HEADLINES

5 Key Stories: 8/10/25 – 8/16/25

August 16th, 2025 at 8:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

Midway through August, teams around the NFL are preparing for final roster cuts. Contract matters are still front of mind in certain cases, though, and some notable developments have recently taken place on that front (and others). In case you missed any of the top stories from the past week, here is a quick recap:

  • Bills, Cook Reach Extension Agreement: The 2025 offseason has seen a slew of extensions worked out in the case of the Bills. Running back James Cook represented an outlier with no deal coming together by the start of training camp. After a brief hold-in, though, the two-time Pro Bowler suited up for practice one day before news of his new contract broke. Cook landed a four-year pact which averages $11.5MM per year and includes $15.28MM guaranteed at signing. The former second-rounder now sits seventh in the NFL in per-year running back compensation. On the books through 2029, Cook will look to retain his efficiency for years to come with an increased workload potentially being in store down the road.
  • Heyward Holding In At Steelers’ Camp: Cameron Heyward recently emerged (alongside kicker Chris Boswell) as a member of the Steelers seeking a contract adjustment. The All-Pro defensive tackle enjoyed a return to form in 2024 and is seeking a raise as a result while avoiding team drills in practice. When speaking publicly on the matter, Heyward hinted at the possibility of sitting out regular season games in the absence of a new arrangement. Last offseason, the 36-year-old signed an extension through 2026; the Steelers have a policy of not negotiating deals with more than one year remaining. It will be interesting to see if a compromise of some kind can be reached in the coming weeks to ensure Heyward ends his hold-in.
  • Hearing Scheduled For Chiefs’ Rice: It remains to be seen if (and for how long) Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice will be suspended in 2025. His March 2024 hit-and-run incident resulted in felony charges, but a conclusion to his legal case turned attention to the question of league discipline. After the NFL, NFLPA and Rice’s camp were unable to agree to a suspension length, the matter will proceed to a hearing. Former judge Sue L. Robinson will oversee the case on September 30, leaving Rice available for the first four games of the season. The outlook for Kansas City’s projected No. 1 receiver beyond that point is uncertain, though.
  • Commanders Not Close To McLaurin Extension: As expected, the Commanders do not intend to trade Terry McLaurin. The Pro Bowl wideout continues to seek an extension, and a gap remains between team and player on finances. Washington is leery of a long-term commitment given McLaurin’s age (30 in September) and the threat of a drop-off in production. The five-time 1,000-yard producer has been connected to an asking price in the low-$30MM range regarding annual compensation. McLaurin’s activation from the active/PUP list is separate from his ongoing contract situation, which still has no end in sight. Time remains for an agreement to be reached, but considerable progress will need to be made shortly if a pact is to be in place by Week 1.
  • Browns Rookie Judkins Not Facing Charges: Quinshon Judkins remained the NFL’s only unsigned 2025 draft pick well into the summer while his legal situation remained unclear. The Browns running back is now in position to join the team, however, since his domestic violence case has ended without charges being pursued. Judkins, taken in the second round of this year’s draft, is expected to sign his rookie pact and be available for the start of the season. The Ohio State product could carve out a role fairly early as part of a Cleveland backfield which no longer includes Nick Chubb, although the NFL’s investigation into the case will continue.

Rams QB Matthew Stafford To Conduct Second Workout

August 16th, 2025 at 6:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

AUGUST 16: The Rams declined to comment on Stafford’s status when asked if he took part in today’s planned workout (h/t Barshop). McVay is scheduled to speak to the media on Monday, at which point more details will emerge regarding Stafford’s latest efforts to get on the field.

AUGUST 15: Last Saturday, Matthew Stafford took part in a throwing session. The success of that workout initially put him on track take part in Rams training camp practices for the first time this offseason. Instead, he has yet to participate while dealing with a back issue.

Another workout will take place tomorrow, ESPN’s Sarah Barshop notes. Stafford was held out of practice Monday due to an abundance of caution, and head coach Sean McVay said at the time no thought has been given to surgery. Full participation in the regular season has long been named as the target in this case, but it remains to be seen if or when Stafford will see the field in a practice setting.

