HEADLINES

Buccaneers Move Graham Barton To LT

September 7th, 2025 at 1:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Buccaneers are without left tackle Tristan Wirfs to begin the season. It has long been known their All-Pro blindside protector will miss time in September, with veteran Charlie Heck viewed as the top option to replace him on a temporary basis.

For at least Week 1, however, that is not the case. General manager Jason Licht revealed shortly before Sunday’s game (via team reporter Scott Smith) that Heck would not be used as a starter. Instead, center Graham Barton was shifted to left tackle for Sunday’s contest. Ben Bredeson moved from guard to center as a result, with Michael Jordan taking on guard duties.

Barton primarily played as a left tackle in college, but the Duke product was viewed as an interior blocker upon entering the NFL. Indeed, Barton handled center responsibilities during his rookie season, finding immediate success in that role. The 2024 first-rounder will no doubt return to the middle of the O-line when Wirfs recovers from meniscus surgery.

That could take place at some point in September, although there is no firm timeline in place. If Barton manages to provide Tampa Bay with adequate play on the blindside, he could help stabilize the offensive line until Wirfs is back in the fold. The play of that unit will depend as well on Bredeson successfully moving to center. The sixth-year veteran has spent the majority of his career as a guard, including exclusively working there with Tampa Bay last season. Bredeson has spent limited time at center in the NFL, though.

Jordan, meanwhile, was among the Buccaneers’ roster cuts but was quickly retained on their practice squad after clearing waivers. The 27-year-old was elevated to the gameday roster for Week 1, and he will serve not as depth up front but rather as a starting presence. Based on how the first few games play out, Jordan could find himself on the active roster by the time Wirfs is healthy and Tampa Bay’s preferred offensive line setup comes into focus.

Patriots Notes: Peppers, Woods, Wilson, Belichick

September 7th, 2025 at 1:03pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Patriots overhauled their approach to the safety position this year by cutting Jabrill Peppers and benching Kyle Dugger, their starting duo for the past few seasons.

The two veterans are better at playing downhill than covering the deep areas of field, the latter of which is what new head coach Mike Vrabel looks for in his safeties. Those roles will now be filled by former Falcon and Charger Jaylinn Hawkins and fourth-round rookie Craig Woodson.

New England put Dugger on the trade block before roster cut-downs, but his $9.75MM guaranteed salary was likely a significant obstacle to a deal. The Patriots also looked into moving Peppers, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, but similarly received little interest despite a more tradable contract with only $4.3MM in guaranteed salary remaining.

Pepper has yet to catch on with another team, though he will have a better chance at signing after Week 1 when veteran salaries are non-guaranteed. Dugger, meanwhile, seems headed out of New England within the next year. The Patriots could try to re-bait the hook at the trade deadline if there are safety injuries around the league; if no club bites, he’ll likely be a cap casualty next offseason.

  • New England was the only team to claim Rams cornerback Charles Woods off waivers, according to Reiss. He worked closely with new Patriots vice president of football operations and strategy John Streicher on Los Angeles’ special teams unit in 2024. The Patriots also claimed Colts cornerback Jaylon Jones with priority over the Bears, but they rescinded their claim after securing Woods.
  • The Patriots were also the only team to claim quarterback Tommy DeVito, per Reiss, despite reports that he would receive more interest on the waiver wire.
  • New England is entering the 2025 season with almost $47MM of cap space and won’t come close to hitting the ceiling this year. However, they will be able to roll over this year’s space to set up more spending next offseason, per Doug Kyed of the Boston Hearld.
  • Head coach Mike Vrabel named rookie Jared Wilson as the Week 1 starter at left guard. The third-round pick out of Georgia will line up between fellow rookie Will Campbell and veteran Garrett Bradbury.
  • Bill Belichick addressed his decision to ban the Patriots from North Carolina’s facilities during a recent press conference, saying (via The Athletic’s David Ubben), “It’s clear I’m not welcome there at their facility. So they’re not welcome at ours.” His dispute with his former team has continued over perceived slights on both sides, per Ubben’s colleague Dianna Russini, including a charge that a Patriots staffer was told not to wear UNC gear in the team facility.

