HEADLINES

Jason Licht: Buccaneers Eyeing Baker Mayfield Partnership Beyond Current Deal

July 25th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

Baker Mayfield‘s 2023 ‘prove-it’ deal went better than he or the Buccaneers could have envisioned. As a result, team and player worked out a three-year, $100M pact last spring.

In his first campaign after inking that pact, Mayfield delivered the best statistical output of his career. The former No. 1 pick ranked third in the NFL in passing yards (4,500) and tied for second in touchdowns (41). While Mayfield’s 16 interceptions put him in a tie with Kirk Cousins for the most in the NFL, expectations are high for 2025 and beyond.

Especially if the former Brown, Panther and Ram manages to post strong numbers early in the coming season, the matter of an extension will increasingly become a talking point. Working out a raise now would be somewhat surprising given the term left on Mayfield’s deal, and Jeff Howe of The Athletic writes there are currently no plans to arrange a bump in compensation (subscription required). Nevertheless, general manager Jason Licht is hopeful Mayfield will remain in place beyond the 2026 season.

“I love Baker. I love everything he’s done for us,” Licht said. “The goal for us is for Baker to continue to be the player that he is, and at some point, we reach an extension when the time is right and he continues to be our quarterback for a long time. That’s the goal.”

After restructuring his pact this spring, Mayfield is set to carry a cap charge of $26.48MM. When compared to a number of other big-ticket quarterback deals, that figure (along with his AAV) can be considered team-friendly. A raise could be in store if the 30-year-old carries on from where he left off during the 2025 season with next spring representing a logical period for an extension to be worked out. It will be interesting to see if Tampa Bay would be on board with an arrangement bringing Mayfield closer to the top of the position’s pecking order than where he currently finds himself (19th in terms of average annual value).

Keeping with what has been an annual tradition in Mayfield’s case, 2025 will see him work with a new offensive coordinator. Liam Coen‘s decision to take the Jaguars’ head coaching gig means Josh Grizzard will handle OC duties after being promoted from receivers coach this offseason. A familiar face should help Mayfield adjust to the new system, and another encouraging performance could result in an extended stay with the Buccaneers.

NFL Players Association Facing Potential Federal Probe Into Finances

July 25th, 2025 at 9:49pm CST by Ely Allen

The dust had barely begun to settle in the wake of Lloyd Howell and J.C. Tretter‘s resignations from the NFL Players Association. New leadership has not even been appointed. Still, controversy continues to toil in the players’ union as ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Kalyn Kahler report the existence of a federal criminal investigation into the NFLPA’s “potential misuse of funds and self-enrichment by union officials.”

The news comes off of ESPN’s acquisition of a confidential document “marked ‘privileged’ and emblazoned with the union logo on each page.” The document was provided to several other sources and players and contains a memo drafted by a senior union attorney, titled “Crisis Management,” that outlines the scope of the investigation. The memo was provided to the NFLPA’s executive committee and player representatives earlier this week.

“Immediate threats” identified by the memo indicate how “potential action by the National Labor Relations Board over ‘unfair labor practices’ and a ‘lapse of fiduciary duty oversight practices during (the) Howell tenure'” could result in the union paying “direct or foreseeable pecuniary harms.” The document doesn’t identify which specific individuals are under criminal investigation, but Tretter denied being under investigation, while Howell did not respond to attempts by ESPN to reach him.

The document’s main point is summarized in this quote:

(The) government is watching (the NFLPA’s) response (and) could quickly ramp up and expand (the) scope of (the) existing (Department of Justice) criminal investigation. (The NFLPA’s) Board (and) Officers need to show (the) government (and) fellow union members that they are acting immediately to find out (the) depth of problems at (the) union (and) related entities.

Essentially, the document claims that eyes will be closely watching how the NFLPA settles on Howell’s successor. Howell’s appointment in the first place was the result of a 16-month process in determining DeMaurice Smith‘s successor, just for the former to resign disgraced by becoming “a distraction” because of his strip club charges to the union for over $3K and rumors of conflicts of interest and a culture of secrecy best represented by Howell’s confidential agreement with the NFL to keep the details of the arbitrator’s collusion ruling from the NFLPA’s executive committee and player representatives.

Howell has since resigned from his consulting role with the Carlyle Group, per Van Natta, and OneTeam Partners, a $2BB group-licensing firm co-founded by the NFL and MLB’s Players Associations on which Howell held a board seat, is under FBI investigation for its financial dealings.

NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin released a statement announcing the Association’s intention to hold a vote for an interim executive director earlier this week. Tretter was considered a frontrunner, along with NFLPA chief player officer Don Davis, before Tretter’s sudden resignation. Since then, several other names have been rumored as candidates.

Mike Florio of NBC Sports reported rumors of NFL Players, Inc. president Matt Curtin and NFLPA associate general counsel Chris Fawal being options. The document names Davis, NFLPA senior director of player affairs Lester Archambeau, NFLPA chief operating officer Teri Smith, former NFLPA president Dominique Foxworth, and Foxworth’s successor, former NFLPA president Eric Winston, as candidates, as well, in what it calls the union’s “triage plan.” Foxworth was also considered for the job during the 16-month process that led to Howell. ESPN even adds that multiple sources have identified Smith as the potential interim successor of his successor.

It’s believed that the 32 teams’ player representatives could choose an interim executive director as soon as this weekend. The document asserts that the interim director will serve as the “Triage Manager” and shouldn’t be required to abstain from running for the permanent job whenever that election occurs.

The document ultimately makes several other opinionated claims like the possibility that players may sue the union for the January collusion decision situation or that there should be improved oversight of an investment advisor for the NFLPA’s discretionary funds. In the end, it maintains its main assertion that the NFLPA must take “prudent and definitive actions” to fill the “leadership vacuum” in order to avoid federally ordered, court-supervised oversight of the union as a result of a federal criminal investigation.

NFL Minor Transactions: 7/25/25

July 25th, 2025 at 6:43pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s minor moves as we head into the weekend:

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Chargers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Lions LB Alex Anzalone “Disappointed” By Lack Of Contract Talks

July 25th, 2025 at 5:17pm CST by Ben Levine

JULY 25: The linebacker’s frustrations notwithstanding, Campbell said (via Woodyard) negotiations are taking place. Describing Anzalone as a player the Lions need, the fifth-year HC said no animosity exists on the team’s side.

JULY 22: Alex Anzalone wants to stick in Detroit long-term, but it’s uncertain if the Lions feel the same way. Speaking with reporters today, the impending free agent linebacker acknowledged that he’s upset by the lack of progress regarding an extension.

“I’m disappointed, I’ll just say that. I’m disappointed,” Anzalone said today (via ESPN’s Eric Woodyard).

The veteran is entering the final season of a three-year, $18.75MM contract he signed back in 2023. After having a career year during his first season in Detroit, Anzalone took it to another level during the first two seasons of his extension, averaging 127 tackles and more than two sacks per year.

Anzalone suffered a broken arm last season that limited him to 10 games and only 63 stops, his lowest total since joining the Lions. Still, the linebacker has been considered a defensive leader throughout the organization’s turnaround, leaving the player confused about Detroit’s apparent refusal to engage in contract talks.

“For sure. This is a weird situation and wasn’t on my end or my agent’s end,” Anzalone said.

The 30-year-old isn’t practicing with the squad while he nurses a hamstring injury. Coach Dan Campbell refused the notion that Anzalone was engaging in a hold-in, and Woodyard writes that the player could eventually take the practice field without an extension. Of course, if the linebacker has his way, he’ll spend the rest of his career with the Lions.

“I put so much into my time here and being a four-time captain and my teammates and the city and just living here,” Anzalone said. “You could list all the reasons, but it’s just important to me. I feel like I love this place, and I want that opportunity.”

While Anzalone has played both middle linebacker and weakside linebacker during his time in Detroit, he’s currently penciled in as the starting WLB. The team is already lacking some depth at the position, as Malcolm Rodriguez isn’t expected to see the field until midseason as he works his way back from a torn ACL.

Packers Holding LT Competition; Latest On Elgton Jenkins

July 25th, 2025 at 4:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Zach Tom‘s four-year, $88MM extension affirmed the right tackle’s status as a cornerstone Packer, but a question about the team’s direction at left tackle remains. A position battle is ongoing.

Rasheed Walker will need to hold off 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan for the job, Brian Gutekunst said. The eighth-year Green Bay GM called this (via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky) an open competition but pointed to Walker’s 32 starts as a reason he is the frontrunner for the gig.

On the surface, a former seventh-round pick competing with a priority add (via the 2024 first round) is odd. But Walker has proven to be a late-round find for Green Bay. Pro Football Focus graded the former No. 249 overall pick just outside the top 40 in each of the past two years, after he played in just one game as a 2022 rookie.

