HEADLINES

Giants Sign S K’Von Wallace

July 22nd, 2025 at 12:26pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Giants have added some safety depth ahead of training camp. K’Von Wallace has a deal in place, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Wallace himself has since confirmed the pact. Today’s move comes as little surprise since he conducted a workout with the Giants last month. Wallace, 27, has a familiarity with defensive coordinator Shane Bowen as the two worked together in Tennessee.

After starting his career with the Eagles, Wallace made a total of 12 starts during the 2023 campaign. That included seven with the Titans, where Bowen was at the time. The Clemson product logged a 60% defensive snap share in Tennessee upon being claimed off waivers from the Cardinals. Wallace spent last season in Seattle, and in nine appearances he chipped in on defense while logging a regular special teams role.

A first-team defensive spot will not be available for the former fourth-round pick upon arrival in New York pending injuries further up the depth chart. Free agent addition Jevon Holland and 2024 second-rounder Tyler Nubin are in position to operate as the team’s starters this season. Dane Belton – who has seen part-time defensive duties along with a heavy special teams workload during his three seasons – projects as the No. 3 safety. Entering camp, however, the Giants faced questions about their depth beyond that trio.

Wallace’s addition will give New York additional experience as a backup/special teams option. The team entered Tuesday with only $3.8MM in cap space, limiting the value of any free agent signings at this point in the offseason. Wallace’s pact is no doubt one year in length, though, and it should check in at or near the veteran minimum. With an agreement in place, his attention will turn to earning a roster spot over the coming weeks.

Buccaneers To Host T George Fant

July 22nd, 2025 at 10:37am CST by Adam La Rose

In need of tackle depth until Tristan Wirfs is healthy, the Buccaneers are taking a look at one of the top free agents still available. George Fant will work out for Tampa Bay today, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports.

Wirfs recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. As a result of the procedure, he is expected to miss the start of the regular season. Charlie Heck represents the top in-house option to fill in at the left tackle spot as things stand, but Fant would be another candidate to do so if today’s workout produces an agreement.

Fant has 101 appearances and 75 starts to his name. With experience at both tackle spots, the 33-year-old would offer the Bucs veteran depth both before and after Wirfs is back in the fold for 2025. Fant worked out with the Ravens in April and also visited the Titans. As of the spring, he was primarily focused on a potential deal with Baltimore or Tennessee. Nothing materialized on either front since, and today’s visit is the first known one of the summer.

Fant’s PFF evaluations have fluctuated over time, but he has twice received a grade of 71.1 or higher. The former UDFA returned to the Seahawks in 2024, winning the starting right tackle position. Multiple injuries led to only a pair of games played, and that has hindered Fant’s value on the open market. This Tampa workout could end his free agent spell soon, however.

The Buccaneers’ offensive line was a strength in 2024 compared to previous years, something brought about in part by the first-round selection of Graham Barton. Wirfs will of course be a critical member of the unit once he returns to full health. Fant could stabilize one of the tackle spots until that takes place, and with over $26MM in cap space the team can certainly afford a one-year deal. It will be interesting to see if one can be worked out in short order.

Patriots WR Stefon Diggs Receives Full Medical Clearance

July 22nd, 2025 at 9:00am CST by Adam La Rose

With training camp approaching, it remained to be seen if Stefon Diggs would be moved to the physically unable to perform list due to his ACL recovery. The free agent addition was not among the players New England recently placed on the PUP list, however, suggesting he would be good to go for padded practices.

Indeed, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports Diggs has been cleared for full participation in training camp. The four-time Pro Bowler was limited in spring practices and noted last month that his recovery was not yet complete. The final stages of the rehab process have clearly taken place without issue, though, meaning Diggs will be a welcomed presence leading up to the regular season.

The Patriots were understandably in the market for a notable receiver addition this offseason given the nature of their depth chart at that spot in 2024. Diggs – whose Texans run ended in Week 8 when he tore his ACL – signed a three-year, $63.5MM deal to return to the AFC East. Expectations will be high for him as the team’s No. 1 receiver with quarterback Drake Maye entering Year 2 in the NFL. Diggs’ opening months as a Patriot were not without controversy, but with the team committed to him, he will spend the summer working his way back to his pre-injury form.

Diggs topped 1,000 yards every year from 2018-23, and he would have had a strong chance of continuing that streak last season if he had remained healthy. The 31-year-old’s 62 receiving yards per game were, on the other hand, his lowest since the 2017 campaign. Questions will be asked about Diggs’ ability to handle WR1 duties at this stage of his career, but providing Maye with a veteran pass-catching option should be highly valuable as the Patriots look to take a needed step forward on offense.

New England also has the likes of Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte and Javon Baker in the fold entering camp. 2024 second-rounder Ja’Lynn Polk‘s performances will be worth watching given his uncertain roster status, but another storyline to follow will be Diggs and how he fares with a clean bill of health.