49ers Want To Retain RT Colton McKivitz, Have Initiated Extension Talks

September 7th, 2025 at 12:10pm CST by Rory Parks

49ers right tackle Colton McKivitz signed a one-year extension last March, so he is entering a platform campaign. As opposed to many impending free agents who publicly downplay the appeal of a massive payday, McKivitz is a bit more upfront.

“It is a big deal. You see what guys are getting (paid) now so it’s hard to not be thinking about it, right?” McKivitz said (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). “It is a lot of money. You’re in the NFL for, obviously, winning and being good. But money is a hard thing to not think about.”

McKivitz, 29, was selected by the Niners in the fifth round of the 2020 draft. He played sparingly over his first three years in the league but was anointed the starting RT in 2023 after Mike McGlinchey defected to the Broncos in free agency.

Just before McGlinchey signed with Denver in March 2023, McKivitz inked a two-year, $4.65MM re-up, and he then agreed to the aforementioned one-year add-on in March 2024.

As such, he has earned “just” $10.27MM in his career to date, and he is due to make $3.19MM in base salary this year. So it stands to reason that he is hungrily eyeing the booming OT market.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said the club would like to retain McKivitz, and Branch indicates San Francisco thinks more highly of him than former starting guard Aaron Banks, who was allowed to depart via free agency this offseason. McKivitz, who presently ranks 25th among the league’s right tackles in terms of average annual salary, said the Niners have contacted his agent to discuss an extension, but “nothing crazy is going on at the moment.”

Branch believes the team is likely offering McKivitz far less than what he would stand to earn on the open market. And after accepting several modest deals, McKivitz may have a bigger goal in mind.

In terms of Pro Football Focus’ evaluations, McKivitz improved across the board from 2023 to 2024. His uptick in play was particularly noticeable in his pass-blocking efforts, as he surrendered nine sacks and 59 pressures in 17 games in 2023 but just two sacks and 36 pressures in the same number of games last year. His 72.2 overall PFF grade placed him 37th among 140 offensive tackles.

Further improvement, or even a reprisal of his 2024 performance, should allow McKivitiz to rocket up the RT pay scale.

NFC North Rumors: Hafley, Thielen, Ratledge

September 7th, 2025 at 11:23am CST by Rory Parks

In 2024, Jeff Hafley’s first year as the Packers’ defensive coordinator, Green Bay ranked fifth and sixth in total and scoring defense, respectively, while also finishing third in interceptions and seventh in sacks. That performance garnered Hafley a head coaching interview with the Jets this offseason, and more such interviews could be on the horizon.

Per Jeff Howe of The Athletic (subscription required), Hafley is viewed as a legitimate HC candidate in some league circles, and he has a chance to elevate his stock even further given the Packers’ addition of star edge defender Micah Parsons. Howe already expects teams in search of a defensive-minded head coach in next year’s cycle to do their homework on Hafley, and another strong showing from his unit will solidify his place on the HC radar.

Now for more from the NFC North:

  • A trade at the end of August brought WR Adam Thielen back to the Vikings after a two-year stint with the Panthers. In a comprehensive look behind the scenes of the swap, Joseph Person of The Athletic (subscription required) says Carolina was not actively looking to deal Thielen, who became an important veteran leader. Given that, and given the Panthers’ leverage – Minnesota’s need for a veteran wideout was well-documented – Carolina originally asked the Vikes for a third-round pick in exchange for Thielen and a fifth-rounder. The Panthers wanted to get the equivalent of fourth-round value in a Thielen trade, and they eventually got there while shaving off $7MM in cap space they can roll over to next year. The Vikes, meanwhile, did not have to give up a third.
  • Rookie Tate Ratledge was initially penciled in as the Lions’ starting center in the wake of Frank Ragnow’s retirement, but that experiment lasted all of three training camp practices before Detroit shifted Ratledge to right guard and veteran Graham Glasgow to the pivot. However, that had less to do with Ratledge’s performance than Glasgow’s existing rapport with QB Jared Goff, and as Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network writes, GM Brad Holmes still sees Ratledge as the long-term center, where he may have an even higher ceiling (despite his success at guard in college).
  • The Lions waived sixth-round rookie Ahmed Hassanein with an injury settlement during final roster cutdowns at the end of August, but Holmes still expects the defensive end to suit up for the team this year (via Jeremy Reisman of PrideofDetroit.com). Holmes said there is a handshake deal in place for Hassanein, who has cleared waivers, to return to Detroit once the length of the injury settlement term (plus an additional three weeks) is complete. That term is presently unknown.
  • Former Lions long snapper Don Muhlbach will serve in a game management role for the club this year, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Muhlbach, a two-time Pro Bowler and the second-longest-tenured player in franchise history, joined the team in an administrative role shortly after his 2021 release. He will now assist HC Dan Campbell with replay reviews, rules interpretations, and “other gameday trends.”

Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez Sidelined For Week 1

September 7th, 2025 at 11:08am CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Patriots will be without star cornerback Christian Gonzalez in Week 1 due to a hamstring injury, but rookie offensive tackle Will Campbell will make his NFL debut.

Campbell was listed as questionable on New England’s final injury report, but the No. 5 pick will play through an ankle injury to protect Drake Maye‘s blind side.

Head coach Mike Vrabel said (via Chad Graff of The Athletic) on Friday that Gonzalez would be sidelined for the Patriots’ regular season opener against the Raiders.

“Everybody heals differently,” said Vrabel this week (via Graff), adding that he wants to make sure that his players can “do their job with confidence…protect themselves on the field and…can’t make it any worse.”

Gonzalez’s absence will leave the Patriots without their best cornerback and arguably their best defensive player against a new-look Raiders offense. Third-year corner Alex Austin will likely be the next man up at boundary cornerback opposite veteran Carlton Davis with Marcus Jones in the slot.

Gonzalez suffered the injury during the Patriots’ first day of padded practices on July 28. He hasn’t practiced since, making it unclear if he’ll even be back for Week 2, which brings a tougher set of receivers in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

The 2023 first-round pick endured a disappointing rookie year that ended after just four games due to a major shoulder injury. He came back to start 16 games with 978 defensive snaps, two interceptions, and a 71.7 passer rating when targeted. That earned him a second-team All-Pro nod as well as a fifth-place finish in Comeback Player of the Year voting, setting up a highly-anticipated third campaign ahead of his extension eligibility next offseason. Those expectations will have to wait at least one more game while Gonzalez gets back to full strength.

49ers ‘Aren’t Overly Concerned’ With RB Christian McCaffrey’s Calf Issue; McCaffrey Will Start In Week 1

September 7th, 2025 at 10:24am CST by Ely Allen

SEPTEMBER 7: McCaffrey will start in the Niners’ regular season opener, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. A source told Schefter that CMC is “good to go.”

SEPTEMBER 6: When star running back Christian McCaffrey‘s name appeared rather suddenly on the 49ers’ injury report Thursday, a lot of fans (and fantasy owners) likely experienced some PTSD remembering McCaffrey’s 2024 campaign. For whatever it’s worth to those people, “the 49ers aren’t overly concerned” about his status this year, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic.

Following a season in which McCaffrey delivered a first-team All-Pro season and won Offensive Player of the Year, McCaffrey was a surprising scratch for the team’s Week 1 matchup after being limited in practice the week before with a leg issue. He had remained optimistic throughout the week about his ability to play, but when he tested his calf the day of the game, it “didn’t feel right” and the team and player opted to let him rest.

When he still couldn’t go in Week 2, the 49ers opted for an injured reserve stint. A headline-grabbing trip to Germany hinted just how bad things might be, and after returning for a four-game stretch, McCaffrey was shut down again in Week 14, this time for the remainder of the season.

The year, the offseason buzz has been all about how McCaffrey had moved past the injuries and had no physical limitations in offseason workouts. In addition to the prior offseason’s promise to reduce his regular season workload — a promise perhaps made on a monkey’s paw — the team was dedicated to reducing his offseason workload this year, as well.

