Newsstand News & Rumors

Raiders To Extend QB Geno Smith

April 4th, 2025 at 11:10am CST by Sam Robinson

APRIL 4: Smith’s 2025 compensation will jump from $31MM to $40MM, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports. The 2026 season includes a $26.5MM base salary; $18.5MM of that figure is already locked in. The remainder will shift from an injury to a full guarantee of the third day of the ’26 league year.

None of Smith’s salary for 2027 ($39.5MM) is locked in, a sign of the short-term nature of this commitment. $3.5MM in annual incentives bring the maximum value of the pact to $116.5MM, but with an out after the 2026 season (and perhaps earlier) it is highly unlikely Smith will approach that figure.

APRIL 3: The Raiders have a deal done with Geno Smith. They are giving the trade acquisition a two-year extension, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. This will keep the ex-Seahawks starter under contract through 2027.

It appears initial reports, like when Smith signed his 2023 Seahawks contract, featured a slight inflation. Smith’s Raiders deal will be worth $75MM, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Earlier reports indicated the deal checked in at $85.5MM, though Schefter indicates that represents the pact’s max value. Smith’s new contract will come with $66.5MM guaranteed, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports.

This represents a bridge deal for both parties, though Smith’s age may well make this his final starter-level contract. Set to turn 35 in October, Smith had angled for a deal north of $40MM per year. That aim prompted the Seahawks to trade their three-year starter rather than agree to his price. The Raiders, after being prepared to give Matthew Stafford a big guarantee in a trade, pounced and reunited him with Pete Carroll.

This marks Carroll’s second time signing off on a Smith starter-level contract, as he was in place as the Seahawks’ top decision-maker when they gave him a three-year, $75MM deal in 2023. That turned out to bring good value for the Seahawks, who held Smith to the deal even as he pushed for a new one in 2024. Although Smith could not quite reach that $40MM-per-year point during his Raiders talks, the reclamation project did secure a significant raise.

At $37.5MM per year, Smith again will come in with a lower-middle-class contract on a skyrocketing QB market. When Smith signed his $25MM-AAV deal in March 2023, the league had not seen the $50MM-per-year club form. It has now, with 10 passers comprising it. Smith only moves up a few spots on the QB salary list, and it is certainly no coincidence his new AAV matches Derek Carr‘s Saints number.

Though, it is notable the Raiders were only comfortable matching that — as Carr secured those terms when the cap resided at barely $224MM. It is now at $279.2MM, inviting questions about the Raiders’ commitment level. The Raiders were ready to give Stafford a deal that included at least $90MM guaranteed. The Rams standing down and retaining their starter forced the Raiders and Giants to look elsewhere, and both teams approved cheaper contracts to address their QB voids.

Rather than dive into the free agent QB market and enter a draft chock full of maligned passing prospects, the Raiders traded a third-round pick for Smith. They are catching the former second-rounder going into his 13th NFL season, but these terms align with Carroll’s stopgap coaching contract. The Raiders gave Carroll a three-year deal, one aimed at bringing stability to an organization that has lacked it for many years. We now have a timeline on the latest Carroll-Smith partnership, as this contract buys the AFC West club some time to find a true long-term option.

It also should not be viewed as a random occurrence that Smith’s deal surpasses Sam Darnold‘s new Seattle AAV, which is $33.5MM. The Seahawks have been out of the franchise-QB payment game since trading Russell Wilson to the Broncos, and rather than reunite with Wilson, Carroll chose Smith and now has him tied to the NFL’s 16th-highest QB contract. This should give the Raiders some flexibility, though it will be interesting to learn what the guarantee at signing is.

The Raiders gave Carr two franchise-QB-level extensions, the first (in 2017) setting an NFL record and the second (in 2022) being a clear bridge deal while the Josh McDaniels-led regime evaluated the fit. As the fit proved poor, the Raiders soon lost their QB stability by cutting Carr. They have moved on from their past two Week 1 starters — Jimmy Garoppolo, Gardner Minshew — via post-June 1 cuts. Smith will enter 2025 — barring a surprise first-round QB draft choice — on steadier ground compared to his two veteran predecessors in Vegas, though this contract length does invite questions beyond 2025.

New Raiders GM John Spytek said recently the Raiders want Smith as their starter for “years to come.” Smith may well have the inside track to be the Silver and Black’s starter in 2026 as well, but the Raiders figure to do more QB homework ahead of next year’s draft; as of now, that crop looks better than what the 2025 draft presents. Smith, however, will have a chance to keep his post-30 momentum going.

