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Offseason In Review: Los Angeles Chargers

August 6th, 2025 at 10:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

As he had done at his other career stops, Jim Harbaugh orchestrated a turnaround season in his Chargers debut. The Bolts returned to the playoffs and transformed their defense. While a more run-focused attack minimized Justin Herbert, the star quarterback operated efficiently despite limited weaponry. The team still has questions to answer in the pass-catching department, but a more significant running back retooling effort commenced this offseason.

The Chargers made a host of affordable free agency moves, through retention and outside acquisitions, and budgeted for a record-setting extension. They will operate in a historically loaded division for coaching achievement, with Harbaugh suddenly the only AFC West leader without a Super Bowl title. Last season established the Chargers as a rejuvenated operation; how will they take the next step?

Extensions and restructures:

Although Slater was extension-eligible in 2024, the Harbaugh-Joe Hortiz regime made the former Tom Telesco first-rounder wait. While the Bolts received an additional year of rookie-contract control on the 2021 first-rounder, his price naturally rose this offseason. Slater’s resume does not match those of Tristan Wirfs or Penei Sewell, but he is now the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman. Waiting a year brought that to fruition, and Slater’s benchmarks compare favorably to the other top left tackle contracts.

In addition to his record-setting $28.5MM AAV, Slater commanded the second-highest guarantee at signing (behind only Andrew Thomas). Thomas needed to give the Giants five years of control to get his $67MM at-signing guarantee. Slater’s $92MM in total guarantees beat Wirfs’ previous highwater mark ($88.24MM).

Slater, 26, received the top one- and two-year cash flows for any O-lineman. The Chargers also gave Slater a rolling guarantee structure, which will lock in his 2027 and ’28 base salaries one year early. This provides considerable protection for a player who had made a calculated gamble before, having joined Sewell and Micah Parsons in opting out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 cloud. Slater skipped this year’s Bolts OTAs but had a deal in place before training camp.

The Chargers had seen their LT situation become unstable in between King Dunlap‘s final season (2016) and Slater’s debut, but the Northwestern product gave the team an upper-crust blindside protector for Herbert. Slater is a two-time Pro Bowler who bounced back from a three-game 2022 to play in 32 regular-season games from 2023-24. Pro Football Focus rated Slater second among all tackles last season and has never graded him outside the top 20 in a campaign. The Chargers’ second-year regime is buying in, and they now have him signed through 2029.

The Dupree commitment is obviously modest by comparison, but the move keeps the former first-rounder as a quality No. 3 edge rusher. Although the Chargers do look weaker here on paper due to the Joey Bosa release, Dupree backing up Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu presents a workable situation.

Dupree notched six sacks and 10 QB hits as a full-time backup last season. While extending a 32-year-old pass rusher after retaining a 34-year-old EDGE does introduce age concerns at this premium position, Dupree is a 99-start player who can easily step in as a sidekick in the event Mack or Tuipulotu miss time.

Free agency additions:

Harbaugh did not dismiss an Allen reunion when asked in April, but it did not sound promising at that point. Midway through training camp, however, circumstances had changed and Harbaugh was eager to bring back the second-leading receiver in franchise history. Allen had said he would only delay retirement for a Bears re-signing or a Los Angeles return. Even after the Cal alum-turned-decorated Charger had been offered a pay cut before being traded to Chicago last year, he and the Bolts made peace and will reunite at an interesting juncture. Mike Williams‘ retirement may have pried the door open for a team that would have otherwise relied on unproven players alongside Ladd McConkey.

Allen’s 10,530 yards trail only Antonio Gates (11,841) in Chargers history; the 2025 Hall of Fame inductee also played 16 seasons to accumulate that total. Allen is now 33, but he remains a quality starter. The six-time Pro Bowler did not add a seventh 1,000-yard season to his resume last season, but he still drew 121 targets and turned them into 744 yards and seven TD grabs during a disjointed Bears season. Multiple teams considered Allen, who left the Chargers as their No. 1 target but will return as a McConkey complementary piece.

Allen’s most recent Chargers season was one of his best; with Williams sidelined with an ACL tear, the slick route runner averaged a career-high 95.6 yards per game during a 1,243-yard season. While Allen and Williams fit together seamlessly, his place in a McConkey-centered attack will be interesting.

Regardless of a slot overlap, Allen is a proven target who meant plenty during Justin Herbert‘s ascent. The Tom Telesco draftee/two-time extension recipient could be a missing piece, having provided a significant boost to Herbert- and Philip Rivers-piloted attacks throughout his first Chargers stint. Allen’s presence stands to help the Chargers, whose lack of weaponry helped lead to a 19th-place 2024 pass-game ranking.

