HEADLINES

FA Jadeveon Clowney In Contact With Multiple Teams

July 21st, 2025 at 3:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jadeveon Clowney is among the veterans still unsigned at this point of the offseason. The journeyman edge rusher is aiming to play in 2025, though, and he could have multiple suitors.

When speaking with The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson, Clowney said he has been in touch with four to five teams this offseason. Conversations have been on and off since his Panthers release. That move ended his tenure with his hometown team after just one campaign.

As expected, Carolina targeted pass rushers during the draft. After adding Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen during the second and third rounds of April’s event, the team had a pair of new faces along the edge to develop. Parting ways with Clowney was aimed in part at an effort to give them more playing time as rookies. In the time since, no firm links to a suitor have emerged.

That is of course the case for a number of free agents prior to training camp. As teams start to evaluate their in-house options, though, Clowney is among the players who could be targeted for a signing in time for Week 1. The 32-year-old was a full-time starter for the Panthers last year, and he notched 5.5 sacks. Clowney has reached at least nine sacks four times in his career, including the 2021 and ’23 campaigns.

Duplicating that feat would not be expected from an acquiring team since he would presumably be signed as a rotational option. Even in that capacity, Clowney would offer value given his experience (140 games) and run defense (108 tackles for loss). Any number of teams could use a depth addition in their pass rush room, especially if injuries hit over the coming weeks.

Since receiving the franchise tag, Clowney played on a stretch of one-year deals with the Seahawks, Titans, Browns and Ravens. His Panthers pact (worth $20MM total) was the first multi-year accord of his career since his rookie contract. A long-term commitment would come as a surprise, but a market could take shape soon with respect to another one-year deal. It will be interesting to see where Clowney winds up for 2025.

DE Micah Parsons: Cowboys Ownership Has Made Negotiations “More Complicated” Than Necessary

July 21st, 2025 at 2:30pm CST by Rory Parks

JULY 21: When speaking to the media on Monday, Jones said (via NFL Network’s Jane Slater) he does not share Parsons’ frustrations about the lack of a deal this deep into the offseason. He added he has still yet to speak with Mulugheta, something which is relatively common in negotiations. COO Stephen Jones often makes contact with agents, although he too said no conversations with Mulugheta have taken place yet (h/t All City DLLS’ Clarence Hill Jr.). Suffice it to say, there is little urgency on the team’s part to finalize a pact.

JULY 20: In April, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and star edge rusher Micah Parsons seemingly put the framework of an extension in place. After that report surfaced, however, there has been no indication that talks have gained any traction.

The Jones-Parsons summit did not include Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, and Jones’ public comments minimizing the importance of Mulugheta in the negotiation process did not sit well with Parsons. The four-time Pro Bowler nonetheless expressed optimism that the two sides would strike an agreement before training camp, which opens Monday.

In light of Parsons’ recent comments on the matter, such a development appears unlikely. In an appearance on the Six Feet Under podcast (video link via ESPN’s Field Yates), Parsons suggested the needle has not moved, and he laid the blame for that squarely at the Cowboys’ feet.

“We obviously wanted to get done early. We want that relief off our backs,” Parsons said. “But, obviously, ownership is always gonna make it drag out, make it more complicated than it has to be. Lack of communication and that standpoint, but, you know, I just always say, God has me this far, he ain’t done with me yet, so, you know, I just just keep working, keep going, and then when it comes, I’m gonna be ready. But, you know, ain’t gonna be no drop-off” (h/t Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk).

Indeed, Dallas has been criticized for its delay in resolving contract situations with its best players, delays that have resulted in increased tension and increased price tags as the markets for premium positions (like edge rusher) continue to soar. Parsons himself recently indicated the new deals for players like Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett have driven up his own asking price, and during his Six Feet Under appearance, he seemed surprised Dallas would not want to get ahead of the curve for once.