Although Smith bettered his Comeback Player of the Year completion rate (69.8, a number that led the league in 2022) by connecting on 70.4% of his throws last season, he threw 15 interceptions. Smith’s yards-per-attempt number (7.5) matched his 2022 breakthrough, but he was also working with a skill-position group better than what he inherits in Las Vegas. Brock Bowers delivered a historic tight end rookie season, but questions about for the Raiders at the other spots. How Spytek, Carroll and Tom Brady address the receiver position will play a key role in how their QB trade asset fares.

Prior to acquiring Carr, the Raiders carried an extensive history of late-career QB projects — from Carson Palmer to Rich Gannon to Jeff George to Jeff Hostetler to Jim Plunkett. While the Garoppolo swing and miss highlighted an overmatched regime, Carroll’s familiarity with Smith should help the Raiders pick up the pieces after a rough period.

Bills, Christian Benford Agree On Extension

April 3rd, 2025 at 1:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

APRIL 3: Benford’s deal does not quite check in at $76MM, but rather $69MM, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. The contract includes just $18.85MM at signing. While Benford’s updated AAV ($17.25MM) ranks 19th among cornerbacks, his full guarantee sits 24th at the position. Though, there are mechanisms in place for Buffalo’s top cover man to pick up more guarantees.

The Bills used option bonuses in this deal, helping to keep Benford’s cap numbers below $9MM until 2027, and the CB will see $4.29MM of his 2026 compensation shift from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Feb. 9, 2026. Additionally, $2.5MM of Benford’s 2027 base salary ($14.49MM) locks in on that date. The remaining $11.99MM becomes fully guaranteed on Day 5 of the 2026 league year in March. $3.16MM of Benford’s 2028 base salary ($15.24MM) is guaranteed for injury at signing; that represents his only post-2027 guarantee. Another $7MM is available via incentives and escalators.

MARCH 29: An offseason spree of Bills extensions will continue with a Christian Benford payday. Buffalo’s top cornerback is re-signing with the team on a four-year deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

The Bills will lock down the former sixth-round pick for less than $20MM per year, with Schefter adding the contract checks in at $76MM in total. Benford’s deal follows those given to Khalil Shakir, Gregory Rousseau and Terrel Bernard, as the Bills are showing tremendous faith in the emerging standouts from their early-2020s drafts.

Buffalo has convinced each of these performers to agree to four-year deals. Doing so as the salary cap continues to rise by more than $20MM annually could represent good business for the perennial AFC East champions. While James Cook remains an extension candidate, the team has taken care of the other core homegrown performers it wanted to extend this offseason.

Like Shakir and Bernard, Benford was entering a contract year as a player the team wanted to pay. The Bills will reward a player who had taken an unlikely route to becoming their No. 1 cornerback. Benford’s emergence helped bail the Bills out on their Kaiir Elam miss, with the former No. 185 overall pick usurping the ex-first-rounder and helping Buffalo cover for Tre’Davious White‘s injury trouble as well. While the Bills’ pattern of having key CB personnel unavailable for Chiefs playoffs games has persisted, Benford has still brought the team strong value on what amounted to a late-round flier.

In addition to coming from Round 6, Benford has become a Bills pillar after emerging from the Division I-FCS ranks. Playing at Villanova, Benford started five games as a rookie but turned into a full-timer in his second season. Starting 29 games over the past two years, Benford teamed with Rasul Douglas to give their Bills their post-White CB duo. White did not return from his Thanksgiving 2021 ACL tear for an entire year, and he was not the same upon coming back. White later went down for the season in October 2023, leading to the Douglas trade. Benford, however, grew into Buffalo’s top option on the outside in that time. Douglas remains in free agency, creating a need for the Bills, but the team locked down its younger perimeter starter.

The 2024 season brought more growth from Benford, who graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 6 overall corner. The 6-foot-1 defender allowed merely 5.4 yards per target last season, and his passer rating-against numbers have never surpassed 89.0. Yielding an 86.6 number last season, Benford intercepted two passes, forced two fumbles and notched 10 pass breakups for the second straight season.

Moving early on Benford makes sense, as he will not turn 25 until September, and finalizing this extension for less than $20MM AAV could age quite well for the team — especially after Derek Stingley Jr. just took the market to $30MM per year. As Sauce Gardner undoubtedly angles for a similar number, Benford’s $19MM AAV — if that is the deal’s true base value — checks in only 13th among corners.