McVay responded with “a little bit of both” when asked if the issue relates to functionality or pain management. He added, “we’re trying to get our hands around this as well, so I don’t really have much more information other than [I] think we’re trying some different things that are hopefully going to be in alignment with getting him back out on the field.”

Barshop’s colleague Jeremy Fowler reports the Rams continue to expect Stafford to be available for Week 1. Still, the decisively uncertain tone of McVay’s latest comments on the matter will no doubt be at least some cause for concern. This offseason saw the latest arrangement made between team and player in Stafford’s case, and the Super Bowl winner is owed guaranteed money into 2026. His health for the next two seasons (at a minimum) thus represents a central priority.

At the age of 37, chronic ailments will increasingly become something to monitor regarding Stafford. He is no stranger to playing through pain dating back to his Lions tenure, though, so it would come as no surprise if a full 17-game slate were to still be on tap. It will be interesting to see how tomorrow’s session goes and how the team aims to proceed in its aftermath.

Coming off a run to the divisional round of the postseason, the Rams will rely heavily on Stafford once again in 2025. Backup Jimmy Garoppolo and third-stringer Stetson Bennett have been in place to handle all quarterback reps so far in camp, but that could change in the near future.

Panthers OLB Nic Scourton Suffers Collapsed Lung

August 16th, 2025 at 5:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

Nic Scourton‘s rookie campaign may not start on time. The Panthers edge rusher is currently dealing with a collapsed lung, as noted by head coach Dave Canales.

After suffering from heat-related symptoms, Scourton was taken to hospital in Houston, the site of Carolina’s preseason game on Saturday. Per Canales, the second-rounder is now heading (by car, rather than through the air) back to Charlotte. He added (via The Athletic’s Joe Person) Scourton is currently week-to-week.

Leading up to the draft, the Panthers were named as a strong candidate to add a pass rusher during the first round. Instead, the team went with Tetairoa McMillan at No. 8, electing to double down on the Day 2 options along the edge. Scourton was selected 51st overall, and Carolina also took Princely Umanmielen in the third round.

Given the decision to release veteran Jadeveon Clowney after one season in Carolina, both rookies are in position to handle a notable role in 2025. Scourton had a productive two-year run at Purdue, leading the Big Ten in sacks during his sophomore campaign. He spent last season at Texas A&M and added another five sacks to his career total while remaining strong against the run. The soon-to-be 21-year-old could see his early regular season usage drop in the wake of today’s development, though, in the event he is healthy by Week 1.

In addition to Umanmielen, the Panthers have D.J. Wonnum and Patrick Jones in position to handle a notable workload along the edge. Wonnum joined Carolina in free agency last spring, collecting four sacks in eight games. Jones followed the same path in 2025, and coming off a career-high seven sacks last season he will be counted on to provide a consistent pass rush presence on what was the NFL’s worst defense in 2024. In time, Scourton will look to develop into a key member of the team’s edge contingent; for now, though, his attention will turn to recovery.

Seahawks Moving Closer To Naming O-Line Starters

August 16th, 2025 at 4:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Charles Cross, Abraham Lucas and Grey Zabel are locked in as Seahawks offensive line starters. The team is still determining the routes it will take at center and right guard, however.

As it stands, incumbents look to have the best shot at fending off challengers for those jobs. Anthony Bradford has received the bulk of the first-team reps at RG and is probably the favorite for the gig, The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar notes. An injury to primary 2024 center starter Olusegun Oluwatimi has complicated the Seahawks’ center derby, but it does not appear a challenger has seized the gig yet.

[RELATED: Reviewing Seahawks’ 2025 Offseason]

Oluwatimi, who took over the position after Connor Williams‘ surprising in-season retirement last year, has missed nearly two weeks with a back injury. He did not suit up for the Seahawks’ second preseason game, against the Chiefs, leaving former UDFA Jalen Sundell more time to potentially usurp him.

Competing with Oluwatimi throughout camp and during Seattle’s offseason program, Sundell has not definitively taken the job, per ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson, who adds the Seahawks view Sundell as a valuable swing backup. Sundell has also seen RG reps, though Henderson concurs with Dugar in indicating the incumbent is the “heavy favorite.”