The Chargers did not overreach in free agency, but they look to have upgraded in certain areas nonetheless. Harris may not be a clear upgrade on J.K. Dobbins, but the draft rounded out a two-pronged backfield plan. Dobbins resides as one of the NFL’s top injury risks, while Harris never missed a game in four seasons. Of course, the fireworks accident the veteran RB encountered July 4 does offer some concern about his unblemished durability record.

Harris is believed to have suffered a “surface-level” eye injury in the accident. Initially, Harris began working with doctors at Stanford; he transitioned to the Chargers’ medical team once training camp began. The Bolts have conveyed confidence about Harris’ expected regular-season availability, but after he began camp on the active/NFI list (as Hortiz announced neither he nor Chargers doctors had observed the damages firsthand until that point), this situation is a bit murky.

After a 4-for-4 stretch of 1,000-yard rushing seasons, Harris certainly hoped last year’s running back resurgence would garner him more than $5.25MM. The 2021 first-rounder did note that by late last year he did not expect the Steelers to re-sign him. Pittsburgh passed, having placed a near-identical value (via second-round RFA tender) on Jaylen Warren. Kenneth Gainwell and third-round pick Kaleb Johnson round out Pittsburgh’s new backfield.

Harris, 27, is more of a grinder; that style fits Harbaugh’s approach. Next Gen Stats’ rush yards over expected metric ranked Harris (minus-3) in the bottom half last season (while Dobbins checked in at 115 RYOE). Harris’ 1,277 career touches undoubtedly affected his market, but not benefiting from the likes of Alvin Kamara, Rhamondre Stevenson, James Conner and Chuba Hubbard being signed beforehand did prove interesting. The Miami alum will try to reestablish value in L.A.

Interior O-line issues plagued the Chargers last year; they added some new options as a result. The Chargers have not abandoned starters from 2024, re-signing Bradley Bozeman and retaining Trey Pipkins, but they have at least one new guard starter and an interesting buy-low piece at center.

Becton rebuilt value with the Eagles, but his market made it clear teams were still skeptical. Becton played one game between the 2021 and ’22 seasons, after weight concerns surfaced during an otherwise promising rookie year. He lobbed salvos at the Jets to proclaim himself their best left tackle option in 2023; despite significant weight loss and a return to the starting lineup (at RT and LT), Becton landed just $2.75MM from the Eagles. He finally started to make strides in Philly, winning the team’s right guard job and mixing in on the NFL’s top offensive line. The Eagles’ commitments at the other four O-line positions never made it realistic Becton would be retained, however.

PFR’s No. 22 free agent — albeit with a bit of a wild-card profile — ranked 20th (per PFF) among guard regulars last year. The NFL effectively labeled Becton a “prove it” case, but if he can show the Chargers his 2024 tackle-to-guard transition was no fluke, the Bolts have him at a favorable rate. If he cannot, the team has an easy out in 2026. The Bolts can cut Becton with just $2.5MM in dead money next year.

James landed in PFR’s top 50 entering the 2024 free agency period, and the Raiders re-signed him on a three-year, $24MM deal. The four-year Las Vegas starting center appears underpriced at a vet-minimum number. James, 28, made 59 starts in that time. PFF graded James as the NFL’s ninth-best center in 2023 but dropped him to 33rd last year. James played for six play-callers since 2021, and Vegas’ new regime dropped a player paid during Telesco and Jon Gruden‘s stays. If nothing else, the experienced blocker offers the Bolts high-end depth.

Running back was not the only position bringing substantial turnover. The Chargers let Asante Samuel Jr. and Kristian Fulton go while adding Jackson and St-Juste. Jackson landed on his feet, via a second notable free agency deal, despite being graded poorly in coverage during his Steelers one-off. Although PFF graded the 2024 Pittsburgh trade pickup as a bottom-10 CB last year, he intercepted five passes as a 15-start player. Coverage metrics still have a ways to go in terms of reliability, but PFF ranked Jackson outside the top 60 at corner from 2021-24.

Jackson has worked as a boundary corner throughout his career, signing two Panthers contracts before being traded straight up for Diontae Johnson — a deal that produced a surprising Steelers win on the judges’ scorecards. The Chargers will hope the 5-foot-10 cover man (30 in November) has some quality football left; they certainly coaxed good work from unlikely sources in 2024.