Bengals’ Mike Brown, Duke Tobin Address Contract Standoffs

July 21st, 2025 at 10:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

On the eve of training camp beginning, Bengals owner Mike Brown and de facto general manager Duke Tobin spoke to the media. To no surprise, the status of the ongoing contract standoffs with Trey Hendrickson and first-round rookie Shemar Stewart were a main topic of discussion.

Hendrickson has been among the numerous high-profile edge rushers seeking a new deal this offseason. Some – including T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby – have inked lucrative extensions while others are still in negotiations. Contract talks with Hendrickson’s camp have been on and off, and with camp looming an artificial deadline exists for an agreement to be reached.

“I’m not going to go into details of negotiation but I think we’re in a good spot and hopefully something is done soon,” Brown said when speaking about the Hendrickson situation (via Jay Morrison of Sports Illustrated). The reigning sack leader is not expected to have an agreement in place by the start of camp this week, and a holdout lasting into the regular season has been on the table for some time.

Unlike last offseason, the Bengals granted Hendrickson permission to seek a trade amidst contract talks. Offers came in but did not reach the team’s asking price. Cincinnati has not yet submitted a known offer averaging $35MM per year (a figure which would now rank fifth amongst pass rushers in the wake of Watt’s new Steelers accord). The team reportedly prefers a one-year extension which would keep the 30-year-old in place through 2026, whereas Hendrickson is seeking longer term on his third career contract. It will be interesting to see if Brown’s optimistic tone winds up being a sign that a deal is close.

On the Stewart front, meanwhile, little if anything has changed. The Texas A&M product did not report with the team’s other rookies to training camp, something which comes as no surprise given his absence from on-field work during the spring. The heart of the issue between Stewart and the Bengals remains contract language which would void all remaining guarantees on his deal in the event of an off-field issue. Historically, the team has not used such language and Stewart continues to hold out for a pact matching the ones signed by Cincinnati’s two most recent first-round picks.

“I’m not going to blame Shemar,” Tobin said (via The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr.) in relation to the stance taken by agent Zac Hiller. “He is listening to the advice he is paying for. I don’t understand or believe or agree with the advice but I’m not the one paying for it. If I felt we were treating him unfairly as it relates to all the other draft picks in this year’s draft then maybe it would be a different story. But we are not. I don’t really understand where things are there.”

Hiller responded by informing Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio that Tobin has not been involved in contract talks with Stewart. As animosity between team and player continues, ESPN’s Ben Baby reports the percentage of second-round pick Demetrius Knight‘s signing bonus being paid up front – something which was no doubt a factor in an agreement being reached – has not yet been offered to Stewart. Neither side appears willing to budge at this point with padded practices set to commence.

In 2025, the Bengals will aim to return to the postseason with an offense widely seen as being among the league’s best. Their defense remains a question mark entering the campaign, though, and the unit will no doubt remain the subject of scrutiny until deals with Hendrickson and Stewart are complete.

Packers Give T Zach Tom Four-Year Extension

July 21st, 2025 at 10:30pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Packers are signing right tackle Zach Tom to a four-year, $88MM extension, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

The Packers had been working on Tom’s extension throughout the offseason, and with training camp starting this week, the team managed to get it across the finish line. The 26-year-old tackle is now under contract through 2029 and will continue to be a key part of Green Bay’s offensive line. Originally a fourth-round pick out of Wake Forest in 2022, Tom played every position except center as a rookie before settling in at right tackle for the last two years.

Tom’s deal has a maximum value of $92MM, per Pelissero, which includes a $30.2MM signing bonus, the biggest for any offensive lineman in league history. The previous record holder was David Bakhtiari, another Packers offensive tackle.

That’s no coincidence: Green Bay typically does not guarantee any money outside of the signing bonus, so they regularly hand out large signing bonuses (and roster bonuses that vest early in the offseason) to address players’ cash flow and guarantee concerns. That makes it likely, though not certain, that Tom’s guarantees top out at $30.2MM as well, which would trail the rest of the OT market.

However, the overall value of Tom’s deal reflects his ascension from versatile fourth-rounder to one of the league’s best right tackles. His $22MM APY is the fourth highest among right tackles and tied with Jordan Mailata for 10th among all offensive lineman, fitting for a player who graded out as Pro Football Focus’ sixth-best tackle in 2024 (subscription required).

Tom’s extension will likely put pressure on the Packers to address Elgton Jenkins‘ contract. The 2019 second-round pick entered the league as a left guard, where he has played a vast majority of his snaps, with multiple starts at center and both tackle spots. He is expected to move to center – a lesser-paid position – this offseason, so he has requested an adjustment to the extension he signed in 2022. That deal runs through 2026, when Jenkins has a $24.8MM cap hit that the Packers might find untenable for a center, especially with no remaining guaranteed money. (In 2025, the highest cap hit for a center is Lloyd Cushenberry at $14.255MM, per OverTheCap.)