Then, on Thursday, McCaffrey removed himself from practice after “tweaking his calf,” per Vic Tafur and Matt Barrows, also of The Athletic. McCaffrey asserted that the decision was precautionary in nature and not indicative of his availability, saying, “I feel great about where I’m at. Unfortunately, when you have an injury history like I have, sometimes when you don’t practice, things get, uh, blown out of proportion. But, like I said, I feel great.”

The optimism mirrors similar sentiments displayed a year ago, but Tafur and Barrows point out some differences. They say that last year, McCaffrey was frequently bothered by flare-ups of Achilles tendonitis in both legs, requiring sporadic practice appearances throughout the summer. This year, aside from the occasional veteran rest day, McCaffrey hadn’t needed to limit himself at all until Thursday.

Still, the player and team claim his rest yesterday was done out of an abundance of caution. He warmed up with the team on Friday but worked out with trainers off to the side as a non-participant in practice. He’s listed as questionable for tomorrow afternoon’s season opener in Seattle, but according to multiple sources, he’s not in a lot of pain, and he feels great about where he’s at. Even if he does miss some time, though, the team feels comfortable that newcomer Brian Robinson can help fill in.

Browns, Round 2 RB Quinshon Judkins Agree To Fully Guaranteed Deal

September 7th, 2025 at 9:13am CST by Sam Robinson

SEPTEMBER 7: In an update on this matter, Schefter reports Judkins will meet with the NFL this week as part of the league’s investigation. However, Cabot says Judkins is not expected to be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, and one source tells Schefter it is likely Judkins will make his professional debut against the Ravens in Week 2.

SEPTEMBER 6: Quinshon Judkins‘ off-field situation continues to cloud his NFL career, even after a recent resolution. But the second-round Browns draftee is moving toward an early-season debut.

The Browns agreed to terms with the running back on a fully guaranteed rookie contract Saturday, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Judkins is not expected to play this week but could see his debut come in Week 2, Rapoport adds. He will fly to Cleveland to sign his deal this afternoon, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who confirms the former Ohio State and Ole Miss back’s debut date is not yet known.

Chosen 36th overall, Judkins was ticketed for a fully guaranteed contract based on where the line of demarcation for such deals settled back in July. Tyler Shough receiving a fully guaranteed Saints deal — as the No. 40 overall choice — always pointed to Judkins securing such terms. But charges of battery and domestic violence led to this process dragging to the eve of Week 1.

Even with prosecutors deciding not to move forward with this case, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot notes the NFL is still conducting an investigation — one that could lead to a suspension under the personal conduct policy.

Cleveland is expected to receive a temporary roster exemption for Judkins, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. This can last up to two games. Judkins, 21, has not practiced since the Browns’ offseason program. Needing a ramp-up period before being deemed ready to play, Judkins may well be sidelined beyond Week 2. But this agreement puts an early-season debut in play while also finalizing the 2025 rookie class’ contracts. It is an $11.4MM slot deal.

Suspensions typically void guarantees, which led to the Judkins contractual slowdown. That remains a matter to monitor, but the Browns may have inserted language — as they did with Deshaun Watson — to protect the rookie RB in the event of a ban. For the time being, Jerome Ford and fourth-round rookie Dylan Sampson will be expected to lead Cleveland’s backfield. But Judkins will have a say soon.

One of the impact transfers for the Buckeyes last season, Judkins heard his name called before teammate TreVeyon Henderson. The Browns chose Judkins two spots before the Patriots drafted Henderson. While the latter has received far more buzz ahead of his rookie season, Judkins drew extensive interest during the draft runup — after a college career that included three 1,000-yard rushing seasons in three years. He amassed 1,567 rushing yards and 16 TDs as a true freshman, and after leading the SEC with 15 rushing scores a year later, the former high-end recruit formed a 1,000-1,000 duo with Henderson in Columbus.