Ill-timed Benford injuries have brought a key footnote in the Bills-Chiefs rivalry. After seeing Benford help Buffalo to regular-season wins over Kansas City in 2023 and ’24, the five-time reigning division champs did not have him available for the bulk of the two playoff matchups. Benford missed the Bills’ 2023 divisional-round Chiefs outing — a 27-24 Kansas City road win — due to a knee injury sustained in the wild-card round. Benford then suffered a concussion on a Baltimore onside-kick attempt to close a divisional-round win last season. He left the subsequent Kansas City outing early with a head injury. As the Chiefs picked on Elam — who has since been traded to the Cowboys — another Benford “what if?” loomed for the Bills after another three-point loss ensued.

The Bills will attempt to move past their persistent Missouri-based roadblock again in 2025, and they will have several well-paid young performers rostered upon doing so. While Cook’s contract now shifts to the forefront, the Bills have locked down their 2021 first-round pick (Rousseau) along with 2022 third- (Bernard), fifth- (Shakir) and sixth-round choices, doing so after giving Josh Allen a record-setting raise.

Cardinals Reunite With DL Calais Campbell

April 2nd, 2025 at 4:52pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

APRIL 2: The Dolphins offered Campbell the third-most money of the teams pursuing him, per Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald. The Ravens were also in the mix, but the Cardinals offered more bonus money and Campbell and his family preferred to return to Arizona.

APRIL 1: The Cardinals are signing six-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Calais Campbell to a one-year deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The signing, which was confirmed by Cardinals team reporter Darren Urban, will bring Campbell back to the team that originally drafted him. The 38-year-old is set to earn $5.5MM in 2025 with an additional $2MM available via incentives, according to Schefter and Rapoport.

Campbell entered the offseason as an unrestricted free agent weighing retirement against a return to the field for his 18th season in the NFL. He had offers from the Dolphins and the Ravens, but chose to return to Arizona where he started his career as a second-round draft pick in 2008. All three options offered familiarity; Campbell spent his college career and the 2024 season in Miami, and he also played in Baltimore from 2020 to 2022. The Cardinals, however, are closer to Denver, where he was born and raised.

Campbell is the Cardinals’ second addition to their defensive line this offseason. They signed Dalvin Tomlinson in March to join Dante Stills and Bilal Nichols in the trenches. Campbell will give Arizona a four-man rotation to which they can still add via the draft.

Campbell’s departure leaves the Dolphins precariously thin along the interior of their defensive line. Zach Sieler and Benito Jones are the only returning starters from last year’s unit.. Neil Farrell and Matt Dickerson combined for just 11 appearances and 80 defensive snaps. That will likely force Miami to scour the league’s remaining free agents and invest in at least one defensive lineman in April’s draft, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

The new contract will bring Campbell’s career earnings over $150MM, per OverTheCap, the third-most of any defensive linemen in NFL history. He has remained an effective defender into his late-30s, with 17.0 sacks and 26 tackles for loss since 2022.

Ravens Extend HC John Harbaugh

March 28th, 2025 at 10:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

John Harbaugh‘s lengthy Baltimore stint will continue for the foreseeable future. The Ravens announced on Friday that a three-year extension has been worked out with the Super Bowl-winning head coach.

2025 had previously represented the final year of Harbaugh’s contract, making this offseason one to target another long-term commitment on the team’s part. The 62-year-old now has a new deal in place through 2028, and he will continue on the sidelines as part of the Ravens’ ongoing bid to secure a third Super Bowl title. Harbaugh has been Baltimore’s head coach since 2008.

Financial terms are not known, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports this pact is worth more than the one Harbaugh’s brother Jim signed with the Chargers last offseason. The latter is earning $16MM per year, so John has certainly landed a lucrative commitment from the Ravens once again.

His arrival coincided with that of quarterback Joe Flacco, who operated as the Ravens’ starter for nearly 11 years. Midway through the 2018 campaign, a knee injury sidelined Flacco and opened the door for then-rookie Lamar Jackson to move to the top of the depth. He has not lost the QB1 role since, and Harbaugh has been a central figure overseeing Baltimore’s transition from one signal-caller to the other.

The early portion of the Flacco era included a number of deep postseason runs and was highlighted by Baltimore’s Super Bowl XLVII success. At the time Jackson took over, though, the Ravens were in the midst of a three-year playoff drought. Questions about Harbaugh’s job security had picked up as a result, but a quick turnaround to close out the campaign set the stage for what has been a strong run of regular season performances. In five of six seasons since the 2019 campaign, Baltimore has posted double-digit wins.

The lone exception in that stretch (which includes two instances of a league-best regular season record) is the 2021 season in which Jackson and many other key players dealt with major injuries. Overall, Harbaugh’s winning percentage sits at .623. His 172 wins place him 15th in NFL history and rank third amongst active head coaches. One of the two ahead of him in the latter regard – Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin – is the only coach with a longer active tenure on the sidelines of one team.