“We wanted to do the contract last year,” Parsons added. “They were just kind of like, ‘We want to do Dak [Prescott] and CeeDee [Lamb].’ Then you go out there and perform again and, you know, you would think, like, alright, we’ll get it done early. We know there’s some guys that’s about to get ready to get repaid, like Garrett, you know, Crosby is gone. So you’d think like, hey, let’s get ahead of that, you know what I mean?”

Instead, the Steelers and T.J. Watt just pushed the EDGE market even higher by virtue of a massive three-year, $123MM extension that features an exceedingly player-friendly structure. Watt, 31 in October, is nearly five years older than Parsons, who missed time due to injury last season but who nonetheless posted 12 sacks, giving him a total of 52.5 over his first four years in the league. It would be quite surprising if Parsons does not top Watt’s deal, and with a record-setting extension for the soon-to-be 25-year-old Aidan Hutchinson possibly in the offing, it looks like Dallas will again be paying for its willingness to slow play a high-end negotiation.

Assuming no deal is in place by the time camp opens, Parsons is expected to stage a hold-in (though as NFL insider Jordan Schultz confirms, Parsons will report to training camp). As Florio notes, Parsons’ remark regarding a “drop-off” implies the Cowboys may be worried his performance will suffer once he signs a lucrative new deal, though not having him as a full camp participant – particularly with a new defensive coordinator in Matt Eberflus at the controls – is also not ideal.

“It’s extremely important,” Parsons previously said of the significance of a deal being done by the onset of training camp. “You really see a lot of players struggle when guys aren’t participating in camp and they get off to slow starts. I want to hit the ground running.”

Eagles Sign Second-Round S Andrew Mukuba, Complete Draft Class Deals

July 21st, 2025 at 12:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles are the latest team to wrap up their rookie deals in time for training camp. Second-round safety Andrew Mukuba inked his contract on Monday, per a team announcement.

Like 29 other players taken in the second round of April’s draft Mukuba was unsigned at the start of last week. Round 2 picks have received a notable uptick in guaranteed compensation this year, with a number of players taken at the top of the round seeing all four years of their deals locked in (something which was previously only the case for Day 1 draftees). As the 64th pick, Mukuba is not in line to have his entire deal guaranteed, but his agreement no doubt represents a step in that direction compared to previous years.

During three seasons at Clemson, Mukuba operated as a key member of the team’s secondary. He recorded only one interception within that span, but things changed in 2024. After transferring to Texas, Mukuba notched five picks while adding seven pass deflections. That production helped his draft stock considerably, and he now enters the NFL with a chance to carve out a starting role on defense.

Philadelphia’s offseason has included a number of defensive departures, including the trade which sent C.J. Gardner Johnson to the Texans. The Eagles informed Gardner-Johnson of their decision to move on from him during the opening stages of free agency, and the trade created a vacancy at the safety spot. Reed Blankenship is set to return for 2025, and the same is true of Sydney Brown.

Those two could operate as Philadelphia’s starting safety tandem in 2025, although the Super Bowl champions could also find themselves in the market for one of the veterans still on the free agent market. Barring an addition, Mukuba should at least be able to occupy a special teams role during his rookie season. With Blankenship entering the final year of his contract, a path could exist down the road to a first-team defensive gig.

Here is a final look at the Eagles’ 2025 draft class:

Dolphins Discussing Deal With CB Rasul Douglas; Latest On DT Zach Sieler

July 21st, 2025 at 11:57am CST by Adam La Rose

Cornerback remains an area of need for the Dolphins at the onset of training camp. Rasul Douglas is still a clear target for the team on the free agent market.

Douglas has been linked to Miami on multiple occasions this offseason. The eight-year veteran would offer the Dolphins a starting-caliber option in the wake of Kendall Fuller‘s release and the long-awaited trade which ended Jalen Ramsey‘s tenure in South Beach. To no surprise, then, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports team and player remain in active contract discussions.

Douglas’ market has not seen many developments this offseason, one in which the Bills have moved forward without him. The 29-year-old does not anticipate a return to the Packers, but other suitors could see him as a worthwhile summer investment. Douglas and the Dolphins were not believed to be far apart in terms of finances earlier this month, so it would certainly be feasible for a deal to be struck soon.