St-Juste has seen far more slot work compared to Jackson, logging 441 snaps inside in 2023. The Chargers are almost shorting PFF at this point, as the advanced metrics site graded the Canadian talent 112th (just behind Jackson) last season. St-Juste is more of a flier, given his price, but he made 45 starts in Washington. The Chargers have 2024 draftee Tarheeb Still primed for a big role. Jackson’s contract points to him starting, leaving St-Juste and Cam Hart‘s roles less certain. L.A. carries some moving parts here, but the team should have more depth at corner entering this season.

The Chargers met with Evan Engram and offered him a similar contract to his Broncos proposal (two years, $23MM, $16.5MM guaranteed), but the former Giants and Jaguars pass catcher chose Denver and may have a de facto WR2 role on tap. Conklin outproduced fellow Jets 2022 signee C.J. Uzomah, playing fairly well with Aaron Rodgers and Zach Wilson. Conklin tallied a career-high 621 yards (10.2 per reception) in 2023 and posted 449 (8.8 YPC) last year. Two other 550-yard seasons are on Conklin’s resume.

Unspectacular, yes, but the Chargers saw Will Dissly lead their TE group with 449 yards in 2024. Nearing 30 and without the blocking credentials Dissly has, Conklin looks like a placeholder — perhaps in the event fifth-rounder Oronde Gadsden II, a dynamic threat at Syracuse, does not develop.

Harbaugh’s initial Bolts QB2 plan did not work, leading to the team replacing the re-signed Easton Stick with Taylor Heinicke via trade last August. Heinicke is now battling Lance for that gig. Wildly overvalued as the No. 3 overall pick in 2021, Lance has still logged an alarmingly low usage rate since his 2017 high school finale. Since 2019, Lance has just 460 pass attempts.

Redshirted at North Dakota State, Lance shredded Division I-FCS opposition — albeit as part of the level’s best program — in 2019 but saw the pandemic keep him off the field in 2020. The 49ers used Lance as a four-game starter, but their 2022 plan to build around him involved regrouping with Jimmy Garoppolo as insurance; Lance’s fractured ankle also pried the door open for Brock Purdy, leading the unseasoned talent to Dallas in 2023.

Lance threw all of 41 passes in two Cowboys seasons, even with Dak Prescott missing half of 2024. Harbaugh will attempt to derive some value from Lance, who is still just 25. A package role also could intrigue here, due to Lance’s run-game skills. That would seemingly appeal to Greg Roman, who coached Colin Kaepernick and Lamar Jackson, but it would also involve taking Herbert off the field. The Hall of Fame Game outing did bring an encouraging start for the bust-turned-backup hopeful.

Re-signings:

Mack shook off his one injury-plagued season (2021) and became the Chargers’ lead option following a 2022 trade. The Bolts could not rely on Joey Bosa, counting on Mack continuing as an OLB regular into his mid-30s.

Mack, 34, considered retirement this offseason but had seen the Bolts aggressively pursue him despite having handed him a 2024 pay cut. The former Defensive Player of the Year had been tied to a six-year Bears-designed/Chargers-updated contract. While that limited Mack from cashing in on a notable multiyear deal in his prime, the 11-year vet has still earned more than $179MM. He will approach $200MM via this Chargers re-signing.

Aging players typically slide down our free agent rankings, or are omitted altogether, but Mack has continued to deliver and stay healthy. Slotted 25th in PFR’s 2025 FA offering, Mack indeed did well on a one-year deal. Among non-quarterbacks and franchise-tagged players, Mack’s $18MM guarantee represents the third-highest amount on a one-year deal (behind only Danielle Hunter and Andrew Van Ginkel‘s 2025 extensions) in NFL history. Mack can use this extra Chargers year to build on his Hall of Fame case. The All-Decade-teamer may be a decent bet, but his 107.5 sacks sit 32nd in the sack era (1982-present). Mack may need more work.

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Bengals’ Offer To Trey Hendrickson “Closer To The Top Of The Market”

August 6th, 2025 at 10:02pm CST by Ben Levine

There’s been plenty of analysis on the stalemate between the Bengals and star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. We’ve continually heard that the main holdup between the two sides revolves around guarantees, and that still appears to be the case. However, when it comes to average annual value, it sounds like the Bengals are willing to make Hendrickson one of the highest-paid players at his position.

[RELATED: Trey Hendrickson Not Seeing Bengals Talks Shift]

According to Albert Breer of SI.com, the AAV is “no longer the problem” between the two sides. Breer believes the Bengals are offering a contract that’s “well into the 30s” annually, and the offer is “closer to the top of the market than people want to believe.”