While the Ravens have enjoyed considerable regular season success under Harbaugh, a repeat of his earlier playoff runs has proven to be elusive for several years. Jackson’s tenure as the starting quarterback has produced a pair of MVP nods but only one trip to the AFC title game to date. Since the Super Bowl victory to conclude the 2012 campaign, Harbaugh and the Ravens have gone 4-7 in the playoffs. Despite that mark, Baltimore will have continuity on the sidelines moving forward.

Offensive coordinator Todd Monken – who has been in place for the past two years – inked an extension of his own last month, taking himself off the head coaching market for the time being. On the defensive side of the ball, Zach Orr is in the fold after taking over in 2024. Those two will be counted on to play a key role in continuing Baltimore’s run of strong showings during the regular season while attempting to break through in the AFC playoff picture; the same is now true of Harbaugh.

Patriots, WR Stefon Diggs Agree To Deal

March 28th, 2025 at 8:28pm CST by Ely Allen

MARCH 28: Diggs’ deal includes $16.6MM fully locked in and $22.6MM in injury guarantees, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated details. His 2025 compensation includes a $12MM signing bonus and $2.9MM in base salary (which is guaranteed) along with $4MM in reception and yardage incentives.

A $6MM injury guarantee covering 2026 shifts to a full one next March, a sign of the year-to-year nature of the accord. Diggs’ max earnings of $69MM is based in large part on the roster and workout bonuses present in the pact – which includes a total of $3.4MM in per-game bonuses. An additional $500K is available every year in the form of a Pro Bowl incentive.

MARCH 25: One of the top remaining players in free agency, wide receiver Stefon Diggs has officially come off the market. First reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Diggs has signed a three-year, $69MM contract to join the Patriots. The deal will include $26MM in guaranteed money.

Diggs’ new contract is consistent with what he’s been making since 2022, when he signed a four-year, $96MM extension after being traded from the Vikings to the Bills. Following another trade to the Texans, Diggs agreed to a renegotiated deal that would pay him about $1.5MM less and make him a free agent three years sooner, making 2024 a prove-it season for the veteran wide receiver.

Despite being traded to a deeper depth chart in Houston than he competed with in Buffalo, Diggs only saw a slight drop off in production as a Texan. Through eight games, the 31-year-old hauled in 47 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 62 yards per game, just under his rate from 2023 but still on track for a seventh straight 1,000-yard season had he stayed healthy for the full, 17-game year.

Unfortunately for both Diggs and Houston, Diggs suffered an ACL tear midway through the 2024 season, an injury which hindered his market value and left Houston without a key member of the WR room. His absence was later compounded by Tank Dell‘s season-ending injury, one which has put Dell’s 2025 availability in doubt. Buoyed by an incredibly deep group that still included Nico Collins, John Metchie, and Robert Woods, the Texans limped into the playoffs, making short work of the Chargers before getting eliminated by the Chiefs.

Despite the season-ending injury, Diggs proved that he still had the ability to be a top wide receiver in the NFL. There is certainly an added amount of risk with Diggs coming back from the torn ACL, but it appears the Patriots are willing to overlook it, based on the reported numbers. CardsWire reporter Howard Balzer has since insinuated that the report should read that the contract in worth “up to $69MM,” indicating that a good amount of that money will be tied into incentives. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network was the first to edit his initial X post to include those two words, “up to.”

This would certainly make sense as teams aren’t apt to offer long-term, big money deals to veterans in their 30’s coming off a season-ending injury. Still, a three-year contract with $26MM of guarantees does seem to suggest a level of dedication to Diggs that is in line with the $23MM per year. Schefter tells us that general manager Eliot Wolf agreed to this deal because Diggs is reportedly on track for a Week 1 return in 2025, after suffering the injury in Week 8 of 2024. Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal seemed skeptical of that recovery timeline, though, calling it “overly aggressive.”

Despite having Nico Collins attached to a lucrative long-term deal, Texans general manager Nick Caserio said last month the team would consider keeping Diggs in the fold on a new contract. No deal developed, leading Diggs to explore his options and take a visit with the Patriots last week. Departing from New England, it appeared that there was no imminent deal between Diggs and the Patriots on the horizon, but later reports clarified that this was just due to a lack of urgency between the two parties.

Regardless, New England has made the move with the intention of providing second-year quarterback Drake Maye with a true No. 1 wide receiver. Diggs joins a young receiving corps that features Demario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, Mack Hollins, and Ja’Lynn Polk. Maye also has a pretty dependable stable of tight ends with Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper.