Douglas has 80 starts to his name and he totaled 14 interceptions across the 2021, ’22 and ’23 seasons. The former third-rounder had a down year in Buffalo last season, something which will no doubt hurt his value on a new deal. The Dolphins are not in a position to afford a lucrative signing at the moment anyway, as they have roughly $2MM in cap space.

Another potential move to watch for regarding Miami is a potential Zach Sieler extension. The veteran defensive tackle is coming off his second straight 10-sack season and is thus a candidate for a raise on a new deal. Two years remain on Sieler’s contract with scheduled cap hits of $12.45MM and $14.75MM over that span. Regardless of what happens on the extension front, a training camp holdout will not take place in this case.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus said on Sunday (via Jackson) that Sieler will be in attendance for the start of training camp this week. When asked about participating in on-field work, he noted that will be a decision made internally amongst himself, Sieler and the Dolphins. Players angling for an extension often engage in a hold-in by attending training camp (and thus avoiding mandatory daily fines) but not taking part in practices until an agreement is reached.

A former seventh-round pick, Sieler has emerged as a vital member of the Dolphins’ defense during his time in Miami. The 29-year-old has seen his workload increase over each of the past four years, and he has operated as a full-time starter since 2022. In 2023, a $10.25MM-per-year extension was worked out; Sieler logged a full campaign in the first year after signing the pact and missed a pair of games last season. Durability should not be an issue during extension talks.

As the Ramsey situation illustrated in 2024, extending players early can wind up having negative effects (although his split with the team was based largely on a falling out with head coach Mike McDaniel). The Sieler situation could play out differently, of course, but it will be worth monitoring as the team explores at least one outside addition in the secondary.

Chiefs, George Karlaftis Agree To Extension

July 21st, 2025 at 11:05am CST by Adam La Rose

JULY 21: The $1.25MM in annual incentives included with Karlaftis’ deal (which is now official) run from 2027-30, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes. His cap charges range from as low as $5.1MM this year to as high as $25MM in 2029.

JULY 20: George Karlaftis is the latest member of the Chiefs to secure a big-ticket extension. Team and player have agreed to terms on a new deal, as first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

Providing details on the accord, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds this four-year contract is worth $93MM; it includes $62MM in guarantees. The value of this pact is therefore almost identical to the extension guard Trey Smith signed in advance of the recent franchise tag deadline. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated clarifies the pact has a base value of $88MM and can top out at $93MM via incentives. $32MM is locked in at signing with the other $30MM in place as injury guarantees.

To no surprise, Karlaftis had his fifth-year option picked up this spring. That decision kept him under team control for the next two seasons, leaving team and player plenty of time to work out a long-term extension. In time for training camp, though, one has already been taken care of. The 24-year-old is now on the books through the 2030 campaign.

Karlaftis now ranks 11th amongst edge rushers with respect to AAV at $22MM. A number of pass rushers have received attention in recent months, but Karlaftis has flown under the radar by comparison. Of course, the market has shifted recently (with T.J. Watt moving the bar to $41MM annually) and further mega-deals are expected later in the summer. This accord could look rather team-friendly in the near future.

The Purdue product was not as high as Smith on the extension priority, but he joined fellow 2022 first-rounder Trent McDuffie in discussing a second contract at least as far back as April. As a result, it comes as little surprise an agreement has been reached ahead of the 2025 campaign. Karlaftis has taken on a larger workload with each passing season to date, logging 831 defensive snaps during the regular season last year. He has also been a mainstay in Kansas City’s three trips to the Super Bowl during his career.

Karlaftis flashed potential with six sacks as a rookie and took a step forward with 10.5 the following year. While his sack total dropped to eight in 2024, he remained consistent in terms of quarterback pressures (37 after recording 35 the previous year). Kansas City will be counting on continued production in that respect for several years while keeping Karlaftis in place as a strong run defender.