Bradford started opposite Laken Tomlinson last season, winning the job after being a Phil Haynes fill-in during the 2023 campaign. Pro Football Focus, however, graded Bradford as a bottom-10 guard option last season and viewed his 2023 performance as comparable. Tabbing Oluwatimi as a mid-pack center (19th), PFF graded Seattle’s O-line 31st last season. Weeks away from the 2025 slate, the team looks like it will return four starters from that unit. Tomlinson, whom Zabel is replacing at LG, joined the Texans in free agency.

A 2024 third-round pick, Christian Haynes has also mixed into both the center and right guard competitions. Haynes took early-camp reps at center, per the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta, but his stock looks to have dipped. Haynes has been working as the backup left guard, backup right guard and third-string center during camp, Dugar adds. A backup role appears likely for a player the Seahawks hoped would win a starting job by now. Haynes did not make any rookie-year starts. Mike Macdonald said (via Henderson) Oluwatimi should return to practice next week.

A new primary tight end, thanks to Noah Fant release, will flank the O-line soon. Although second-round rookie Elijah Arroyo figures to be heard from plenty as a rookie, Dugar notes AJ Barner is positioned as the likely Week 1 starter. A solid training camp has placed Barner in this role; the fourth-round pick started six games as a rookie.

Barner logged 242 snaps as a run blocker last season. Arroyo, who spent much of his time in the slot during his breakout 2024 Miami season, will likely not be asked to do that as often. Barner also caught 30 passes for 245 yards even as Fant worked as Seattle’s regular starter, representing another option for Sam Darnold this season.

Brian Schottenheimer Did Not Expect To Land Cowboys’ HC Job; Jets, Seahawks Surfaced As OC Options

August 16th, 2025 at 4:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

After a two-man HC search in 2020, the Cowboys again veered off the usual search playbook by conducting a four-interview operation to replace Mike McCarthy. Their choice — Brian Schottenheimer — had not been part of a head coaching interview in over a decade, and the team announced the unorthodox promotion on a Friday night.

As term length became a sticking point in conversations to retain McCarthy, the Cowboys did not move on until a week after Black Monday passed. This reminded of the team’s delay in firing Jason Garrett in 2020. Labeling the Schottenheimer promotion “a risk, not a Hail Mary,” Jerry Jones had said the OC being in place as an option contributed to the delay in firing McCarthy.

Dak Prescott had endorsed McCarthy, but The Athletic’s Michael Silver notes the veteran quarterback’s rapport with Schottenheimer did well to lead to this unexpected promotion. His HC interviews came after the second-generation NFL staffer expected to be heading elsewhere. Both Aaron Glenn and Mike Macdonald had contacted Schottenheimer about their respective OC positions, Silver reports.

A Jets or Seahawks move would have brought a reunion for the well-traveled coach. Schottenheimer was the Jets’ OC from 2006-11 — a stint that saw him stick around in that role in 2009, despite Rex Ryan beating him out for the New York HC job — and helmed the Seahawks’ offense from 2018-20. But the Cowboys’ interest in Schottenheimer staying — either as an OC or HC — scuttled those respective reunion prospects. While Schottenheimer had told McCarthy he was planning to head elsewhere, confirming (via WFAA’s Ed Werder) he did not view himself as a likely HC option in Dallas, but Jones made it clear he wanted to retain him.

“I’m like, ‘What’s up, Jerry?’ Schottenheimer said (via Silver) of an ensuing phone call with Jones. “And he’s like, ‘Let’s see what this would look like … at the very least, I don’t want you to leave. I want you to stay here, be my play caller, and be the offensive coordinator. But let’s talk a little bit more in depth.’”

Schottenheimer, 51, had been a non-play-calling OC during McCarthy’s tenure. Even if Jones had insisted on Schottenheimer staying to call plays, that would have been a notable change. It would also not have been the first time Jones mandated a coordinator stay; upon hiring McCarthy, the Cowboys retained Kellen Moore as their play-caller. Though, Moore already called plays under Garrett for a season. Both the Jets and Seahawks’ 2025 OC gigs would have been for play-calling roles; Schottenheimer had called plays for both teams previously.