Walker’s rookie deal expires after the season, and with two big-ticket O-line payments (to Tom and Aaron Banks) made this year, a free agency path appears clear. Morgan also could be in line to take over at LT in 2026, provided he cannot unseat Walker in training camp. This would set up Walker, with a good contract year, to be one of the 2026 market’s top prizes. He started 15 regular-season games in 2023 and all 17 last season.

A decorated left tackle at Arizona, Morgan split time between left and right guard as a rookie. His injury-shortened season included 120 RG snaps and 65 on the left side, but the former No. 25 overall pick did not see too much action last season. Sean Rhyan operated as the Packers’ primary right guard; the former third-round pick is now in a contract year. Morgan working as a swingman in Year 2 would suggest something is off here, but it also could be possible he loses this competition but unseats Rhyan at RG.

The Morgan-at-right guard plan is technically on the Packers’ back burner, but Elgton Jenkins‘ back injury slid Rhyan to center and allowed Morgan reps at RG, per Channel3000.com’s Jason Wilde. Rhyan said (via Wilde) he believed he has solidified himself as a starting guard. In 543 snaps last season, PFF ranked him 46th among guard regulars. It would surprise if Morgan did not have another chance to crack the starting lineup, but Rhyan would stand in his way if the high-level investment cannot beat out Walker at LT.

Shifted from left guard to center this offseason, Jenkins does not appear in danger of missing regular-season time. Gutekunst hopes the Pro Bowler returns soon, though the team is dealing with a frustrated new snapper thanks to a contract issue.

Jenkins, who has played all over Green Bay’s line, expressed frustration with his deal now that Banks supplanted him as the Packers’ highest-paid blocker. Tom eclipsed both last week. Jenkins is on the Pack’s active/NFI list, meaning he sustained the injury away from the team facility. No guarantees remain on Jenkins’ four-year, $68MM extension — one that runs through the 2026 season.

Additionally, the Packers confirmed (via the Green Bay Press-Gazette’s Ryan Wood) they are playing it safe with Christian Watson‘s ACL rehab. Not expected back until around midseason, the contract-year wide receiver will not go through a full practice during training camp. This makes him a clear candidate for the reserve/PUP list, which would bring at least a four-game absence. Gutekunst added (via Wood) Watson’s rehab has gone “great.”

Pete Carroll Addresses Christian Wilkins Decision; Latest On Raiders’ DT Plans

July 25th, 2025 at 4:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Raiders continue to struggle at giving Maxx Crosby a reliable supporting cast. Christian Wilkins has followed Chandler Jones as a free agency miss, one that came as the team’s top-10 Tyree Wilson investment has yet to produce much of consequence. Wilkins is out despite having been attached to the second-most lucrative defensive tackle deal.

As a fight between the surprising castoff and the Raiders brews, the team did not view the high-priced D-lineman’s recovery path as being set to yield a near-future return. As a result, Las Vegas cut bait and will move into training camp without much invested at defensive tackle.

“We watched our way through the whole thing,” Pete Carroll said Friday, via the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore. “There was no clear path to his return. And so we just had to move on.”

The Raiders had given Wilkins a monster guarantee ($57MM at signing) despite the former first-round pick not delivering much in the way of pass-rushing production outside of an impressive 2023 contract year. Wilkins, though, had displayed dominance as a run defender in Miami and was PFR’s No. 4-ranked free agent last year.

The Dolphins had hesitated on a monster extension due to limited pass-rushing production from 2019-22; a nine-sack 2023 changed the team’s thinking but cap issues prevented a true effort to compete in that market last March. Wilkins is now in free agency again and fighting for the guaranteed money he received upon signing.

To land the biggest fish in last year’s pass-rushing market, the Raiders authorized three fully guaranteed years. That is a rare structure, but it showed the demand Wilkins created after escaping the franchise tag deadline untethered. With Chris Jones being taken off the market two days before the 2024 legal tampering period, Wilkins benefited as the top DT prize. The Raiders did not, seeing Wilkins go down five games into the season. The Wilkins signing affected the Raiders’ decision to fire GM Tom Telesco after one year.

If the Raiders cannot succeed in voiding Wilkins’ remaining guarantees, they would be on the hook for a staggering $74.95MM in dead money (split between 2025 and ’26) stemming from guarantees and deferred signing bonus money. That would trail only Russell Wilson‘s Broncos penalty in NFL history. The Raiders informed Wilkins of their attempt to void the remaining guarantees last month, per Bonsignore, though CBS Sports’ Joel Corry views Wilkins’ guarantees as difficult to void based on what is known about this situation. The team is attempting to use a disagreement on a surgical path as a springboard to voiding them.