One year after taking Karlaftis in the first round, the Chiefs made another Day 1 selection along the edge in the form of Felix Anudike-Uzomah. The latter was only a rotational contributor during his rookie campaign, but he took on a larger workload last year and should continue to develop into a regular on defense. He and Karlaftis will give the Chiefs a young pass-rush tandem for several years with Chris Jones still in the fold as the team’s defensive line anchor.

With Smith and Karlaftis now on the books for the foreseeable future, attention will turn to McDuffie. If an extension can also be worked out in his case before Week 1, another central figure in the team’s success will locked up for years to come. Regardless, recent days have ensured Kansas City will have key (and young) contributors on both sides of the line of scrimmage in the fold for 2025 and well beyond.

DT Khalil Davis Retires

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

Khalil Davis remains unsigned as training camps open around the league. In lieu of continuing to pursue a free agent deal, the defensive tackle is hanging up his cleats.

Davis’ agent informed ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Monday of the news. As a result of the decision to end his NFL career, Davis will depart the league at the age of 28. His brother Carlos Davis has not officially retired but he last played in the regular season in 2022 and did not catch on with a team after being among the Bengals’ final cuts last summer.

Khalil Davis was selected one round earlier than his brother in the 2020 draft. Joining Tampa Bay as a sixth-rounder, he made a pair of regular season appearances with the team. Midway through the following season, however, Davis was waived. He played one game with the Colts before bouncing around the Steelers, Rams and Buccaneers’ practice squads.

The Nebraska product signed with the Texans ahead of the 2023 campaign, and it was with Houston that his largest workload emerged. Davis made 24 regular season appearances with the team; in 2023 his defensive snap share of 41% was the highest of his career. He remained with the Texans through the beginning of last season and remained a rotational member of the team’s defensive line. Davis was dealt to the 49ers just before the trade deadline, and he finished out the campaign in San Francisco as a result.

As a member of the Buccaneers during their Super Bowl win in 2020, Davis departs the game with a championship to his name. He added just over $4MM in career earnings while making a combined total of 34 regular and postseason appearances.

Commanders’ Stadium Deal Could Be Tied To Name Change

July 21st, 2025 at 9:03am CST by Adam La Rose

Attention regarding the Commanders will soon turn to training camp, but the team’s stadium situation remains unsettled at this point. A resolution could wind up being tied to the franchise’s name.

In a Truth Social post on Sunday, president Donald Trump indicated he could attempt to hold up Washington’s new stadium deal if the team’s name does not revert back to Redskins. The franchise operated under that moniker in 1933 upon its founding and retained it after moving from Boston to the nation’s capital. It was dropped after the 2019 campaign.

For a pair of seasons, with a new name being sought out, the franchise operated as the Washington Football Team. Beginning in the 2022 season – the last with former owner Dan Snyder in place – the Commanders name was adopted. Upon taking over as controlling owner in the summer of 2023, Josh Harris faced questions about a potential name change. He has maintained that one is not being contemplated, however.

“I may put a restriction on them that if they don’t change the name back to the original ‘Washington Redskins,’ and get rid of the ridiculous moniker, ‘Washington Commanders,’ I won’t make a deal for them to build a Stadium in Washington,” Trump’s post reads in part (via the Associated Press through ESPN).

Efforts have been made in recent months to finalize a deal allowing the Commanders’ new stadium to be built on the former site of the RFK stadium. That served as the franchise’s home from 1961-96. Since then, home games have taken place in Landover, Maryland. An agreement was previously announced between the Commanders and the District of Columbia to build a new stadium at the old RFK site, but it has not been finalized yet.

D.C.’s window to exclusively negotiate with the Commanders over a stadium deal closed on July 15. While a deal between the parties could still become official in the future, WUSA9’s Ittai Sopher and Alexis Wainwright report Maryland and Virginia have since been in contact with the team and pitched the idea of a stadium in their respective constituencies. The report maintains D.C. is still the frontrunner at this point, though.

It will be interesting to see how D.C. council as well as Congress – which controls the city’s budget – will proceed in the near future with respect to a stadium agreement. Likewise, it remains to be seen if issues on that front will alter Harris’ stance on a name change and whether or not Trump decides to take steps aimed at bringing about an end to the Commanders moniker.