Just this offseason, we’ve seen four pass rushers surpass Nick Bosa‘s $34MM AAV, with T.J. Watt now pacing the position with a $41MM annual mark. While a Micah Parsons deal could slightly change the calculus, it sounds like the Bengals and Hendrickson are generally in agreement on the contract’s basic value.

The Bengals organization has traditionally shied away from offering guarantees beyond the first year of an extension, although they did buck that trend when it came to contracts for Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. While those deals could have set a new precedent for the Bengals defensive leader, it sounds like the front office isn’t budging on their first-year guarantee stance.

There were some recent rumblings that the team was considering including some guaranteed money in the second year of Hendrickson’s contract, but it sounds like that still won’t be enough to satisfy the impending free agent. The Bengals are trying to point to the massive raise Hendrickson would see in 2025, but we learned that a $10MM gap in guaranteed money still exists between the two sides.

There were once reports that the Bengals hadn’t offered a contract that even touched a $35MM AAV, so from a glass-half-full perspective, Breer’s report seems like a positive step forward. However, there have been reports all along that a disagreement over guarantees were at the root of the showdown between the Bengals and Hendrickson, and that apparently hasn’t changed.

Hendrickson engaged in a brief holdout before reporting to training camp, but he refuses to practice with his teammates until he inks a new deal. The player later told reporters that “nothing has changed” when it comes to negotiations, so it sounds like this is a storyline that’s destined to continue throughout the preseason.

Free Agent DB Tracy Walker Suspended 12 Games

August 6th, 2025 at 8:08pm CST by Ben Levine

Tracy Walker has been searching for a gig since getting cut from the 49ers practice squad last September. If he has any chance of playing in the NFL again, it would have to wait until late November.

According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the free agent safety has been suspended for the first 12 games of the 2025 campaign. It’s uncertain why Walker was banned. The veteran is allowed to join a team before his suspension is through, but he won’t be able to take the field until Week 13.

A former third-round pick, Walker emerged as a useful player in Detroit. He averaged close to 100 tackles per season between 2019 and 2021, but a torn Achilles limited him to only three games in 2022. He managed to return in time for the start of the 2023 campaign and got into all 17 games that season while appearing in half of his team’s defensive snaps.

Walker was cut during the 2024 offseason, providing the Lions with more than $5MM in cap relief. He caught on with the 49ers and landed on their taxi squad following final cuts, but he lasted a month before earning his walking papers.

While it’s uncertain why the player was suspended, the length would indicate a violation of the Personal Conduct Policy.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/6/25

August 6th, 2025 at 7:54pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

  • Waived/injured: TE Jordan Murray

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Waived: TE McCallan Castles

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

Bills LB Baylon Spector suffered a calf injury earlier this week that ultimately cost him his roster spot, but he seems destined to ultimately land on the team’s injured reserve. Buffalo was quick to add Jimmy Ciarlo as the replacement. The former West Point captain spent most of his rookie campaign with the Jets, and he garnered auditions with the Giants and Patriots after getting let go by Gang Green in May.

The Texans added some depth at wide receiver in Quintez Cephus, although it came at the expense of Johnny Johnson III. The former Lions draft pick lasted three seasons in Detroit, where he hauled in 37 receptions for 568 yards and four touchdowns. Cephus was banned for the 2023 campaign for violating the league’s gambling policy, and he’s since had stints with the Bills, Texans, Rams, and 49ers. Following his first gig in Houston, he had a brief stint playing under Nick Caley in Los Angeles.

Lions Still In Contact With Za’Darius Smith

August 6th, 2025 at 7:05pm CST by Ben Levine

Za’Darius Smith remains unsigned, but the veteran pass rusher has already made it clear that he hopes to continue his stay in Detroit. That sentiment appears to be mutual, although it doesn’t sound like any deal is imminent.

[RELATED: Za’Darius Smith Wants To Return To Lions]

While speaking with reporters, Lions general manager Brad Holmes stated that he’s maintained contact with the player’s camp and is hoping to extend the partnership.

“Za’Darius did a lot of good things last year for us and we said we’re going to keep in contact with his agent, but everything’s not just one-sided,” Holmes explained (via Will Burchfield of 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit). “Za’Darius has expectations, the team has expectations, so sometimes it takes a while for those things to get on the same page. Especially a guy that’s been in the league as long as he has, I’m not saying that he doesn’t want to be in training camp, but if he misses some time, there’s obviously still interest there and we’ve been keeping in touch.”