The Browns bid farewell to longtime backfield stalwart Nick Chubb this offseason, letting the former Pro Bowler walk in free agency. Chubb joined the Texans, who are expected to give the former Browns second-rounder a key role in light of Joe Mixon landing on the reserve/NFI list. Cleveland has Ford — Chubb’s primary fill-in over the past two seasons — under contract for one more year. Judkins and Sampson, however, represent longer-term solutions in being contracted through 2028.

Jaxson Dart Will Be Giants’ QB2; Team Has Designed Package Of Plays For Dart

September 7th, 2025 at 8:53am CST by Rory Parks

One month ago, it was reported that the Giants were willing to let rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart sit out the entirety of the 2025 campaign. However, after an impressive training camp and preseason, Dart could see the field as soon as Week 1.

As Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post observed earlier this week, the Giants listed Dart as the No. 2 QB on their unofficial depth chart, behind starter Russell Wilson but ahead of Wilson’s fellow veteran passer, Jameis Winston. And, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com, the team has designed a package of plays for Dart, whose status as the QB2 will allow him to enter and exit the game at will (as opposed to the third, emergency quarterback, which is the role Winston will occupy, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan).

Of course, there is no guarantee the package of plays will be utilized, as that will be dictated by situational strategy. It is nonetheless noteworthy that the Giants’ coaching staff would take this route. 

As Dan Duggan of The Athletic points out, Dart is more athletic than Wilson at this stage of the two players’ careers, but he is not a Taysom Hill-esque threat as a runner. So if he is simply going to enter the game and run a series of “traditional” plays, the team risks getting Wilson out of rhythm while also relying on a rookie to effectively run the offense without the opportunity to develop a rhythm of his own. And, if Wilson struggles but Dart shows promise (however limited his cameo might be), the coaching staff could be facing a full-blown QB controversy this week. 

Rapoport and Garafolo also acknowledge the fact that Dart does not pose the type of athletic threat that players like Hill and Jalen Milroe do. Instead, they believe the goal of the “Dart package” is simply to get the young signal-caller on the field and get his feet wet in regular season action.

In three preseason games, Dart connected on 32 of 47 passes (68% completion rate) for three touchdowns. He did not throw an interception, and he added six carries for 52 yards and a score.

Lions Initiate Aidan Hutchinson Extension Talks; Deal Not Expected Before Week 1

September 7th, 2025 at 7:46am CST by Nikhil Mehta

SEPTEMBER 7: Contract talks between Hutchinson and the Lions have been positive, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. However, no deal is expected before Detroit’s season gets underway on Sunday.

While Week 1 often serves as an artificial deadline for negotiations, Schefter does not suggest that is the case here. As such, it would not be a surprise to see an agreement announced in the coming weeks.

AUGUST 29: The Lions have opened extension talks with star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

Hutchinson, the No. 2 overall pick in 2022, became eligible for an extension earlier this offseason. The Lions picked up his fifth-year option to lock down his services in 2026 for $19.872MM, but no serious negotiations on a long-term deal picked up until recently.

Hutchinson declined to offer an update on contract talks last week, saying (via Birkett) that he preferred to be “hands-off with the process.”

“I think the business side can take away from your love of the game a little bit,” explained Hutchinson. “And that’s kind of the reality of the NFL.

But on Thursday morning, Lions general manager Brad Holmes said that a “dialogue” with Hutchinson’s representation had begun. Hours later, however, Micah Parsons completely upended the EDGE market with a $47MM APY and $120MM fully guaranteed on his new deal with the Packers. It’s hard to argue that Hutchinson (or any other defender) is worth as much as Parsons, but his new contract does raise the ceiling on future edge rusher negotiations.

Hutchinson wasn’t as dominant in his first two seasons as Parsons was in his, but the former Michigan Wolverine got off to a torrid start in 2024 with 7.5 sacks in five games. It might have been difficult to carry that 25.5-sack pace through the rest of the season, but Hutchinson seemed to have a strong chance at leading the league and potentially reach 20.0 sacks, two things Parsons hasn’t done yet.

However, a broken leg abruptly ended his season after just five games, ending his shot at a record-breaking season. His recovery appears to have gone smoothly heading into the regular season, so he’ll be trying to replicate last year’s efforts and push for an APY above $40MM.

