting-casters soon.
Bills, LB Terrel Bernard Agree To Extension
Another major piece of business has been taken care of by the Bills in the lead-in to free agency. Terrel Bernard is the latest in-house player on the team to land a lucrative new deal. 
The third-year linebacker and the Bills have agreed to terms on a four-year extension, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report. The pact – which is now official – is worth $50MM and includes $25.2MM in guarantees. Bernard is now under contract through 2029.
Selected in the third round of the 2022 draft, Bernard was used sparingly on defense during his rookie season while handling a regular role on special teams. Over the past two campaigns, however, he has been a full-time starter and a key figure in Buffalo’s front seven. In 2023, the Baylor product broke out with 143 tackles, 6.5 sacks and three interceptions.
Bernard was unable to match that production this past campaign, one in which he was limited to 13 games. Buffalo was hit hard by injuries at the linebacker spot for much of the season, but when in the lineup the 25-year-old was invaluable. Bernard reached triple digits in tackles once again, adding another pair of interceptions and a fumble recovery along the way. As one of several impactful members of Buffalo’s 2022 draft class, he represented a prime extension candidate this offseason.
Now, an agreement has been reached before the start of free agency. The $12.5MM annual average value of Bernard’s deal places him in a tie for sixth at the position, slightly below the AAV of Matt Milano‘s pact. Questions have been raised about the latter’s future based on the absence of guarantees in the final two years of his contract and his missed time due to injuries in recent seasons. Whereas the Bills have allowed high-end linebackers depart in free agency in the recent past (like Tremaine Edmunds), the team has worked early on this occasion to keep an ascending contributor in place for the foreseeable future.
Buffalo’s 2025 offseason has also, of course, included an extension for wideout Khalil Shakir. Two key members of the team’s 2022 draft class are now on the books for years to come, and more work on that front could be coming. Running back James Cook is angling for a new deal which will move him near the top of the position’s market, while corner Christian Benford is also eligible for a payday.
The Bills entered Friday as one of five teams in the NFL currently over the 2025 cap ceiling. Further cost-shedding moves – like yesterday’s release of punter Sam Martin – will be needed as a result to achieve compliance and free up funds for outside additions. Buffalo’s attention can increasingly turn in that direction now that Bernard’s long-term future has been worked out.
Bengals Grant Trey Hendrickson Permission To Seek Trade
Last offseason, Trey Hendrickson asked for a trade in the wake of his extension efforts falling short. The Bengals kept him in place and still wish to do so, but this time he will be able to gauge his market. 
The 2024 sack leader has been given permission to seek a trade, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. As the team seeks to forge a path which includes keeping Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in the fold, questions have lingered over the Bengals’ ability to keep Hendrickson as well. Today’s development could spur movement in his case. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes team and player met today to discuss the situation, with the Chase/Higgins duo being confirmed as Cincinnati’s priority.
[RELATED: Commanders, Falcons Showing Interest]
“It’s been an honor and privilege to represent Cincinnati over the last four years,” a statement from Hendrickson reads. “I love this city and organization. I appreciate the privilege of now being allowed to explore my options.”
Hendrickson joined the Bengals on a four-year, $60MM pact. The former Saint provided exceptional value when playing out the deal, earning a Pro Bowl nod in each of his first three Cincinnati campaigns. In July 2023, a one-year arrangement was worked out which saw the former Saint earn $21MM for the season. That temporary move did not yield a smooth negotiating process afterwards, however.
After setting a new career high in sacks (17.5) in 2023, Hendrickson approached the Bengals about an extension. Those talks did not produce traction, and in response the former third-rounder requested a trade at the draft. To little surprise, the Bengals did not give thought to such a move, and they also remained steadfast in avoiding an extension. Hendrickson suited up for the 2024 campaign and delivered another high-end season, matching the previous year’s sack total and earning first-team All-Pro acclaim.
One year remains on the 30-year-old’s pact, and his $16MM in scheduled compensation (well short of the top of the edge rush market) does not include any guaranteed salary. A trade would free up $16MM in cap space for the Bengals while generating a dead money charge of $2.67MM. Moving on from Hendrickson would, on the other hand, obviously create a massive vacancy on defense.
Cincinnati ranked 24th in the league in sacks this past season despite a full campaign from the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up. Improving along the edge was already a 2025 goal even with Hendrickson being retained (especially given Sam Hubbard‘s retirement). In general, shoring up other areas on defense will also be needed to avoid a repeat of last year’s failure to reach the postseason. Especially with an extension being needed upon arrival, suitors may not be willing to part with the assets needed for a trade to be seen as worthwhile from the Bengals’ perspective.