Holmes seems to be hinting that there may be some disagreement on compensation between the two sides. Smith is coming off a two-year, $23MM extension he inked with the Browns in 2024, a deal the Lions ducked out of before a $7MM bonus was due. Since the defensive end was release back in March, there have been numerous reports connecting the player to a new Detroit contract, with Smith noting that he wants to win a Super Bowl before calling it a career. At the same time, there haven’t been any reports of other suitors stepping up, so the veteran may be running out of leverage if he hopes to secure his desired payday.

Holmes also indicated that there isn’t any urgency to get the player signed any time soon. The Lions aren’t as desperate for pass-rush help as they were when the acquired Smith from the Browns in November. Both Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport are healthy atop the depth chart, and the team is still rostering two of their three 2024 positional snap leaders in Josh Paschal and Al-Quadin Muhammad.

Smith would initially be eyeing a limited role on the 2025 iteration of the Lions, but it sounds like the two sides could be fine with that arrangement. Smith was productive in his short stint in Detroit, compiling four sacks and 10 QB hits in eight games (he added another five sacks and seven QB hits in nine games with Cleveland). Those nine total sacks represented a step forward from his 5.5-sack showing in 2023, and he compiled 10 sacks during his comeback season with the Vikings in 2022.

Preseason injuries could increase Detroit’s urgency to add some depth at the position, and Paschal (who’s been dealing with an undisclosed injury of his own) has been mentioned as a cut candidate. However, considering the team’s on-paper depth, it may still be some time until a deal comes to fruition.

Josh Conerly Jr., Andrew Wylie Vying For Commanders’ RT Job; Sam Cosmi Week 1 Return In Play

August 6th, 2025 at 3:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Commanders seemingly want to spend the bulk of their season with two new tackles protecting Jayden Daniels. Weeks after trading for Laremy Tunsil, Washington drafted Josh Conerly Jr. With the left tackle job unavailable, the first-round pick is competing at the other tackle spo

Conerly is vying to usurp Andrew Wylie at right tackle, ESPN.com’s John Keim notes. The rookie is rotating first-team snaps with the 2022 free agent signing, but the Commanders are attempting to give regular reps regardless of position. Conerly is seeing LT time when Tunsil is not in, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler adds.

Viewed as a future left tackle, Conerly — a college LT — does not have a route to that role thanks to Tunsil’s arrival. Washington has not extended Tunsil, though after trading four draft choices in that Texans swap, extension talks certainly would make sense. Tunsil has shrewdly commanded two top-market extensions, receiving the first a year after being acquired in a trade that sent the Dolphins two first-rounders. For now, Tunsil is signed through 2026; his ’26 base salary ($20.95MM) is nonguaranteed.

Tunsil extension plans would mean Conerly’s early-career stop will be right tackle. The Eagles had once envisioned a potential Lane Johnson LT transition post-Jason Peters, but the potential Hall of Famer became so impactful at RT no change ever transpired. Tunsil also played guard as a rookie (alongside Branden Albert), before moving to left tackle in Year 2. Conerly has not yet shown himself to be a surefire starter, Keim adds, keeping Wylie in the mix for another Week 1 starting role.

The Commanders’ RT starter for three seasons, Wylie accepted a pay cut this offseason. He is now on a one-year, $4MM deal. Tunsil’s presence also moved primary 2024 LT Brandon Coleman away from that position; the third-round pick is expected to play left guard this season, displacing 2023 free agent pickup Nick Allegretti. We heard after the Conerly pick Coleman would be more likely to factor in at guard than right tackle, and he has been working at the LG spot during training camp.

Wylie, who joins Allegretti in having a guard past in Kansas City, replaced Coleman at LG after the second-year blocker exited a recent practice, veteran Commanders reporter Ben Standig notes. Both the ex-Chiefs would represent plus swing options, even though they were signed to start. Allegretti is on a three-year, $16MM deal that runs through 2026. He started every Commanders game last season.

With Sam Cosmi recovering from a divisional-round ACL tear, Washington’s RG spot is currently open. Allegretti has seen some RG work during camp, but Dan Quinn is not ruling out Cosmi returning by Week 1. That would be on the aggressive side, but players have certainly made comparable journeys back previously.

Quinn said (via Keim) a Cosmi Week 1 return is on the table while also not dismissing a shift to the reserve/PUP list, which would knock the well-paid guard out for at least four games. The second-year Washington HC said more time will be necessary to determine if Cosmi will be ready to go.