The Patriots have been fairly big spenders this offseason, mostly bringing in free agents on the defensive side of the ball like defensive tackle Milton Williams, cornerback Carlton Davis, pass rusher Harold Landry, and linebacker Robert Spillane. Diggs joins other veteran offensive additions in offensive tackle Morgan Moses, center Garrett Bradbury, backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs, and Hollins.

Giants To Sign QB Russell Wilson

March 25th, 2025 at 10:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants’ depth chart at quarterback is coming into focus. Despite adding Jameis Winston, the team will bring in Russell Wilson. After visiting the Giants in back-to-back years, Wilson is coming aboard, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Wilson has since confirmed the agreement.

Wilson will receive $10.5MM guaranteed on a one-year deal, per Schefter, who adds the nine-time Pro Bowler can earn up to $21MM via incentives. Wilson had been waiting to sign for a bit, standing behind Aaron Rodgers in line among veteran quarterbacks.

This move effectively takes the Giants out of the Rodgers market. It had become fairly clear Rodgers did not view the Giants as a desirable destination, despite the team making what is believed to be his top offer this offseason. Nevertheless, the Vikings and Steelers have been more closely tied to the all-time QB talent compared to a team coming off a 3-14 season. And the Giants will move on. The Steelers had expected Rodgers to visit the Giants, via SI.com’s Albert Breer, but that no longer appears to be in play.

Wilson, 36, had viewed the Giants as a viable landing spot dating back to early February, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds. Back in 2021, he had also placed the Giants as a team he was interested in landing with via trade. He visited the team briefly in 2024, instead joining the Steelers while the Giants made a final attempt to make the Daniel Jones contract work. With Jones long gone, Wilson will be all but certain to start in Week 1 for the 2025 Giants.

Winston is now in place as a quality backup, and the team will undoubtedly still look into QB prospects. Though, a report earlier today indicated the Giants may be OK signing another vet and looking at passers available after No. 3 overall. Part one of that scenario is now complete.

For Wilson, this provides a landing spot after he had been forced by the Giants and his 2024 team to wait on Rodgers. The Steelers had aimed to re-sign Justin Fields, but they could not keep Wilson’s primary 2024 backup off the market. Fields joined the Jets, and Wilson will now follow his former teammate to the Big Apple. The Rodgers watch continues, but it will now be Steelers, Vikings or retirement for the 20-year veteran.

This agreement should qualify as a relief for Wilson, who was effectively deemed a replaceable option by the Steelers, who ranked Fields and Rodgers ahead of him. Wilson has not closely resembled his superstar Seattle version since departing in a 2022 blockbuster trade, though he has shown flashes. This includes a five-game win streak with the 2023 Broncos and having the Steelers — with an early assist from Fields — at 10-3 last season. But Pittsburgh sank to 10-8, losing a one-sided wild-card game in Baltimore. This prompted a reexamination from the Steelers, who have made it known they are willing to wait on Rodgers. With the Giants out of the way, that should probably embolden the Steelers, who clearly have some confidence Rodgers — his Vikings preference notwithstanding — remains in play.

The Browns joined the Giants in hosting Wilson, while Joe Flacco also visited New York about being a Giants bridge. A weekend report indicated the Giants would still pursue veterans even after Winston’s two-year, $8MM deal came to pass. This should offer protection in the event the draft board does not fall the Giants’ way.

It is not a lock Shedeur Sanders will be available at No. 3 overall, with the Colorado product linked closely to Cleveland as well. The Giants have shown interest in trading up to No. 1 overall, but Titans-Cam Ward ties are increasing. Ward may not be available, and while the Giants have been continually tied to Sanders, Wilson could offer some cover in the event an embattled Joe Schoen-Brian Daboll regime goes with a non-QB move in Round 1.

After a shocking decline marred Wilson’s 2022, he showed signs of life under Sean Payton in 2023. Wilson, who battled multiple injuries in 2022, did not miss any starts due to injury in ’23. He ranked eighth in passer rating, but QBR only slotted him 21st. While a slimmed-down Wilson showed an increased interest in running during his ill-fated season with Payton, the Broncos attempted to move his guarantee vesting date — to no avail — during a messy divorce that began midway through the ’23 season. Wilson remained the Broncos’ starter for 15 games, but the team benched him to protect an injury guarantee from vesting in Week 17. Denver then took on a record-smashing $83MM-plus in dead money to drop Wilson in March 2024.

QBR placed Wilson 22nd last season. Wilson had won the starting job over Fields to start the season, but the accomplished vet aggravated a training camp calf injury that led to six missed games. Select Steelers staffers and players voiced support to keep Fields in the starting lineup, but Mike Tomlin overruled them, installing Wilson. At first, the longtime Steeler HC’s choice proved correct. Wilson piloted Pittsburgh to six wins in his first seven starts. Rumblings about a Steelers re-signing emerged during that stretch, one that included a game-winning TD pass (to Mike Williams) to down the resurgent Commanders and a 414-yard outing against the Bengals. As the competition stiffened, however, the Steelers wilted. This led them to go another way, installing Wilson as a fallback option.