Seahawks Release TE Noah Fant

July 20th, 2025 at 10:17pm CST by Adam La Rose

Roster moves continue as teams prepare for the start of training camp. In the case of the Seahawks, that includes parting ways with a notable veteran.

Tight end Noah Fant has been released, per a team announcement. One year remained on his contract with a nonguaranteed base salary of $8.49MM owed. Rather than keeping Fant in the fold for 2025, Seattle will move on.

This decision will result in $8.91MM in cap savings for the Seahawks while incurring a dead money charge of $4.5MM. Fant will now look to find a new opportunity during training camp. The team, meanwhile, will give its other tight ends a larger opportunity during practice before deciding if an addition is required ahead of Week 1.

A first-round pick of the Broncos in 2019, Fant totaled 1,400 yards on 130 receptions during his time with the team. He was included in the Russell Wilson blockbuster, though, so he spent the past three years in Seattle. The Iowa product was unable to reach the same level of production in Seattle that he managed in Denver; his 500 yards in 2024 were the most in the Emerald City but fell short of any of his three Broncos campaigns.

Seattle moved on from both D.K. Metcalf (via trade) and Tyler Lockett (via release) this offseason. Those decisions will leave the team with a noticeably different receiver room in 2025. Returnee Jaxon Smith-Njigba and free agent signing Cooper Kupp will lead the way at that spot moving forward. Fant will not reprise his role as the Seahawks’ primary pass-catching tight end, however.

The 27-year-old will be a name to watch in free agency as teams sort out their depth charts over the coming weeks. Fant would give any number of suitors a starting-caliber presence at the position or at least a strong pass catcher to complement another tight end best suited to run blocking. It will be interesting to see how his market takes shape.

In the meantime, Seattle will move forward with a depth chart including second-round rookie Elijah Arroyo. AJ Barner is set for his second year with the team, and veteran Eric Saubert is a depth option. By releasing Fant, the Seahawks are (barring another move) committing to that trio to handle tight end duties for at least the 2025 season.

Poll: Who Will Win Saints’ QB Competition?

July 20th, 2025 at 10:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

Speculation about Derek Carr’s Saints future came to an end when he elected to retire in lieu of undergoing shoulder surgery. The procedure would have kept him from playing in New Orleans (or elsewhere) in 2025, so the four-time Pro Bowler brought his career to an end and began the team’s next era under center.

Carr handled starting duties for a pair of campaigns with the Saints after his Raiders tenure came to a close. The arrival of new head coach Kellen Moore brought about questions regarding a departure, but that is of course a moot point now. This year’s training camp will see Moore and his staff evaluate New Orleans’ four remaining signal-callers to determine the pecking order.

That quartet includes undrafted free agent Hunter Dekkers. Like in essentially any case regarding UDFAs, he profiles as a practice squad candidate once roster cuts are made at the end of the summer. The Saints’ other three quarterbacks – Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener – are positioned to battle for the starting gig.

In the wake of the Carr retirement, Moore left the door open to a veteran addition under center. None came about during the late stages of free agency, though, so the Shough-Rattler-Haener trio is set to take part in an open competition. New Orleans has drafted a quarterback during each of the past three years, leaving each contender short on experience.

Shough emerged as a name to watch for the Saints during the pre-draft process as the team sought out a Carr successor capable of playing as early as this year. Entering the league as a 25-year-old, he certainly profiles as a candidate to see the field early at the NFL level. Over the course of his seven years in college, however, Shough only had one full campaign as a starter.

The Oregon/Texas Tech/Louisville product dealt with a number of injuries before managing to remain healthy for a full campaign in 2024. Shough’s size and arm strength made him an intriguing option in this year’s quarterback class, one which is not held in high regard compared to next year’s. Nevertheless, New Orleans could turn to him right away in a bid to evaluate his candidacy as a long-term answer under center.