On Thursday, Holmes also said that the team has not been in recent talks to sign Za’Darius Smith, according to Birkett. The Lions acquired Smith from the Browns at the 2024 trade deadline and was released as a cap casualty before free agency. He expressed a desire to return to Detroit and stayed in touch with the team throughout the offseason. Their most recent contact was in early August, but with the regular season soon approaching, it doesn’t seem that Smith will return to the Motor City.

Offseason In Review: Cincinnati Bengals

September 6th, 2025 at 11:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

On one hand, the Bengals avoided two major distractions by extending Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in March. On the other, a franchise regularly involved in money-driven drama ran into two more such issues via the Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart sagas, each dragging deep into summer. However, the club reached resolutions with both defensive ends as well.

Entering the season, the Bengals have a healthy Joe Burrow and an elite weaponry array. The superstar quarterback’s MVP-caliber 2024 season was not enough to drag a poor defense to the playoffs, and questions remain on that side of the ball. The Bengals made a coaching change in hopes of stopping the bleeding on defense, and with Burrow squarely in his prime, considerable pressure exists to avoid a third straight playoff absence.

Extensions and restructures:

No real doubt existed about the Bengals’ long-term Chase plans. After college teammate Justin Jefferson set the market last year, Chase would come in ahead of him and continue to thrive with Burrow. Where doubt existed involved Higgins.

Rumors for over a year pointed Higgins to a 2025 exit — via either a tag-and-trade transaction or a free agency defection. But Burrow kept applying pressure on the team to keep his overqualified WR2 in place. Not 15 years removed from their previous star-level QB (Carson Palmer) growing frustrated with a thrifty roster-building approach, the Bengals gave in and enter the season with the NFL’s highest-paid receiver duo.

By the July 2024 franchise tag deadline, the Bengals and Higgins had not negotiated in over a year. Last year profiled as a last ride for the Chase-Higgins tandem. While the Bengals rebuffed trade interest in their Chase sidekick after a slow start to the season, a November report revealed there was “little to no chance” the former second-round pick would remain a Bengal in 2025. Weeks later, Burrow went back to work on what became an all-out lobbying effort to convince the Bengals to keep the high-end starter.

During an offseason appearance on ESPN’s First Take, Burrow cited annual cap growth — to the point he referenced the league’s TV deals — as part of his pitch to the Bengals re: Higgins. It is safe to assume Burrow said more behind the scenes, and the effort appeared to crest between the Combine and the tag deadline.

Two years after shutting down Higgins trade talk at the 2023 Combine, Bengals VP of player personnel Duke Tobin said in Indianapolis the team wanted the receiver back at “the right number.” As it turned out, the Clemson alum did much better than he would have had he signed in 2023 or ’24. Fourteen years after Palmer forced his way out via a quasi-retirement threat, the Bengals listened to their quarterback’s pleas and began a process that would keep Higgins in Cincinnati.

Cincy tagged Higgins a second time, irking the receiver. After the sides were far apart on terms in 2023 — when no offer of even $20MM per year came Higgins’ way — real negotiations transpired this spring. Both the Bengals’ WR extensions showed the damage waiting too long on deals can cause, but in the franchise’s defense on Higgins, it did appear 2025 was set to bring a separation. Burrow’s relentless push also showed the power prime-years QBs carry, and it will interesting to see if others follow the Cincy centerpiece player’s lead. Because it brought results.

After not approaching $20MM AAV in 2023 negotiations, the Bengals signed Higgins at $28.75MM per year. While the Bengals kept the deal in line with their preference of no guaranteed salary after Year 1, the team did guarantee a $10MM 2026 roster bonus. Higgins, 26, also will be due a $5MM 2027 roster bonus. But the Bengals can escape this deal with just $7.5MM in dead money in 2027. Higgins will see his 2026 base salary ($10.9MM) become guaranteed on Day 5 of the 2026 league year, providing strong assurances he will be a Bengal for at least two more seasons.