On the field, the Raiders’ D-line looks less imposing — even if Wilkins was unlikely to start the season on time. The team does not appear to be aggressively pursuing outside help at D-tackle, with Carroll indicating a “wide open” internal competition would take place. Leki Fotu, Jonah Laulu and 2025 draftees Tonka Hemingway and JJ Pegues are competing to join the recently re-signed Adam Butler as prominent Raiders contributors inside following Wilkins’ release.

Finding a one-for-one replacement on Wilkins’ level is impossible at this juncture, but some notable free agents remain. Ex-Wilkins Dolphins teammate Raekwon Davis is among them, joining Linval Joseph, William Gholston, Quinton Jefferson, Montravius Adams and ex-Raider Maurice Hurst Jr.. Jefferson, who played with the Raiders in 2021 and enjoyed two stints under Carroll in Seattle (2016-19, 2022), also worked out for the team before the Wilkins release, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes.

The team also claimed DT Keondre Coburn off waivers from the Titans, Wilson adds. Not bringing experience that rivals Jefferson’s nine-season run, Coburn played in 15 Tennessee games — as a backup behind a strong D-line trio — last season. He is tied to a one-year, $1.03MM contract. The Chiefs drafted the 332-pound defender in the 2023 sixth round.

Jefferson, now 32, remains in free agency. A 62-game starter, Jefferson split time with the Browns and Bills last season. Seventeen of Jefferson’s starts came with the Raiders, while he added 27 more under Carroll as a Seahawk. Seattle released Jefferson during Carroll’s final offseason in charge.

Falcons To Sign WR DJ Chark

July 25th, 2025 at 3:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

DJ Chark followed his Bears visit with a Falcons meeting, and the latter summit will produce a deal. Chark is signing with the Falcons, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.

After playing the 2024 season with the Chargers, the well-traveled wide receiver will join the Falcons on a one-year deal. Chark trekked to Atlanta for a meeting today, Garafolo notes. This will be the former second-round pick’s fifth team in five years, as the Falcons follow the Jaguars, Lions, Panthers and Chargers on this journeyman path.

Chark, 28, will join a receiving corps housing Drake London and Darnell Mooney. The LSU product had met with his former coach, Ben Johnson, about a Bears meeting. Johnson coached Chark during his 2022 Lions one-off, but the sides did not strike a deal. The Falcons will take a flier here, as Chark is coming off a down Chargers season. He posted just four receptions for 31 yards in a seven-game cameo for Jim Harbaugh‘s team.

Suffering a hip injury that keyed an IR stint, Chark did not debut with the Bolts until Week 9. He cleared the 10-snap barrier on offense in just four games last year. That said, Chark has been a productive player at other stops. His Lions and Panthers seasons, respectively, brought 500-plus-yard showings as a complementary target. Chark totaled 502 yards (16.7 per catch) and three touchdown receptions with Detroit and posted a 525/5 line (15.0 YPC) for a dreadful 2023 Panthers team.

Carrying a resume that includes a 1,000-yard 2019 season, Chark had been a noteworthy deep option prior to 2024. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound player had seen his pay rate decrease steadily, going from $10MM (Lions) to $5MM (Panthers) to $3MM (Bolts). After essentially a throwaway L.A. season, Chark should not see too much from the Falcons. But he could step in as a WR3 upgrade in what could be yet another temp job.

The Falcons signed Mooney for his long-range prowess, and he delivered a 992-yard season (15.5 YPC) last year. Held back by previous Falcons QB issues, London boomed to a career-high 1,271 yards and nine touchdown catches. The Falcons have slot/gadget cog Ray-Ray McCloud rostered, along with special-teamer Jamal Agnew and backup KhaDarel Hodge. Chark brings a pedigree this trio lacks and will be a prime candidate for a key auxiliary role should he stay healthy.

CB Rumors: Flott, Giants, Sneed, Titans, Hill, Bengals, Barron, Broncos, Diggs, Packers

July 25th, 2025 at 3:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants used a first-round pick on Deonte Banks in 2023 but have not seen the Maryland product justify his draft slot yet. This led to the Paulson Adebo signing. While Adebo is entrenched as a first-stringer, Banks may not be merely set to slide from New York’s No. 1 cornerback to a sidekick role. Cor’Dale Flott‘s latest summer ascent continues, as The Athletic’s Dan Duggan notes the fourth-year defender received the first crack at the CB2 role during team drills. This appears a full-on competition. Flott had received minicamp work with the 1s, doing so after he impressed last summer en route to a slot-to-boundary shift.