Green Bay’s precedent will make it very difficult for Jenkins to add guaranteed money to his deal, so he may have to pursue an outright extension. That route will be complicated by the pending free agency of left tackle Rasheed Walker, a late seventh-round pick in 2022 who took over for an injured Bakhtiari in 2023 and never looked back. With significant capital already invested in both guard spots – a $77MM contract for Aaron Banks and a first-round pick on 2024 draftee Jordan Morgan – Jenkins might be the odd man out if the Packers ultimately prioritize Jordan Love‘s blind side over his snapper.

No matter how Jenkins’ contract situation shakes out, Love will be able to count on Tom to protect his strong side for the foreseeable future.

Titans QB Will Levis To Undergo Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery

July 21st, 2025 at 10:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

Will Levis‘ 2025 campaign has ended before it began. The third-year Titans quarterback is set to undergo surgery on his throwing shoulder, as first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The procedure is scheduled for July 29. Levis has elected to prioritize his long-term health by going under the knife in anticipation of the 2026 campaign. Today’s news ends the possibility of any competition between Levis and No. 1 pick Cam Ward for the starting gig during training camp.

“After consulting with doctors and his representatives, Will Levis has decided to undergo shoulder surgery that will sideline him for the entire 2025 season,” a team statement reads. “We support his decision to focus on his long-term health. He approached the offseason with professionalism and showed clear growth as a leader. We remain confident in his full recovery.”

Levis took over starting duties from Ryan Tannehill during his rookie season, logging nine appearances. He largely remained atop the depth chart for 2024, the first year with new head coach Brian Callahan in place. Things did not go according to plan for Levis, who struggled with poor play and injury during the campaign. Once the Titans secured the No. 1 pick, the possibility remained that a new quarterback starter would be targeted (especially given Mason Rudolph‘s free agent departure).

Indeed, Ward’s showings in the pre-draft process confirmed his status as Tennessee’s preferred option at the top of the board. He and Levis shared first-team reps during the spring, and a similar arrangement may have been in store for training camp. Despite participating in OTAs and minicamp, however, Levis will miss the coming campaign in its entirety.

The former second-round pick will have one year remaining on his rookie deal once the 2026 season begins. That year will obviously be key for Levis, who was linked to trade rumors this offseason. The Titans have insisted no efforts were made to move on from the 26-year-old, and given today’s news there will obviously be no market in his case at least until he returns to full health. Ward will now enter camp even more assured of the starting gig than he already was.

Behind him on the depth chart are veterans Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle. Those two were in position to compete for the third-string role during camp, with the runner-up being a release candidate during roster cutdowns. Instead, Allen and Boyle could be in position to remain in place unless a new signal-caller is brought in during the summer.

Tennessee’s success in 2025 was already going to depend in large part on Ward’s development as a rookie. That is especially the case now that Levis will not be available as a backup option. As the Kentucky product’s attention shifts to recovery, it will be interesting to see if the team pursues a depth addition for at least the summer.

RB Nyheim Hines To Make NFL Return With Chargers

July 21st, 2025 at 10:06pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Veteran running back Nyheim Hines is returning to the NFL with the Chargers, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Hines has not played since the 2022 season after tearing his ACL in a freak jet skiing accident in July 2023. He signed with the Browns last offseason and practiced for three weeks in October before being shut down for the year. Now, he will finally get back on the field in Los Angeles.

“It’s been a long road back,” said Hines (via The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson). “I’ve watched [the Chargers] my whole life because of Philip Rivers, and always have liked the team. I also think I’ve fit their system for years, so I’m excited for this opportunity.”

Originally a 2018 fourth-round pick by the Colts, Hines immediately carved out a third-down role as a rookie and became one of the most consistent receiving backs in the league, logging at least 40 receptions and 300 receiving yards in each of his first four season. He signed a three-year, $18.6MM extension with the Colts in 2021 before being dealt to the Bills at the 2022 trade deadline. Hines did not have much of an impact in Buffalo, and his offseason injury has kept him on the sidelines since.

Now, Hines will join a young Chargers running back room as its oldest player. Veteran free agent signing Najee Harris is set to lead the group – once he recovers from a freak injury of his own – and the team hopes first-round pick Omarion Hampton can be an effective change-of-pace back and build on his impressive 2024 season as a ballcarrier and pass-catcher.

However, Harris’ receiving numbers in Pittsburgh were inflated by constant checkdowns by a rotating cadre of Steelers’ quarterbacks, and Jim Harbaugh may not trust a rookie to protect Justin Herbert on third downs. In addition to his desire to contribute as a returner, Hines could have a path to a role in Los Angeles as a pass-catching back who, in his career, has more targets (309) than carries (306) and more yards through the air (1,778) than on the ground (1,202).