Having previously rostered another QB on the Hall of Fame fringe, in New York icon Eli Manning, the Giants now look to have another. Wilson may have done enough to secure Canton access in Seattle, but his Denver decline invited some doubt. As Wilson has declined athletically, his penchant for taking sacks has been under the microscope. Wilson’s 560 sacks taken are fourth all time, though Rodgers’ 571 top the list. A Giants O-line that has been unable to rely on All-Pro LT Andrew Thomas will now be tasked with protecting a historically sack-prone passer.

That said, Wilson being the first QB in NFL history to pair 40,000 passing yards with 5,000 rushing yards will help his eventual Canton case. A two-time Super Bowl starter who powered the Seahawks to eight playoff berths in his 10-season Seattle stay, Wilson also remains fourth in NFL history for rushing yards by a quarterback (5,462). The former third-round pick’s best rushing days are certainly far behind him.

Armed with another chance to submit quality work, the 14th-year passer will now play with Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton in New York. The Giants are likely on the hunt for more tight end help, but they re-signed Slayton and chose Nabers over J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix and Michael Penix last year. Wilson is now the Giants’ bridge while Schoen and Co. assess the 2025 draft class.

Warming the seat for Sanders would represent new territory for Wilson, who has never needed to fend off a rookie for his job. The Steelers gave Wilson assurances upon signing he would be their Week 1 starter; only injury prevented that. How the Giants proceed in the draft will determine how long of a leash Wilson likely has, but despite a down Steelers ending, he has secured a chance to add to his 199-start total.

Eagles DE Brandon Graham Retires

March 18th, 2025 at 11:06pm CST by Adam La Rose

In the wake of the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory, it remained unclear if Brandon Graham would retire. As expected, though, the 15-year veteran has elected to hang up his cleats.

Graham announced during a Tuesday press conference that he is retiring. This past summer, he indicated the 2024 campaign would be his last, and as a result his decorated Philadelphia run appeared to be over when he suffered a biceps tear in November. The 36-year-old managed to return in time for Super Bowl LIX, however, and he played a rotational role in the team’s victory.

“I could not be happier with the way my career played out, the love I’ve gotten, and the success the Eagles have had as an organization,” Graham said. “For real, it has been a dream come true.”

A first-round pick in 2010, Graham only occupied a rotational role for the first three years of his career. He was a mainstay along the edge for six straight seasons after that, however, a period which included his first Super Bowl win. A Graham forced fumble during the fourth quarter of that contest was key in the Eagles’ win.

The Michigan product was limited to only two games in 2021, the first season of his final multi-year contract. Graham played out one-year pacts in 2023 and ’24 with questions about his future looming. The most productive campaign of his career (in terms of sacks) came in 2022 with 11, a sign of his continued importance during the waning stages of his career. While his playing time dropped to the level of a rotational contributor rather than a full-time starter in recent years, Graham remained a key presence on and off the field for Philadelphia.

Pursuing another one-year arrangement with the Eagles would have involved considerable rehab in advance of the 2025 campaign. Graham re-tore his triceps during his second Super Bowl victory, a factor he likely considered when weighing his options for the future. A report in the wake of last month’s win noted he would take his time before making a formal decision, one which is now officially in place. Graham has followed fellow ‘Core Four’ Eagles Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox in retirement. The lone member of that group still set to play is right tackle Lane Johnson, who inked a one-year extension yesterday.

With this retirement decision looming and Josh Sweat expectedly departing in free agency, edge rush has a been a position of note this offseason for the Eagles in recent days. The team is reportedly open to trading Bryce Huff, whose big-ticket 2024 free agent deal did not pan out as hoped. Philadelphia’s pass-rush group includes Nolan Smith for the short- and long-term future, along with free agent additions Josh Uche and Azeez Ojulari. Graham’s absence will be acutely felt as the team looks to defend its title next season.

“Without question, Brandon Graham is the embodiment of everything you would want in a Philadelphia Eagle,” a statement from owner Jeffrey Lurie reads in part. “He’s a special player and a special person. It’s only fitting that he has played in more games than anyone else in the history of our franchise… We could not be prouder of the player, person, and family man that Brandon has become.

“On behalf of the Philadelphia Eagles, we congratulate Brandon on an incredible career and wish him and his family all the best in retirement.”