The Cowboys’ 2025 search consisted of Moore, Schottenheimer, Robert Saleh and Seahawks assistant Leslie Frazier. Moore was reported to be a frontrunner at one point, but while the Eagles were journeying to the Super Bowl LIX title, Schottenheimer impressed Cowboys brass. Three days after the Moore report emerged, word circulated the Cowboys were giving serious consideration to elevating Schotteneheimer — during a process that included two lengthy interviews with the three-year Dallas staffer.

Schottenheimer turned down avenues to become the Dolphins’ HC in 2007 — the job eventually went to Cam Cameron — and to land the Bills’ HC post in 2010 (the job went to Chan Gailey), passing on both AFC East situations. The Jets gave Schottenheimer a considerable raise to stay on as OC in 2007. He later interviewed for the Jaguars’ HC gig twice in two years, after the team hired Mike Mularkey over him in 2012 and then moved on after one season. The Bengals also reached out, according to Silver, in 2019 but backed off their pursuit before an interview occurred. Cincinnati hired Zac Taylor. A Texans rumor emerged in late 2020, but no interview commenced; Houston hired a new GM (Nick Caserio) weeks later.

The 2020 Seahawks season then featured tension between Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson, and the QB’s explosive start brought internal “hero ball” accusations. An end zone interception during a November 2020 loss to the Rams prompted Carroll to tell his then-third-year OC he did not recognize the offense the team was running. After Seattle tightened the reins on Wilson after his hot start cooled, Carroll fired Schottenheimer at season’s end. A disastrous one-year fit as Urban Meyer’s Jags QBs coach transpired in 2021.

“I thought I had missed my window,” Schottenheimer said, via Silver. “It’s a young man’s game. My wife and I would sit around at night sometimes talking about it during the offseason, like, ‘Damn, it would have been cool to lead my own team at some point,’ because I knew I would be good at it. I say that humbly. I knew that I’d be good at it because of my people skills, my ability to lead. But I had to come to peace with that.”

Schottenheimer’s ascent in Dallas represents one of the most surprising hires in recent NFL history, but the seasoned HC does carry 14 years of OC experience. The Cowboys will count on him to coax better play from Prescott compared to his 2024 start. McCarthy is not currently on an NFL staff, having backed out of the Saints’ HC pursuit — which Moore won — during that process.

Bills’ Larry Ogunjobi On Roster Bubble

August 16th, 2025 at 3:06pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Bills defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi could be on the chopping block when 53-man roster cuts roll around in less than two weeks.

There are a number of reasons Buffalo may want to part ways with the eight-year veteran despite adding him earlier this offseason. The first is a PED suspension the team did not know about when upon signing Ogunjobi. Both Ogunjobi and defensive end signing Michael Hoecht were given PED bans shortly after their Bills deals, but the team was aware of Hoecht’s beforehand.

Ogunjobi will be sidelined for the first six games of the season, during which time he can be placed on the reserve/suspended list to open up a roster spot. Ogunjobi has also had a quiet training camp, according to The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia, mixing in with the Bills’ second- and third-team defenses. If the ninth-year veteran doesn’t have a clear role waiting for him when he comes off suspension, it might not be worth carrying him on the 53-man in the first place.

Releasing Ogunjobi would also clear $1.25MM in 2025 cap space, per OverTheCap, not an insignificant amount this close to the season. At barely $1.3MM, the Bills rank last in available funds. Ogunjobi, 31, has not been especially productive as an interior pass rusher in recent years. He posted 1.5 sacks in 2022 and ’24 and has not cleared 10 QB hits since that ’22 Pittsburgh debut. Still, the Steelers gave him a three-year, $40.5MM deal after the 2022 slate. They cut bait early this offseason, leading to the Buffalo landing.

A younger Bills option make be changing Ogunjobi’s outlook, opening the door for a second 2025 release. The team also has a fairly crowded D-tackle group, with recent third- and fourth-round picks (DeWayne Carter, Deone Walker) behind starters Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones. Buffalo also drafted T.J. Sanders in this year’s second round.