Higgins was viewed as a player who could fetch $30MM per year on the open market, and the Patriots — as they have been with just about any remotely available wideout over the past two years — were interested. The 6-foot-4 receiver would have been attached to a $26.2MM franchise tag salary this season and would have hit free agency at 27 in 2026. He almost definitely could have done better by taking that route, but this one will tie the two-time 1,000-yard receiver to one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks in his prime. Chase will also continue giving his older teammate favorable matchups.

All the Higgins departure buzz that emerged from 2023 until early this year was contingent on the Bengals’ plan to prioritize Chase. Jefferson’s contract, however, made a scenario in which the Bengals could avoid future salary guarantees a nonstarter. The Vikings guaranteed their superstar LSU-developed WR $88.7MM at signing. That covered fully guaranteed compensation in two future years. With the exception of Burrow, the Bengals had avoided such commitments. Jefferson’s contract undoubtedly provided a stumbling block as the sides attempted to hammer out a deal before the 2024 season.

By waiting, the Bengals saw the price rise. Chase submitted a triple-crown receiving season, dominating as Burrow returned after his 2023 wrist injury. The cap then spiked by another $24MM. With 2021 receiver draftees Amon-Ra St. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle and Nico Collins being extended in 2024, Chase was a lock to come in much higher. And with wideouts and pass rushers suddenly competing to land the top non-QB contract, the Bengals saw their mission become a multifront fight. The Browns’ four-year, $160MM Myles Garrett extension, rather than Jefferson’s 2024 payday, ended up establishing the Chase floor.

Chase, 25, was eyeing $40MM per year before the Garrett windfall surfaced. Seeing as the Bengals were planning all along to pay their top weapon, the Garrett deal — as strange as it looks — crystalized Chase’s price point. The Bengals unveiled their WR extensions on the same night, and Chase’s re-up breaks with team precedent.

Cincinnati guaranteed Chase’s 2026 salary, and the All-Pro secured a rolling guarantee structure. If on the Bengals’ roster on Day 5 of the 2026 league year (which he will be), Chase locks in his $30MM 2027 base salary. The Bengals even threw in a rolling guarantee involving 2028 money; if Chase is on Cincy’s roster by Day 5 of the 2027 league year, $7MM of his ’28 money locks in.

It would have behooved the Bengals to do these deals in 2024, but they have placated Burrow by paying one of the best one-two receiving punches in recent NFL history. That should satisfy their perennial MVP candidate for a while.

Burrow also lobbied the Bengals to extend Hendrickson, doing so at multiple points in 2025. That proved a more complicated situation compared the receiver contracts. On-and-off extension rumors circulated, with intermittent trade buzz factoring into this process. But the Bengals never appeared willing to break with their precedent on future guarantees for a 30-year-old defensive end.

Even with Hendrickson winning the 2024 sack title by posting a second straight 17.5-sack season, he never received a Bengals offer that included guarantees beyond Year 1. A familiar Cincinnati stalemate ensued as a result.

With Higgins higher in Cincy’s extension queue, Hendrickson received permission to seek a trade just before free agency. The Commanders and Falcons were among the interested teams, but the Bengals naturally set a high asking price. It was believed the team wanted more than a first-round pick for its sack ace. The prospect of paying a 30-something top-market money and surrendering a first-round pick grounded this trade market early, and the eight-year veteran became rather vocal about this Bengals standoff.

From OTAs, Hendrickson said the Bengals had broken off talks; this came after executive VP Katie Blackburn called upon the disgruntled defender to be happy with the offer he had received. We later learned the Bengals never reached $35MM per year — the price Danielle Hunter narrowly exceeded on his one-year Texans bump — and topped out at a backloaded three-year, $95MM proposal. That offer did not include any guarantees past Year 1, leading to a holdout, a hold-in and more trade rumors.

Despite the Steelers guaranteeing T.J. Watt $108MM at signing on just a three-year extension, Hendrickson (who is two months younger) could not secure a comparable offer. The Bengals’ second round of trade talks did not appear to produce anything close to a swap. As was the case in the spring, teams viewed Cincy’s trade ask as unrealistic. This left Hendrickson in a bind. Rather than miss regular-season games in protest — as he had threatened to do — he took the team’s late-emerging raise offer. That will at least pause this drama.