De facto general manager Duke Tobin made it clear in January the team was aware of the fact a notable raise would be required to keep Hendrickson in place, adding a willingness on the team’s part to authorize one. In spite of that, it was later reported the FAU product would be on board with a trade if it was necessary to secure a new contract. Interest could be shown in the build-up to free agency, especially if teams become convinced Browns star Myles Garrett is not available.
The edge rush market is due to see multiple financial surges this offseason. That process began yesterday when the Raiders made Maxx Crosby the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback. The Bengals may have to do the same with Chase, while Higgins (who received the franchise tag for the second year in a row) is also a target for a long-term contract. In any case, Hendrickson’s asking price has no doubt increased in the wake of the Crosby news and it remains very much in doubt if he will play a fifth campaign in Cincinnati.
Chargers Release OLB Joey Bosa
The big moves continue late into the night as ESPN’s Adam Schefter announces that the Chargers have released veteran outside linebacker Joey Bosa. Diana Russini of The Athletic reports that the other teams around the league had been informed of the coming transaction in the last few days. Bosa was the last player remaining from the franchise’s days in San Diego. 
While the front office would surely rather have kept Bosa or gotten something in return for the five-time Pro Bowler, the untenable financial commitment going into the final year of his contract made Bosa a prime cut candidate. Bosa was attached to a massive $36.47MM cap hit next season, the highest at his position. The team will save $25.36MM by cutting the veteran, an option that was far too enticing to let pass, even with the Chargers armed with the sixth-most effective cap space in the NFL for next season.
By cutting him, the team avoids paying the $12.36MM roster bonus that was due to Bosa next Wednesday. This deadline was created by Bosa’s team as part of a restructure performed last year. The favorable terms for Bosa forced the team to make a decision before the start of free agency, giving him plenty of time to make the most of his value on the open market.
The former No. 3 overall pick of the 2016 draft class, Bosa has always been a forced to be reckoned with whenever he’s on the field. Following his Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign, Bosa made the Pro Bowl in every year in which he appeared in double-digit games. Reaching double-digit games has been the issue, though, as he has only played 107 of a possible 148 games in his career due to injuries. This includes the past three years. Despite appearing in 14 games this season, Bosa missed 20 games in 2022 and 2023 combined.
With Khalil Mack also headed to free agency following the expiration of his contract, the Chargers may need to be looking at a pass rusher in the draft and free agency. Former second-round pick Tuli Tuipulotu delivered a team-leading 8.5 sacks in his sophomore campaign this year, and veteran Bud Dupree tied with Mack for second on the team with six sacks while coming off the bench, but the position is relatively thin behind them.
As for Bosa, he’ll find it challenging to find a contract with a salary around the $27MM and $20.18MM he earned in his last two deals. A signing bonus and the ability to structure a back-heavy deal could make it possible for Bosa to potentially find the $25.36MM in cash he was set to earn this year, but a new team will need to look past his recent injury history in favor of his impressive pass rushing abilities when healthy in order for him to do so.
There are sure to be plenty of suitors interested in landing Bosa for Year 10 of his career. By releasing him now, the Chargers have allowed Bosa’s team ample time to set up his free agent journey while allowing themselves time to make a plan for the offseason to address the new holes in their defense.
Seahawks’ D.K. Metcalf Requests Trade
Wednesday is producing a flurry of wide receiver news. Following the Seahawks’ release of Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf has let it be known he wants to be traded.
Metcalf submitted a trade request, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero report the Seahawks are working with him on it. One season remains on Metcalf’s deal. At 27, Metcalf would skyrocket to the top of the list of targets available via trade or in free agency.
[RELATED: Chargers On Radar As Trade Suitor?]
Seahawks brass met with Metcalf today, per Pelissero, and the sides agreed to pursue a trade path. A team that would acquire Metcalf would need to either have an extension ready or be prepared to authorize one in the near future. Metcalf wants a new deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Metcalf joins Cooper Kupp on the trade block, as Deebo Samuel — who had signed a similar extension to Metcalf’s in 2022 — moved off it via his trade to the Commanders. The 49ers fetching a fifth-round pick will be relevant to the Seahawks, but Metcalf has been a bit more consistent than Samuel. Metcalf has gone for at least 900 receiving yards in each of his six NFL seasons, thrice eclipsing 1,000. He has two Pro Bowls on his resume, along with a second-team All-Pro nod in 2020. Metcalf is coming off a 992-yard season, as Jaxon Smith-Njigba surged to the top of the Seattle receiving hierarchy.
A recent report suggested the Patriots kicked the tires on Metcalf. New England has been in pursuit of a No. 1-level wideout for a while now. Other teams will step in as well. The Steelers inquired on Metcalf before last year’s deadline. They may be back at the table soon as well, though the prospect of needing to extend Metcalf also could lead to reduced trade offers coming Seattle’s way. The extension topic, naturally, has opened the door to a potential trade. Were the Seahawks all in here, they would merely work with Metcalf’s camp on a third contract.