Graham’s 206 games played top the field for all Eagles players, and his 76.5 career sacks rank third in franchise history. With over $98MM in career earnings and a pair of Super Bowls to his name, he will now turn his attention to his post-playing days.

Texans, CB Derek Stingley Jr. Agree To Record-Breaking Extension

March 17th, 2025 at 11:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

For the second time this offseason, the cornerback market has been reset. Derek Stingley Jr. has agreed to a record-breaking extension, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This will be a three-year, $90MM pact, Schefter adds. The top of the CB market sat at $25MM annually when Jaycee Horn signed his Panthers extension last week, but Stingley has sailed past that AAV mark. The latter’s deal includes a whopping $89MM guaranteed in total, per multiple reports. Clarifying the matter of locked in compensation, Dianna Russini of The Athletic notes this pact contains $63.5MM in new guarantees.

As one would expect, this agreement includes Stingley’s fifth-year option being picked up. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirms the extension will begin after the 2026 option year, which is worth a fully-guaranteed $17.6MM. As a result, he will be on the books through 2029.

Several receivers have worked out monster extensions in recent years, and Ja’Marr Chase‘s new Bengals contract gives him the title of the NFL’s top earner for non-quarterbacks. Corners, by contrast, have seen their market comparatively lag behind that of the WR position. Things have now changed to an extent, however, with Patrick Surtain‘s 2024 Broncos extension setting a new bar last offseason at $24MM per year. Jalen Ramsey surpassed that total shortly thereafter, and Horn moved to the top of the pecking order just before the start of free agency this spring. Now, though, Stingley has surged well ahead of his peers.

Selected third overall in 2022, Stingley entered the league with high expectations but also injury concerns. The LSU product was limited to nine games as a rookie and 11 the following season. In his abbreviated 2023 campaign, though, Stingley showcased his potential with five interceptions and 13 pass breakups. He remained healthy for this past season, matching his pervious year’s interception total while adding another two picks and a forced fumbled in the playoffs. That production helped earn Stingley first-team All-Pro honors along with a Pro Bowl nod.

In coverage, 2024 was also a sign of what can be expected moving forward. Stingley allowed a completion percentage of just 47.1% and a passer rating of 51.2 as the nearest defender last season. If he can continue that level of play while remaining near the top of the league in ball production, this pact will prove to be a worthwhile investment on the team’s part while setting Stingley up for another payday in his 20s.

2025 represented the first offseason in which the 23-year-old was eligible for an extension, and he made it clear that was his target. In the wake of a healthy campaign, general manager Nick Caserio and the Texans matched Stingley’s desire to work out a massive raise early, making this situation one of the their top offseason priorities. In cases such as this one, teams often pick up a player’s fifth-year option before ultimately working out a multi-year agreement in the summer. Well before the option deadline (in May), though, Houston has already authorized a massive commitment in the secondary.

The Texans ranked sixth against the pass in 2024, with Stingley and second-round rookie Kamari Lassiter forming a highly effective tandem. Both will remain in the fold for the foreseeable future with Lassiter having another three years on his rookie contract. Houston also has Will Anderson on the books for years to come, while fellow edge rusher Danielle Hunter would welcome an extension after signing a two-year deal in free agency last offseason. Working out an agreement on that front would keep the Texans’ nucleus intact as the team looks to move past the divisional round.

Just as the Horn deal no doubt helped Stingley’s leverage in contract talks, this mega-extension will raise the bar for other corners seeking a raise from their rookie deals. The likes of Sauce Gardner (Jets) and Trent McDuffie (Chiefs) are both 2022 draft alums, meaning they too can ink a new pact at any time. Their asking price will take into account the major spike at the top of the market which has now taken place.

Eagles Extend T Lane Johnson Through 2027

March 17th, 2025 at 10:15pm CST by Ben Levine

Lane Johnson is now on the Eagles’ books through the 2027 season. The team announced that they’ve signed their long-time lineman to a one-year extension.

The one-year extension is worth $25MM, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Johnson still had two years remaining on his previous pact. Schefter notes that the Eagles will be paying the lineman an extra $8MM over that span, increasing his 2025 and 2026 totals to $48MM ($40MM guaranteed). When today’s reworked deal was completed, Johnson ultimately saw an additional $30MM in guaranteed money. Today’s move should also provide the Eagles with some extra breathing room under the 2025 cap.

This isn’t the first time that Johnson’s added a year (and some guaranteed money) to his contract. After inking his then-record-breaking extension in 2019, he added a year to the deal in 2023. On the other side, the Eagles have traditionally been aggressive in extending stars early. Just over a week ago, the team added two years (and more guaranteed money) to Saquon Barkley‘s existing contract.