Banks has started all 29 games he has played; being unable to hold off Flott would represent another setback for the former No. 24 overall pick. Flott would not have a path back to the starting slot role were he to lose this battle, as 2024 third-rounder Dru Phillips resides there now. This competition represents a big chance for the 2022 third-round pick, who is due for free agency in 2026.

Here is the latest from NFL secondaries:

DL Derrick Brown Receives Full Clearance

July 25th, 2025 at 2:14pm CST by Adam La Rose

In May, Derrick Brown expressed a desire to be back at full strength by the start of the regular season. The Panthers Pro Bowler has indeed been cleared well before that point.

General manager Dan Morgan said at the outset of training camp this week (via Joe Person of The Athletic) that Brown has the green light to practice in full. To no surprise, he added the team will take a cautious approach in this case. Bringing Brown back up to speed will be key as he looks to move past a 2024 campaign which essentially ended before it began.

[RELATED: Recapping Panthers’ 2025 Offseason]

The former No. 7 pick suffered a meniscus tear in Week 1 and required season-ending surgery as a result. Brown’s rehab progressed to the point where a return in time for training camp emerged as the target. Brown’s injury gutted Carolina’s front seven last season. Trading Brian Burns (and not doing much to replace him), the Panthers lost Brown after a handful of plays last season. These developments led to the team dropping to 32nd in points and yardage allowed.

Brown’s injury came after the Panthers gave him a four-year, $96MM extension. The team has since added two more notable defensive line contracts, signing Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown in free agency. The former Chiefs and Rams performers, respectively, profile as D-line aid after the unit’s 2024 freefall. But the free agency additions also will likely need Brown operating as O-lines’ top concern to realize their potential in Charlotte.

Avoiding the active/PUP list after the previous timetable pointed to a longer onramp represents a positive sign for Derrick Brown, who had missed one game over his first four seasons. That attendance rate helped the Panthers feel comfortable extending the Matt Rhule-era draftee. With the team still transitioning from Burns — as second- and third-round rookies (Nic Scourton, Princely Umanmielen) are being groomed to man the OLB spots, with ex-Vikings D.J. Wonnum and Patrick Jones as veteran placeholders — Brown reemerging as an impact player will provide a vital boost to the Panthers’ defense.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Trey Hendrickson Rejects Bengals’ Latest Offers Without Future Guarantees

July 25th, 2025 at 1:00pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

JULY 25: Hendrickson and the Bengals have indeed reached an agreement on the average annual value of an extension, Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline reports. The issue remains the matter of guarantees, with Pauline adding Hendrickson’s asking price includes locked in money for the next three years. The question of when (or if) a compromise on this front will be made remains a central Bengals storyline as training camp continues.

JULY 23: Trey Hendrickson spent the last month in Cincinnati, working out to prepare for the season and hoping the Bengals would finally offer an acceptable contract extension.

Instead, he has retreated to Florida to commence a long-threatened holdout as the rest of the team begins training camp.

During a recent press conference, Bengals owner Mike Brown and de facto general manager Duke Tobin struck an optimistic tone about the state of negotiations with Hendrickson. Behind the scenes, however, the team still refused to meet Hendrickson’s core demands regarding length and guarantees. Neither of the Bengals’ two most recent offers included guaranteed money past the first year, per The Athletic’s Diana Russini.

Hendrickson received and rejected both offers in a 24-hour span before packing his bags and following through on his threat to hold out from training camp.

“I wanted to be there,” said Hendrickson (via Russini), “but there’s no way I would be able to sit there in the house and hear the practice whistles while also being a distraction. I don’t want to ruin the other 10 guys’ 2025 season on my contract language.”

Length and guarantees remain the main obstacle to a deal, suggesting that the two sides have been able to find a middle ground on APY. Hendrickson has emphasized that he is not demanding a market-resetting figure, something he reiterated in his interview with Russini.

“I was more than willing to take less in some ways in order to make a deal work,” explained Hendrickson, who expressed a desire to be a team captain and help mentor his younger teammates, including first-round pick and fellow holdout Shemar Stewart. But none of that can begin until and unless the Bengals meet Hendrickson’s demands, or at least enough of them to convince him to put pen to paper and get back on the field.

Despite the prolonged stalemate, Hendrickson is not expected to be traded, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer (via ESPN Chicago). Hendrickson told Russini that he wants to be in Cincinnati and knows the team feels the same way, something both sides have been consistent about throughout the offseason.

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