First, he will have to prove that he is all the way back from his knee injury. Hines was healthy enough in May to work out for the Texans, and his signing in Los Angeles indicates that his medical passed muster.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/21/25

July 21st, 2025 at 9:32pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Training camps are underway around the league, bringing more and more roster adjustments every day. Here are the latest minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed: WR Will Sheppard
  • Released: K Alex Hale

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

  • Signed: QB Dresser Winn

Minnesota Vikings

  • Placed on active/PUP: TE Gavin Bartholomew, LB Chaz Chambliss

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: CB Kam Alexander, DT Justin Rogers
  • Waived/NFI: CB Zy Alexander

Martin, a 12-year veteran who signed with the Panthers this offseason, is dealing with a minor hamstring injury, per Joe Person of The Athletic.

The Cowboys’ trio of cornerbacks were all expected to be placed on their respective lists given where they are in the rehab process, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. The same is true of Overshown, who recently shared a positive update on social media (via Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk).

An eye injury will sideline Hale for several weeks, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, forcing the Packers to release him. Hale was not expected to push Brandon McManus for the starting job in Green Bay, but the team will need another kicker for training camp.

The Seahawks swapped undrafted cornerbacks, adding Alexander out of Oregon and waiving Alexander with a non-football injury designation. Rogers, meanwhile, was signed after a successful tryout.

Titans Complete Draft Pick Signings With Second-Round OLB Oluwafemi Oladejo

July 21st, 2025 at 7:43pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Titans have reached an agreement with second-round pick Oluwafemi Oladejo, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, completing their 2025 draft class signings.

Oladejo’s deal is worth $8.415MM over four years, the first three of which are fully guaranteed along with a $2.76MM signing bonus. That represents a massive jump from last year’s No. 52 pick, Adonai Mitchell, who only received guarantees on 47.7% (700k) of his Year 3 salary, per OverTheCap. Oladejo received 52.3% more guaranteed salary in Year 3, which will push him well above Mitchell’s overall guarantees worth 65% of his rookie deal.

Though Oladejo’s contract is significantly stronger than past players in the same draft slot, it is somewhat weak compared to the rest of the 2025 second-round pick market. 85% of No. 54 pick Anthony Belton‘s Year 3 salary was fully guaranteed by the Packers, per OverTheCap; a few days later, No. 53 pick Benjamin Morrison reached 96% on his Year 3 guarantees in his deal with the Buccaneers. Initial reports of Oladejo’s contract did not mention any guarantees past the third year, so a mere 4% increase over Morrison in Year 3 guarantees seems disappointing after Morrison received 11% more than Belton in the same category.

Regardless, Oladejo’s rookie contract completes an impressive year for the 21-year-old. After spending his first three college seasons – two at Cal and one at UCLA – as an off-ball linebacker, he moved to the edge in 2024 and finished the season with 4.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. Oladejo surged up big boards throughout the draft process and was consistently pegged as a Day 2 pick before the draft. He will now have an opportunity to compete for a starting role in a Titans defense that lost Harold Landry this offseason and did little to replace him in free agency. Seven-year veteran Arden Key will likely be one of Tennessee’s starting edge defenders, and Oladejo should push Lorenzo Carter to be the other.

Oladejo was the final Titans draft pick to sign his rookie deal;

Texans, CB Arthur Maulet Agree To Deal

July 21st, 2025 at 4:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

Arthur Maulet endured an injury-shortened season in 2024, and he had a lengthy wait in free agency as a result. The veteran corner has lined up an opportunity in time for training camp, however.

Maulet told NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe on Monday that he has agreed to terms on a one-year Houston pact. He will look to rebound on his latest team after only playing three games last season. In 2023, Maulet played a key role in the Ravens’ secondary, handling slot corner duties and having success as a blitzer.

The former Saint, Colt, Jet and Steeler has made 85 appearances and 23 starts during his career. Maulet will join the Texans while aiming to occupy at least a part-time role (particularly in the slot). Houston’s perimeter spots are accounted for with Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter, but the team lost Ronald Darby to retirement earlier this offseason.

Playing on a series of short-term deals during his career, it took until 2022 for Maulet to secure a deal carrying a seven-figure AAV. The former UDFA reached that mark on two separate Steelers contracts as well as his Ravens accord. Financial terms of his Texans agreement are not known, but it would come as no surprise if it were to check in at or around the veteran minimum.

Maulet, 32, has only recorded four interceptions in his career but he posted strong coverage numbers during his time in Baltimore. If he manages to do the same with his latest team, a shorter wait on the free agent market should be in store next year. For the time being, attention will turn to Maulet’s ability to carve out a role with Houston during training camp.

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