The big-bodied wideout has proven skeptics wrong, as he had slipped to No. 64 overall in the 2019 draft, and has done well to reward the Seahawks on the three-year, $72MM deal they authorized in 2022. Metcalf topped 1,000 yards in 2022 and ’23, totaling 1,114 yards in the latter season. He also has next to no notable injury history. The Ole Miss alum has missed just three games in six seasons.
The Seahawks teamed Metcalf and Lockett for six years, seeing the two form one of this era’s best receiver duos. Smith-Njigba has changed the equation a bit, but it will still be a blow for Seattle to lose both its dependable veterans in a single offseason. A receiver need, as the Seahawks swung and missed on Dee Eskridge earlier this decade, will emerge if Metcalf is dealt.
A trade at this juncture would be an interesting move, as Mike Macdonald‘s OC search involved questions about who could coax more from the 6-foot-4 pass catcher. Macdonald had viewed Metcalf as too often a decoy under Ryan Grubb. It would cost Seattle $21MM in dead money to trade him, but an extension would help reduce a $31.88MM 2025 cap hit. Only Geno Smith is tied to a higher number on the Hawks’ payroll.
Metcalf is due an $18MM base salary in 2025. While Washington did not have an extension waiting for Samuel, he has submitted uneven work on his second contract. Metcalf being a more reliable player without a comparable injury history would swing a door open wider for a payday to come immediately — if the Seahawks move him.
Chiefs To Trade G Joe Thuney To Bears
Minutes after a report indicating the Chiefs were exploring a Joe Thuney trade surfaced, the Bears are expected to swoop in. Chicago is on track to land the All-Pro guard from Kansas City, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports.
This will be the second straight day the Bears will have reached a trade agreement involving a guard, with the team agreeing to obtain Jonah Jackson from the Rams on Tuesday. Chicago GM Ryan Poles was in Kansas City when the Chiefs signed Thuney in 2021.
The Bears are rumored to be sending a fourth-round pick to the Chiefs, Rapoport adds. It will be a 2026 fourth exchanged, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. This move will create $16MM in cap space for the Chiefs while leaving them with $10.7MM in dead money. Moving $16MM off the Chiefs’ books will slide them closer to cap compliance, though they entered Wednesday more than $18MM over.
Poles’ team was also mentioned as a potential destination for Trey Smith, but the Chiefs kept the younger of their two Pro Bowl guards via the franchise tag. Chicago will take Thuney, who just completed his age-32 season. One season remains on Thuney’s five-year, $80MM contract. Thuney is due a $15.5MM base salary in 2025; Jackson’s Rams-designed contract calls for a $9MM 2025 base.
Coming off back-to-back first-team All-Pro seasons, Thuney has started all 146 games he has played. The ex-Patriots third-round pick has four Super Bowl rings. A bid for a fifth did not go well, as the Chiefs played Thuney at left tackle during a blowout loss to the Eagles, but he has been one of the league’s best guards for many years.
In addition to Thuney’s two first-team honors, he has two second-team All-Pro accolades on his resume. Kansas City overhauled its O-line after the Buccaneers battered Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LV, which featured the team missing both its starting tackles. The Chiefs acquired Thuney, Smith, Orlando Brown Jr. and Creed Humphrey during the 2021 offseason. That quartet helped them win Super Bowl LVII, with the Thuney-Humphrey-Smith trio being in place for the AFC West superpower’s past two Super Bowl trips as well.
The Chiefs gave Humphrey a center-record extension last year and have right tackle Jawaan Taylor locked in for the 2025 season. Even though the latter has not played especially well in Kansas City, he was one of the 2023 free agent market’s top pieces. That allowed him to a secure a contact that guaranteed his 2025 base salary by March 2024. The Chiefs now have Smith tied to a $23.2MM franchise tag and are pursuing a true left tackle. More work will need to be done to reach cap compliance and carve out spending room, and the team will part with Thuney on the way.
The Bears whiffed on their Nate Davis signing in 2023, and the team has Teven Jenkins days from free agency. Although Jenkins made a push for a Bears extension last year, it appears the former second-round pick will head elsewhere. This trade also comes a year after the Bears acquired Ryan Bates from the Bills, who had previously matched a Bears RFA offer sheet for the veteran guard. With Ben Johnson coming in, his team will use an ex-Lion and a decorated AFC blocker at guard in 2025.