The Commanders also could carry Cosmi over to the 53-man roster later this month and go week-to-week in the regular season, passing on a PUP stay in order to ensure he could play if ready to return by Week 2, 3 or 4. But Allegretti or Wylie, should the latter lose the RT competition to Conerly, represent solid backup options at RG if Cosmi is not ready to open the season.

Lions Yet To Engage In Serious Aidan Hutchinson Extension Talks

August 6th, 2025 at 2:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Cowboys receive more attention for a prolonged negotiation with a standout player, not much is coming out of Detroit, where another edge-rushing domino sits. The Lions’ Hutchinson process could throw a wrench in the Cowboys’ long-running Micah Parsons talks, but it does not sound like the former No. 2 overall pick is in a hurry.

Although Detroit acted early with a market-resetting Penei Sewell extension, beating the Cowboys to the punch may not be in the cards. Coming off a broken leg, Hutchinson could benefit by waiting out this Parsons-Dallas squabble. As it stands, GM Brad Holmes said substantive talks have not yet transpired between team and player.

“Look, we’ll definitely get some dialogue going soon here, but those things take time, especially the larger the deal is,” Holmes said during a 97.1 The Ticket appearance.

In May, a report pointed to Hutchinson’s recovery (from fibula and tibia fractures) accelerating extension talks. It is interesting that has not happened two-plus months after he received full clearance. Holmes did acknowledge “it is very important” to extend Hutchinson, who spoke excitedly at his position’s offseason market rise at the outset of Lions training camp.

Just as Parsons has spoken of his price rising as other EDGE dominoes fall, Hutchinson can operate similarly. Parsons is undoubtedly looking to create distance between himself and T.J. Watt‘s record-setting $41MM-per-year contract, as the Cowboys’ top player is (at 26) nearly five years younger than the future Hall of Fame Steeler. The Cowboys finally giving in on Parsons’ price point would place Hutchinson in a commanding position, seeing that he is heading into an age-25 season and has shown difference-making ability.

Hutchinson, whose 62 QB pressures in 2023 paced the NFL by 12, had zoomed to 7.5 sacks when he went down in Dallas. Continuing on his 2024 pace may well have both been enough to drop Patrick Surtain to Defensive Player of the Year runner-up while also giving the Lions a much better chance to book a Super Bowl berth. Hutchinson still led the injury-battered team in sacks by a notable margin last season. The former Michigan star’s importance to the Lions is not in question, so Hutchinson does not exactly need to show his post-injury form to command a $40MM-plus-AAV extension. But doing so would help his cause.

Still, the Lions have some time before the season to finalize an agreement. They came to terms with Taylor Decker last July and showed they were fine with in-season extensions by re-upping Alim McNeill last October. The door will certainly not close for the Lions with Hutchinson once the season starts, but if the ascending pass rusher wants to wait out Parsons, the team would be effectively forced to operate on his timetable. Holmes was preparing for Hutchinson to clear $40MM per year before the Watt terms surfaced, so it is not as if that development changed the Lions’ calculous.

Detroit has Hutchinson signed through 2026, after making the easy decision to exercise his fifth-year option. The option buys more time if the parties do not begin true negotiations before Week 1. Most of the high-end edge rusher deals are done, however. Nearing 31, Trey Hendrickson agreeing to Bengals terms likely will not impact the Lions’ talks with a soon-to-be 25-year-old talent. Parsons’ deal being completed would set this market. It will be interesting, however, to see if the Lions make a big offer before the Cowboys are done with their slow-paced negotiation.

DB Rumors: Savage, Jaguars, Horn, Steelers, Sutton, Lions, Texans, Patriots

August 6th, 2025 at 1:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jaguars‘ Jourdan Lewis signing covers their slot cornerback position, moving Darnell Savage into a pure safety role. Savage had split time between the slot and traditional safety responsibilities last season, but Lewis’ arrival narrows the former first-rounder’s path to playing time. Savage is not a lock to start alongside FA pickup Eric Murray, however, with ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco indicating veterans Andrew Wingard and Antonio Johnson are competing for the other Jags safety spot. Wingard appears a slight favorite entering the preseason slate, per DiRocco.