Chosen 41st overall out of South Carolina (after the Bills traded up 15 spots in Round 2), Sanders has enjoyed a strong camp, Buscaglia adds. The Bills have used him as a three-technique option regularly; such a role would eat into Ogunjobi’s playing time when his suspension ends. While Sanders resides as Oliver’s top backup, Buscaglia notes situations could call for the two interior rushers playing alongside each other. Passing downs would seemingly present opportunities for the duo to work together. And it will now be interesting to see if the Bills merely drop Ogunjobi rather than keep both he and Hoecht on their reserve/suspended list.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Cowboys CB DaRon Bland Hoping For Extension Before Week 1

August 16th, 2025 at 1:46pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland indicated this week (via Clarence Hill of All City DLLS) that he wants to finalize a contract extension before the regular season.

The 2022 fifth-rounder is entering the final season of his rookie contract and his representation has been negotiating with the team this summer.

Former Day 3 picks are sometimes willing to accept a more team-friendly deal in exchange for an upfront signing bonus that can be worth many multiples of their entire rookie contract. Bland has made less than $3MM to date, per OverTheCap; he outplayed that figure in his rookie year alone, not to mention his All-Pro 2023. The potential of cashing in this summer rather than next spring may incentivize him to get a deal done quickly.

However, Bland will be receiving an upgraded salary of $5.346MM this season as a result of the NFL’s Proven Performance Escalator program. That may allow for a little more patience as he tries to capitalize on a cornerback market that exploded this offseason. A stress fracture in training camp last year sidelined Bland until Week 12, and he wasn’t the same playmaker in coverage compared to his first two years when he got back on the field. A healthy season at his pre-injury form could drive his price higher if a deal isn’t struck before the season, giving the Cowboys some motivation to find some common ground as well.

The Cowboys may have one other piece of cornerback business to address before Week 1. With Trevon Diggs and Shavon Revel both weeks away from taking the field, the secondary lacks a clear third starting cornerback behind Bland and Kaiir Elam, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. That could bring about a veteran signing before the regular season depending on second-year corner Caelen Carson‘s ability to recover from a knee injury.

Browns Unlikely To Make QB Roster Cuts

August 15th, 2025 at 10:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

Throughout the offseason, Browns general manager Andrew Berry has publicly stated a willingness to carry four healthy quarterbacks on the regular season roster. As the cutdown deadline looms, it appears Cleveland will indeed take that route.

Rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders are safe with respect to making the team’s 53-man roster, although it was recently learned Gabriel was the subject of trade interest immediately after he was drafted. The Oregon product has been ahead of Sanders through the offseason, but he – like Kenny Pickett – has missed time during camp due to a hamstring issue.

As a result of Pickett’s missed time and the inexperience of the Browns’ other options, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot writes Joe Flacco represents the top candidate to begin the season as QB1. It would certainly come as no surprise if the 40-year-old handled starting duties at least early in his second stint with the team, especially with Pickett on the mend. Sanders is dealing with an oblique strain, meanwhile, making it unlikely he suits up for Cleveland’s second preseason contest.

However snaps are handled over the coming weeks, Cabot notes each member of the Flacco-Pickett-Gabriel-Sanders quartet can be expected to survive roster cuts. Deshaun Watson remains in the organization, of course, but as he recovers from a second Achilles tear he is highly unlikely to play in 2025. That leaves recent signing Tyler Huntley in the fold for now, although his return to Cleveland came about in the wake of other injuries under center.

Huntley did not make it to Cleveland’s Week 1 roster during his first stint with the team, and that will no doubt be the case once again in 2025. Even if he is released shortly, however, the Browns’ QB room is set to remain crowded into the fall.

Offseason In Review: Miami Dolphins

August 15th, 2025 at 10:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

For a team that has made two playoff appearances over the past three years and has not lost 10 games since 2019, vibes sure don’t seem great in Miami. Mike McDaniel has moved closer to the hot seat, despite coaxing dramatic Tua Tagovailoa improvement and leading the Dolphins to back-to-back playoff berths for the first time since Dave Wannstedt‘s tenure more than 20 years ago. GM Chris Grier also has not enjoyed a banner year, having seen his Tyreek Hill rework and Jalen Ramsey extension not prove fruitful.

The Dolphins have battled cap trouble in multiple offseasons, and this one brought a historic dead money charge thanks to the Ramsey trade. McDaniel may need a third playoff berth in four seasons to keep his job — as odd as that sounds for a franchise that booked two playoff appearances from 2002-21 — pointing to Tagovailoa’s health potentially determining the HC’s long-term fate. Regardless of Tua’s status, the Dolphins have some questions to answer after some notable offseason roster subtractions and storylines.