Chicago still has tackle starters Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright under contract, but center Coleman Shelton is back on track for free agency. More work may remain for the Bears, who are throwing resources at protecting Caleb Williams in 2025. Williams took an NFL-high 68 sacks last season. That total ranks in the top five over the past 15 NFL seasons. While the team traded for two pricey guards, the moves have only cost Day 3 picks.
One of the players the Chiefs tried at left tackle before moving Thuney over, Kingsley Suamataia looks likely to have a shot to replace him at LG. A position change may be on tap for the 2024 second-round tackle, Rapoport adds. The Chiefs benched Suamataia in Week 2, with Thuney eventually proving a more reliable option — before Super Bowl LIX — at LT. Three yeras remain on Suamataia’s rookie contract.
Raiders, Maxx Crosby Agree On Extension
As several edge rushers will have plenty to say about where that market goes this offseason, Maxx Crosby is beating his peers to the punch. Despite not being in a contract year, the star Raiders pass rusher now has a monster extension in place.
The Raiders and Crosby have agreed on a deal that makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Crosby is signing a three-year, $106.5MM accord that includes a whopping $91.5MM guaranteed, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Crosby going first will help the likes of T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons, Trey Hendrickson, Myles Garrett and perhaps Aidan Hutchinson this offseason. The six-year Raider’s new AAV checks in at $35.5MM — $1.5MM north of Nick Bosa‘s previous defender record. Crosby surpasses Justin Jefferson‘s Vikings re-up by $500K per year, elevating him past all his non-QB peers. While it will now be expected some other edge rushers will top where Crosby has gone, he receives an update on a contract he had outplayed.
Crosby’s $91.5MM guarantee number jumps out here, as he managed to secure it on a three-year extension. Bosa landed $122.5MM in total guarantees, Garrett $100MM back in 2020. The 49ers and Browns standouts, respectively, gave their teams four and five years on their deals. Crosby getting here on a three-year contract illustrates how highly the Raiders value him, while setting the table for what could be one of the most explosive contract offseasons at one position in NFL history.
Of course, this can be classified as a three-year deal in name only. Since two seasons remained on Crosby’s previous contract (four years, $94MM), Crosby will still be under Raiders control through 2o29. Still, it cost the Silver and Black plenty to tack on three years here. Crosby was by far the best investment the Raiders made during Jon Gruden‘s second stint at the controls, and he has now been extended by two different regimes.
The Josh McDaniels-Dave Ziegler pair gave Crosby his first extension, which came in 2022. He played two seasons on the deal, leading the NFL in tackles for loss on both. Mark Davis then slammed the door on Crosby trade inquiries last year. Crosby had gone from expressing hope of being a one-team player before some frustration with the Raiders’ struggles showed before the trade deadline. It is safe to say today’s news will put Crosby trade rumors to rest for a while.
The Raiders also moved money around on Crosby’s contract last year; even though that Tom Telesco move was not an extension, Crosby has now seen four Raider regimes pay him. That speaks to both Crosby’s talent and the swift organizational turnover during his tenure.
Crosby, 27, combined for 45 TFLs between the 2022 and ’23 seasons. He added 17 last year, doing so despite missing five games. He ended last season on IR due to a high ankle sprain, which required surgery. The Raiders clearly have no concerns about their EDGE dynamo’s status for 2025. The Eastern Michigan alum notched 7.5 sacks last year but has three double-digit sack seasons — including a career-best 14.5 in 2023 — on his resume. Charting a potential Hall of Fame course, Crosby is certainly now paid like his top peers after having seen some lesser pass rushers move well ahead of him over the past few years.
The Raiders came into the day with more than $95MM in cap space; only the Patriots hold more. They have since extended Crosby and given ex-Tom Brady blocker Alex Cappa a two-year deal days before unrestricted free agency starts. While Cappa checks in as a standard addition, Crosby is among the first players to reap the benefits of the NFL’s latest cap spike. After ballooning by a record $30.6MM in 2024, the cap climbed by $24MM this year. It resides $71MM higher than it did when Crosby was last paid.
It continues to make sense for players to sign short-term deals, as the cap is on a trajectory that does not closely resemble the previous CBA’s course. Crosby has now scored two big-ticket extensions by 27, playing well enough for his team to rip up a previous deal with two years remaining. While other Raiders will take notice, the team does not have anyone on Crosby’s level just yet. Though, Brock Bowers has certainly started well. The team has the likes of Malcolm Koonce, Tre’von Moehrig, Robert Spillane and Nate Hobbs set to hit free agency soon.
The Raiders also will be shopping for a veteran quarterback — before the draft brings another research project at the position — next week. They have plenty of funds remaining to both keep players and add more talent, as the franchise hopes the Tom Brady–John Spytek-Pete Carroll regime will begin an upward trend at long last.