While the Bengals gave Hendrickson a $14MM raise for 2025, they could still use the franchise tag on their top defender next year. It would be a pricey tag (more than $34MM), but the Bengals have both tagged a player on a veteran contract (A.J. Green, 2020) and unholstered a tag on another (Tee Higgins) after reporting pointed to a free agency exit.

It would not surprise to see the organization cuff Hendrickson next year. The ex-Saints third-rounder had signed a one-year, $21MM extension in 2023 in fear of a 2025 tag. It is quite possible the sides’ feud resumes with the Bengals keeping the talented D-end off the 2026 market via the tag.

In lower-profile Bengals extension business, Karras agreed to a one-year deal for a second straight offseason. The veteran center’s one-year, $6MM bump from 2024 had him under contract for this season; his $5MM agreement will extend the partnership through 2026. The Bengals have separated from the other two free agency additions brought in after the 2021 Burrow sack avalanche, cutting La’el Collins in September 2023 and Alex Cappa in March 2025. Karras, 32, has endured.

The third-generation NFLer has started all 34 Bengals games over the past two seasons and has been a starter for the past six NFL campaigns. An ex-Bill Belichick-era Patriots contributor-turned-starter, Karras has two Super Bowl rings. He initially joined the Bengals on a three-year, $18MM pact in 2022. He has outlasted all his O-line mates from that division-winning season and, now on a third Cincy contract, will line up between two newcomers this season.

Volson will not factor into this Bengals season, being placed on season-ending IR after suffering a shoulder injury. The Bengals had demoted the former fourth-round pick late last season and had him on the roster bubble after the offseason pay cut. The 48-game guard starter will head to free agency on a down note.

Free agency additions:

Cutting Cappa opened a starting guard spot. The Bengals are set to use third-rounder Dylan Fairchild at left guard, and they have cycled through unappealing RG options. Patrick and Cody Ford waged a competition during training camp. While Patrick is slated to open the season as the starter, Risner is aboard. And the seventh-year blocker, for all his issues convincing a team to pay him starter-level money, has a history of taking over on short notice.

After four seasons in Denver, Risner did not see his 2023 free agent market take off. He settled for a one-year, $2.78MM Vikings deal — one that did not emerge until September. Risner moved into Minnesota’s starting lineup after the team traded Ezra Cleveland to Jacksonville. The Vikings did not re-sign him until May 2024, and a pay cut even from the 2023 terms emerged.

Playing on a one-year, $2.41MM pact, Risner started eight games last season. After being activated from IR, Risner finished off a 19-game Minnesota starter run. Pro Football Focus graded the former second-round pick as the No. 22 overall guard last season.

Risner, 30, appeared on Cincy’s radar in April and took an August visit. He did not sign until after the preseason slate. This will apply pressure on Patrick, 32, after beating out Ford for the job. Patrick started 10 Saints games last season, ranking as PFF’s No. 37 guard. He played mostly center in two prior seasons (in Chicago). Risner at least gives the Bengals another option in case Patrick falters; the team will need a patchwork solution while hoping Fairchild can be a long-term answer.

Fant joining Mike Gesicki rounds out what might be the NFL’s best pass-catching corps. Still 27, Fant has six years’ experience as a team’s top tight end. The Seahawks had re-signed him on a two-year, $21MM deal in 2024 but cut him before this past training camp. Fant has two 670-yard receiving seasons (both in Denver) on his resume. To put that in perspective, the Bengals have not had a 670-yard TE season since Jermaine Gresham in 2012.

The Bengals now have two members of the 2019 Broncos’ draft class, but Fant did not prove as good of a fit in Seattle — a team with a deeper receiving corps — as he did in Denver. The Russell Wilson trade component did not eclipse 500 yards in any of his three Seattle seasons. With Gesicki signed beyond 2025, this profiles as a bounce-back opportunity — one he chose after also meeting with the TE-needier Dolphins and the banged-up Saints — for his new backup.

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