Trades:

Reminding of the 2019 Odell Beckham Jr. trade that belatedly included an Olivier Vernon–Kevin Zeitler swap, the Dolphins and Steelers folded the Smith transaction into the Ramsey-Fitzpatrick blockbuster. Almost six years after he forced his way out of Jacksonville, Ramsey burned more bridges in Florida. After it was over, the former All-Pro cornerback set a non-quarterback dead money record, tagging the Dolphins with $35.86MM — spread between 2025 and ’26.

The latest Ramsey chapter of discontent emerged in April, when the Dolphins and the aging defender agreed to pursue a trade. This came months after Grier had signed off on a market-topping extension, representing the second time Ramsey had become the top CB earner.

Extended soon after Patrick Surtain reset the market in September, Ramsey played reasonably well in 2024. Pro Football Focus ranked him 11th among corners, but considering he missed nearly half the 2023 season, the nine-year veteran did not justify Grier’s decision to both rework his Rams deal upon arrival and then sign off on a new one 18 months later.

Grier has become the rare GM to cave repeatedly to disgruntled players. It was not even known if Ramsey was even disgruntled last year, but after Grier reworked the Xavien Howard and Tyreek Hill deals to throw significant guarantees their way, he paid Ramsey ahead of an age-30 season. Ramsey is tied to a three-year, $72.3MM extension that runs through 2028. This reminded of the Howard and Hill adjustments since Ramsey also had multiple seasons (two) left on a contract. The Dolphins doing that extension and then trading him less than a year later proved quite costly.

Teams balked at taking on all of Ramsey’s guaranteed money for 2025, depressing the value of a player probably headed to the Hall of Fame. More significantly, Ramsey was believed to be at odds with McDaniel’s leadership style, potentially calling into question the atypical HC personality’s fit in the locker room. The draft-day report called the Ramsey-McDaniel relationship “irreparably broken,” and the former Super Bowl winner had harbored issues with the Dolphins’ (in his view) “willingness to accept mediocrity.” but the team needed — rather than see the Ramsey dead money hit the 2025 payroll exclusively — to drag this out until after June 1.

While the buildup did not look great for the Dolphins, Grier crafted an interesting solution. The Dolphins agreed to pay $7MM of Ramsey’s 2025 compensation, sweetening the deal for the Steelers, who are paying nearly $20MM to the soon-to-be 31-year-old CB. This was a somewhat surprising salary split, but the Dolphins took on more money by reacquiring Fitzpatrick. That became the most fascinating component of that two-trade day, seeing as the Dolphins — in Grier’s first months as a GM with roster control — traded Fitzpatrick early in his second season.

A dispute between Fitzpatrick and the Dolphins led to his exit after just 18 games. The 2018 first-round pick (and his mother) objected to the Flores-led coaching staff using Fitzpatrick as a box player during the team’s 2019 training camp. This came after Miami primarily used Fitzpatrick at corner as a rookie.

While 2019 featured Grier at the controls, previous front office boss Mike Tannenbaum drafted Fitzpatrick. Grier traded him — days after giving the player’s camp permission to seek a trade — as the Dolphins continued a teardown that included swaps involving Ryan Tannehill and Laremy Tunsil. Six years later, Fitzpatrick joins a team that made strides in this rebuild but has not approached the ultimate goal.

Fitzpatrick, 28, should have more good football left than Ramsey. The three-time first-team All-Pro combined for 15 interceptions from 2019-22, excelling as a deep safety while helping to elevate the Steelers’ defense into a perennial top-10 unit. Over the past two years, the Steelers became underwhelmed by Fitzpatrick’s lack of splash plays; he has one INT since the start of the 2023 season. The 2023 slate, however, brought an increase in box snaps compared to his usual free safety role. Last season did not reverse Fitzpatrick’s downward playmaking trend, but he suited up for 17 games and will have a chance to play a lead role in a Dolphins team that lost Jevon Holland and Brandon Jones over the past two offseasons.