The fourth-overall pick in the 2013 draft, Johnson has established himself as one of the franchise’s all-time greats. The veteran has earned five-straight All-Pro nods, and he won his second Super Bowl ring this past season. Despite the 2024 campaign representing his age-34 season, Johnson still finished fifth on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings.

When Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox retired following the 2023 season, Johnson hinted that he wanted to try playing into his 40s. At the same time, the lineman estimated that he may only “realistically” have two or three more seasons left in him. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer previously predicted today’s extension, and the reporter noted that Johnson may not finish his existing deal.

While Johnson’s future plans may be a bit murky, the Eagles can at least count on having their lineman signed for the next three seasons.

Bengals Reach Extensions With WRs Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins

March 16th, 2025 at 9:56pm CST by Ely Allen

It appears the Bengals have made good on recent rumblings as Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports reports that Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins exclusively informed him that they’ve agreed to contract extensions to stay with their team.

Schultz reports that Chase will receive a four-year, $161MM extension with $112MM guaranteed, while Higgins’ deal is for four years and $115MM. The first two years of Higgins’ contract — an undisclosed amount, at the moment — will be guaranteed, as well. The early predictions of the two’s contracts combining to eclipse $70MM per year is not quite accurate, as they appear to combine to equal $69MM per year.

Chase’s deal surpasses that of Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Higgins’ contract reportedly makes him the highest-paid WR2 in NFL history, surpassing Miami’s Jaylen Waddle. While Higgins would move up two spots from the 10th-highest paid receiver in the league to the eighth-highest, Chase’s catapult up to the top of the list moves him back down to the ninth-highest paid receiver in the NFL. Only the Dolphins (Tyreek Hill & Waddle) match them with two in the top 10, and the Commanders (Deebo Samuel & Terry McLaurin) and the Buccaneers (Chris Godwin & Mike Evans) join with two in the top 20.

We saw major progress as this week started with Chase and Cincinnati far apart on extension terms before producing “significant progress” two days ago. Chase had turned down a Bengals offer this year, but after the team was unable to extend him before the 2024 season, the market shifted quite a bit. After the Raiders eclipsed Justin Jefferson‘s previous non-QB AAV mark by paying Maxx Crosby $35.5MM per year, the Browns gave Myles Garrett a whopping $40MM per annum to back off his trade request. By getting these signings of Chase and Higgins done, the Bengals avoid the price driving up even more, as T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons, and Aidan Hutchinson could all adjust that number again this offseason.

Once the exact numbers and structure come through, we should become aware of just how much the Bengals’ cap situation has improved — and it should be a significant improvement. Cincinnati was sitting at just over $26MM in cap space before these two deals transpired. Higgins’ $26.2MM franchise tag cap hit should disappear, as should Chase’s $21.8MM fifth-year option cap hit; both will be replaced with new, much lower cap numbers that will rise in the later years of their new contracts.

By securing Chase and Higgins for another four years, Cincinnati has locked down a receiving duo that has combined for 658 catches for 9,112 yards and 74 touchdowns over the past four years. During the time the two have played together, they have combined to account for 44 percent of quarterback Joe Burrow‘s completions, 56 percent of Burrow’s yardage, and 58 percent of his touchdowns. With Burrow locked in through the 2029 season, as well, the potent Bengals offense doesn’t appear to be going anywhere.

And Cincinnati better hope that their prolific offense continues to produce. A big reason why the Bengals failed to make the postseason in 2024, despite Burrow leading the league in completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns and Chase winning the receiving Triple Crown, was a defense that ranked 26th is points per game and 25th in yards per game.

While Chase and Higgins are celebrating their new extensions, star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson continues to reside in limbo waiting for any developments on his extension or trade potential. Cincinnati reportedly wants at least a first-round pick for the 30-year-old pass rusher and perhaps more, though rival execs view that ask as “ridiculous.”

Hendrickson’s issues with his contract situation date back to a trade request a year ago, similar to Higgins. Higgins made the savvy move of dropping his representation and pairing up under Chase’s agency, making it clear that a Chase deal was not possible without a Higgins deal, as well. Hendrickson, on the other hand, seems to have been left in the cold here, as the extensions reported today will make it extremely difficult for Cincinnati to give a long-term pact to him, as well.

Regardless, Bengals fans can let out a long sigh of relief knowing that Chase, Higgins, and Burrow will be around to continue putting up record offensive numbers in the years to come. Whether dedicating $124MM per year to three offensive players will ultimately handicap a team desperately needing to improve on defense is to be determined. For now, though, Cincinnati can take pride in being sure it’s done what it can to make its stars happy.

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