Moving to a backup role would be a blow for Savage, who is tied to a three-year, $21.75MM deal. While the Trent Baalke-Doug Pederson regime authorized that contract, it would cost the Jags more than $10MM to cut Savage and more than $8MM to trade him. Both scenarios defray money to 2026, as we are well past June 1, so the 2025 cap hit would be manageable in each case. But this will be a position battle to watch. Wingard’s six Jags seasons make him the team’s second-longest-tenured player, behind only punter Logan Cooke, but while he has been a part-timer (28 starts), Savage has logged 82 starts between his time in Green Bay and Jacksonville. That said, DiRocco adds Wingard had beaten out Johnson — a 2023 fifth-rounder who has now made 11 career starts — for a gig alongside the since-departed Andre Cisco last year. A preseason knee injury scuttled that plan.

Here is the latest from NFL secondaries:

  • The Panthers saw a car accident alter their quarterback plan last year. The minor injuries Andy Dalton sustained in a wreck near the stadium moved Bryce Young back into the starting lineup. Carolina looks to have dodged a bullet in another car-accident storyline, as Jaycee Horn is believed (via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter) to have sustained minor maladies in a crash Wednesday morning. Horn confirmed as much (on Twitter). Injuries have hounded Horn throughout his career, but the Panthers gave the 2024 Pro Bowler a $25MM-per-year extension.
  • Rock Ya-Sin‘s veteran-minimum Lions contract (one year, $1.17MM) now includes a position switch. The defending NFC North champs are trying the journeyman cornerback at safety, Lions.com’s Tim Twentyman notes. New safeties coach Jim O’Neil had told Ya-Sin to prepare for some safety work in camp; Ya-Sin had not played safety since high school. The Lions are deep at corner, housing Avonte Maddox and Ennis Rakestraw as backups behind a Terrion Arnold–D.J. Reed–Amik Robertson top three. Ya-Sin may now be vying for a spot behind standout safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch.
  • Former Lions CB starter Cameron Sutton received his walking papers after a spring 2024 arrest produced a domestic battery by strangulation charge. His case has since been dismissed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. The Lions cut bait on a three-year, $33MM deal, leading Sutton to the Steelers. The NFL handed him an eight-game suspension last season. Sutton, 30, is a free agent after starting two Steelers games last season.
  • The Steelers checked in on C.J. Henderson via a Tuesday workout (per Wilson). A former top-10 Jaguars pick, Henderson auditioned for the Falcons last week. The Steelers, who rostered Henderson for part of last season, signed another CB from that workout (Daryl Porter Jr.). After 22 Panthers starts from 2021-23, Henderson landed on the Steelers’ IR in November, not playing a 2024 snap.
  • Jalen Mills joins Sutton and Henderson in being unsigned; the Eagles, Patriots and Jets regular completed a Texans workout Tuesday, Wilson adds. Mills, 31, made eight starts with the Jets last season, running his career total — split between safety and corner — to 91.
  • A sixth-round Seahawks pick in 2024, DJ James spent most of last season on the Patriots‘ practice squad. While James has yet to play a regular-season snap, the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed expects him to make the Pats’ 53-man roster. With Carlton Davis and Christian Gonzalez being held out of team drills, James has worked alongside Alex Austin as first-teamers filling in. James failed to make Seattle’s 53-man roster last August.

Raiders Work Out Terrell Edmunds, Expect Lonnie Johnson Jr. To Return During Season

August 6th, 2025 at 12:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Already authorizing significant changes in their secondary after losing the likes of Tre’von Moehrig, Nate Hobbs and Marcus Epps in free agency, the Raiders will see one of their imports sidelined for a while.

Lonnie Johnson Jr. sustained a broken fibula during a weekend scrimmage, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore. Although Johnson has not started a game since 2021, the former second-round pick had been a key backup during a journeyman career. He had also been seeing regular time with the Raiders’ top defense, moving to safety when Jeremy Chinn would slide into the slot in sub-packages.

This represented a bump for Johnson, who has combined to play 300 defensive snaps over the past three seasons, but this is not viewed as a season-ending injury. Pete Carroll said (via Bonsignore) a genuine belief exists Johnson will be able to return this season, “sooner rather than later.” Yes, Carroll was known as rather optimistic regarding injuries during his Seahawks tenure, but Johnson having a chance to return from a broken leg in-season is certainly notable news for the Las Vegas secondary.

Johnson, 29, has played for four teams over the past four seasons. That does not include a nonplaying stint with the Chiefs, who acquired him via trade in 2022. Johnson spent three years with the Texans before migrating to the Titans (2022), Saints (2023) and Panthers (’24). The Raiders added him on a one-year, $1.69MM deal that came with just $175K guaranteed.