As a Dolphins rookie in 2018, Fitzpatrick primarily played corner. He rotated between the boundary and the slot, playing more inside. That will not be his role this time around. Set to deploy Fitzpatrick at safety, the Dolphins also reworked his contract.

Previously attached to a four-year, $72.98MM deal, the eighth-year vet is now on a two-year, $33.1MM accord that provided a new signing bonus and dropped his 2025 cap hit to $4.5MM. That provided a cash influx for a player who had played out the guarantees on his Steelers deal. Despite Grier trading him so early in his career, Fitzpatrick is now interested in a long-term Miami future.

The Dolphins showed interesting hesitation about paying Smith, whose Miami debut doubled as his best season. Smith smashed career-high marks with 88 receptions, 884 yards and eight TDs last year, helping a Dolphins team that saw Hill’s production nosedive and Jaylen Waddle regress as Tagovailoa missed time.

The Steelers came up as a Smith suitor in May, and while the veteran tight end expressed a desire to stay in Miami while the sides discussed an extension, the parties could not hammer out one. Roughly a month after the initial rumor, Jonnu and Arthur Smith — the former Titans OC and Falcons HC — reunited yet again.

This marks the second time an Arthur Smith team traded for Jonnu Smith, but this trade preceded an extension. Jonnu Smith had been tied to a two-year, $8.4MM deal — one agreed to after the Falcons made him a cap casualty soon after firing Arthur Smith. The Steelers gave Jonnu a one-year, $12MM extension, pushing his deal through 2026. The trade brought less than $3MM in Dolphins dead cap, but it leaves a significant question at tight end. With limited options in terms of proven receiving TEs by early July, the Dolphins threw a Hail Mary of sorts.

Waller, 33 next month, retired last summer after rumors pointed to an exit for weeks. The former Raiders Pro Bowler burned the Giants, having sustained another hamstring injury (leading to a five-game absence) and retired after the 2024 draft. No word about a Waller comeback had surfaced, but after the Dolphins acquired his rights via the pick-swap trade, Waller let it be known he wanted to play in Miami or stay retired.

The Dolphins stashed Waller on their active/PUP list for ramp-up purposes. Miami has him on a one-year, $2MM deal with no guarantees. While this profiles as a flier, the Dolphins’ TE depth chart is desperate for this Waller reemergence to commence in earnest. Miami did not draft a tight end and has none on the roster who have delivered a 210-yard season. Waller accumulated 552 in a disappointing Giants season and is among a select few with two 1,100-yard years on his resume.

The Dolphins will almost definitely not be getting prime Waller form, but something in the range of his Giants work would be a lifeline for a team desperate at this position. Waller missed eight Raiders games due to hamstring trouble in 2022, following a $17MM-per-year extension agreement, and some Las Vegas staffers expressed frustration about his slow recovery. Waller also missed six games in 2021. This is a buyer-beware situation, making the Dolphins’ visit with Noah Fant — who signed with the Bengals soon after — rather interesting.

Extensions and restructures:

Add Sieler to the list of Dolphins Grier has extended with more than one year left on a previous deal. Sieler did not hold in but let it be known he wanted a new deal after back-to-back 10-sack seasons. Because this extension is tacked onto a through-2026 pact, the veteran D-tackle is now signed through 2029.

Originally a waiver claim (from the Ravens) in December 2019, Sieler arrived to close out Grier’s first year as the team’s front office boss. Sieler operated as more of a Christian Wilkins sidekick from 2020-22, and the Dolphins did well to extend him at what turned out to be a below-market rate. Paying Sieler before being unable to come to terms with Wilkins, Miami observed its waiver-claim find combine for 24 TFLs over the past two seasons.

Grier’s latest early raise bumps Sieler from barely $10MM per year (31st among interior D-linemen) to over $22MM AAV. Sieler, 30 next month, is now being paid more than Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams and Daron Payne. This is quite the level jump for a former seventh-round pick, and the Dolphins will count on him once again ahead of an age-30 season. Though, he should have more help thanks to some returning edge rushers.

Chubb was delivering on the November 2022 trade/extension sequence. He posted 11 sacks — his most since a rookie season (12) opposite Von Miller — and led the NFL with six forced fumbles in 2023. Chubb, though, suffered an ACL tear late in a blowout loss to the Ravens in Week 17 of that season. He then missed all of last season, joining OLB mate Jaelan Phillips in seeing injury issues reshape his Miami trajectory. As a result of the missed season, an accepted pay-cut request transpired.

The Dolphins included incentives in Chubb’s rework, and since the former top-five pick missed all of last season, the escalators will be considered not likely to be earned — thus giving Miami 2025 cap relief. Chubb’s cap hit is down to $12.33MM. The two-time Pro Bowler is on track to return for the Dolphins, who have EDGE questions but more depth at the position compared to their Chubb- and (largely) Phillips-less 2024. Phillips, who suffered an ACL tear early last season, also avoided the active/PUP list ahead of training camp.

The veteran duo will accompany 2024 first-rounder Chop Robinson, giving Miami an intriguing pass-rushing boost — provided Chubb and Phillips stay on the field. Miami will be expected to either give Chubb another pay cut in 2026, when his cap hit balloons to $31.2MM, or release him. This will be a critical season for the 29-year-old pass rusher’s value. Phillips is tied to a $13.25MM fifth-year option, cashing in between his Achilles and ACL tears. This will be a pivotal year for him as well.

Free agency additions:

After Isaiah Wynn joined Bradley Chubb in seeing a 2023 injury cost him the full 2024 season, the Dolphins retooled with a player who missed most of that campaign. Daniels would have been a less affordable option had he not suffered an Achilles tear in Week 4. While this is technically a three-year deal, it is more of a “prove it” pact due to its structure.

Even with three void years included in this accord, the Dolphins can cut Daniels (due a $3.48MM guarantee on Day 3 of the 2026 league year) for just a $4.8MM dead money charge in 2026. Despite being a seven-year veteran, Daniels had age on his side. The former second-round pick heads into an age-28 season. If he can recapture his pre-injury form, the Dolphins will gain considerable value.

Daniels finished ninth in pass block win rate in his 2022 Steelers debut and was second only to Quenton Nelson in run block win rate before going down last season. PFF ranked Daniels 33rd among guard regulars in 2023. He will be an upgrade from Robert Jones; the Dolphins hope the three-year Steelers starter can return to a form that saw him miss only two games from 2021-23.

Wilson nearly fetched as much guaranteed as Trey Lance and Mac Jones combined, representing a lingering belief in the former No. 2 overall pick’s arm talent. Even as Wilson did not threaten Jarrett Stidham for Denver’s backup job last season, he has made 33 career starts. Highlighting Wilson’s experience may not be the best way to go here, considering the Jets benched him three times — at one point demoting him to the third-string level — during an erratic tenure. Despite being supported by a top-five defense in 2022 and ’23, Wilson went 12-21 as a starter in his three-year New York run. The Jets needed to take on rookie-contract money in order to fetch a Day 3 draft pick from the Broncos last year.

The Jets saw a failure to add a veteran behind Aaron Rodgers prove costly in 2023, as Wilson’s reset program returned to center stage. Tua Tagovailoa‘s unreliability makes this situation resemble the Jets’ 2023 blueprint, but Wilson having shown more evidence in incapability that year makes this Miami setup perhaps even shakier.

If Tua goes down again, the Zach Wilson Experience will hit South Beach. That is a frightening proposition. But the Dolphins pounced on Wilson on Day 1 of the legal tampering period, rather than waiting out the veteran QB2 market. This points to McDaniel belief he can coax better play from the one-time top prospect, though the Dolphins were believed to be interested in Andy Dalton before he re-signed with the Panthers. Wilson, 26, is definitely another way to go.

A touchdown machine in 2024, Westbrook-Ikhine will almost definitely be an upgrade on last year’s Odell Beckham Jr. version. The tertiary Titans target caught nine TD passes on just 32 receptions. While that will be difficult to sustain, Westbrook-Ikhine (10 combined TDs from 2021-23) played a regular Tennessee role (between 370-480 yards each year from 2021-24) and is qualified to operate as Miami’s WR3 alongside Hill and Waddle. This is a much more affordable option than Cedrick Wilson Jr., who flopped on a three-year, $24MM deal. NWI’s consistency should matter for a Dolphins team that may need more from this spot after trading Jonnu Smith.

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