The small guarantee would give the Raiders a minimal dead money penalty to move on after this injury, but for now, Johnson does not appear likely to be cut as a result of this major setback. The Raiders can either use one of their allotted two IR-return designations before setting their 53-man roster to stash Johnson, but such a move would count against the team’s eight-activation total. The other option would be carrying Johnson through to their 53-man roster and then placing him on IR, retaining some flexibility in the event the team passes on using an injury activation on the nomadic DB during the season.

The Raiders will need some help at safety, even in a depth role. On that note, Terrell Edmunds stopped through Las Vegas for a Tuesday workout, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Edmunds, 28, has drifted off the starter track since a five-year Steelers stint (75 starts) ended after the 2022 season. While Edmunds made it back to Pittsburgh for a 2024 cameo, he had since been primarily a backup with the Eagles, Titans and Jaguars.

Vegas signed Chinn to work as a starter and re-signed Isaiah Pola-Mao to do the same. Thomas Harper and Christopher Smith filled in for Johnson after the injury, per Bonsignore. Smith is a 2023 fifth-round pick, while Harper — a 2024 Chargers UDFA — joined the Raiders via waiver claim last August.

Bills Have Discussed Extensions With Connor McGovern, David Edwards

August 6th, 2025 at 10:31am CST by Sam Robinson

Set to return the same starting offensive line from 2024, the Bills are in good shape at these positions. They have Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown locked up long term, and right guard O’Cyrus Torrence‘s rookie deal runs through 2026.

The group’s other two starters, however, are in contract years. Connor McGovern is going into the final season of a three-year, $22.35MM deal; David Edwards‘ two-year, $6MM accord expires after the season. These walk-year statuses create questions for the perennial AFC East champions.

Although the Bills have already completed four notable offseason extensions — for Khalil Shakir, Terrel Bernard, Christian Benford and Gregory Rousseau — and are negotiating with hold-in running back James Cook, the two walk-year O-line starters are not out of the mix for new deals. Both players said (via the Niagara Gazette’s Nick Sabato; subscription required) extension talks have commenced, though Sabato indicates deals are not imminent.

Buffalo’s extension spree spanned a few weeks in the spring, with Benford’s wrapping March 29. That quartet clearly landed in the team’s first tier in terms of extension priorities, and all four agreed on deals outside the top echelon of their respective positions’ markets. The two interior O-line starters’ contract situations lingering into training camp, when Cook exists as a seemingly higher priority, points to at least one — perhaps both — playing out a contract year.

McGovern landed the better deal as a 2023 free agent, and he completed a guard-to-center transition after the Bills’ 2024 Mitch Morse release. ESPN’s pass block win rate metric ranked McGovern 14th among all interior O-linemen last season, and Pro Football Focus graded him 10th among centers. A former Cowboys third-round pick, McGovern has made 62 career starts and is going into an age-28 season.

The Bills as a team posted top-six rankings in pass block win rate and run block win rate, with Edwards also serving as a key presence. Two appearances in concussion protocol during the 2022 season — a slate Edwards managed only four games — impacted the former fourth-rounder’s 2023 market. The Super Bowl LVI Rams starter commanded only a one-year, $1.77MM deal, and he served as a backup in his first Bills season. Morse’s exit opened the LG position, after McGovern’s switch, and Edwards made 16 2024 starts. PFF rated Edwards 28th among guards last season; his final two healthy Rams years (2020, ’21) produced top-30 PFF placements as well.

McGovern talks began at the Pro Bowl (where McGovern was an alternate), per Sabato, pointing to the sides being apart in value. Though, McGovern did come up as an extension candidate in February. The center market saw both Lloyd Cushenberry and Drew Dalman land top-two center money — at the time of signing — during the past two free agency periods, and McGovern’s guard past would give interested teams options come 2026. The Bills also have 2024 fifth-round pick Sedrick Van Pran-Granger rostered at center as a potential contingency option; he is signed through 2027.

With Torrence likely an extension candidate next year, the Bills will have a decision to make. It is certainly possible only one of the McGovern-Edwards duo is retained, and the latter stands to be a more affordable option. This season also figures to be a bit more important for Edwards, as his career earnings do not quite align with his start count (61). Like McGovern, Edwards will play an age-28 season in 2025.

Elsewhere on Buffalo’s O-line, top backup Alec Anderson will be out for a stretch. The former UDFA underwent arthroscopic knee surgery recently, per The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia. The Bills regularly used Anderson in six-O-lineman formations last season. Classified as week-to-week, Anderson has some time to get ready for Week 1.

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