2025 has seen a notable uptick in guaranteed compensation for second-round rookies. Shough, taken 40th overall, was a figure to watch as he joined the players selected around him in seeking a fully guaranteed pact. He recently succeeded in doing so, securing a favorable structure in terms of the payment schedule. That commitment does not ensure Shough will begin his career atop the depth chart, of course, but it illustrates how he will be a member of New Orleans’ QB setup for years to come.

Rattler fell to the fifth round of his draft class despite being the first signal-caller selected after the six first-rounders in 2024 came off the board. The Oklahoma and South Carolina product saw time after Carr was injured, recording a total of six starts. The Saints lost each of those contests while dealing with a number of other absences and ultimately finishing out the campaign under interim head coach Darren Rizzi. Rattler reached 240 passing yards only twice during his time as a starter, and he threw more interceptions (five) than touchdowns (four).

Expectations are certainly muted entering Year 2 as a result, although Rattler, 24, represents at least an affordable backup option for the remainder of his rookie contract. The arrival of Moore as head coach will offer him a fresh start after last year’s poor showing. A stretch with better health up front and at the receiver position could allow for a better evaluation of Rattler’s ceiling in the NFL. Whether or not he is capable of handling starting duties will be determined to a large extent in 2025, and training camp and the preseason will be key in Rattler’s assessment.

Haener did not see the field during his rookie campaign, one which included a PED suspension. The 26-year-old made one start after Carr’s injury last season, a one-point loss despite his 49 passing yards on four completions. If Moore and Co. keep Haener behind Rattler in the pecking order, the QB2 spot is the best-case scenario for the Washington/Fresno State alum.

Winning the starting gig is certainly a possibility entering camp, but Haener is also candidate to operate as the Saints’ emergency third quarterback if Shough and Rattler are still healthy by Week 1. It will be interesting to see if he can alter the depth chart based on how it stood during his first two NFL seasons.

How do you think New Orleans’ competition will play out? Vote in PFR’s latest poll on who you think will emerge as the team’s Week 1 starter and have your say in the comments section below.

Who will win the Saints' QB Competition?
Tyler Shough 59.65% (720 votes)
Spencer Rattler 35.29% (426 votes)
Jake Haener 5.05% (61 votes)
Total Votes: 1,207

J.C. Tretter To Resign From NFLPA

July 20th, 2025 at 10:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

Instead of being a candidate to replace Lloyd Howell as the NFLPA’s executive director, J.C. Tretter will instead step aside from the union. The former NFLPA president said in an interview with CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones he will resign.

“Over the last couple days, it has gotten very, very hard for my family. And that’s something I can’t deal with,” Tretter said. “So, the short bullet points are: I have no interest in being [executive director]. I have no interest in being considered; I’ve let the executive committee know that. I’m also going to leave the NFLPA in the coming days because I don’t have anything left to give the organization.”

Howell received backing from the NFLPA before, days later, deciding to step down. Tretter – who was a key figure in the Howell hire and the union’s actions during his tenure at the helm – has also emerged as the source of backlash with a number of revelations being made about his conduct. Currently the union’s chief strategy officer, Tretter was among the names listed as potential Howell replacements on an interim basis. Shortly after a meeting of player reps and the executive committee, however, things have changed.

“I love the guys [in the union], and that’s why I’ve done what I’ve done for the last six years is because I love what they do and who they are and the mission of the organization,” the 34-year-old added, noting he did not conceive a ploy to usurp Howell as the executive director. “And I think what I realized this morning when I woke up… is that I fell in love with the idea of what this place could be. And over the last six weeks, I’ve realized what this place is, and the delta between those two things.”

Tretter’s interview contains details about the process by which Howell was hired in 2023. A shift to a more streamlined vetting and interview process resulted in a hire shrouded in secrecy compared to previous ones. Tretter also noted the NFLPA’s executive voted 10-1 against Howell (with his vote being one of the 10) in a straw poll but decided not to mention it to the union’s general membership. Brought in with the hopes of leading the way through CBA talks, Howell’s tenure came to an abrupt end after revelations about his role in keeping collusion grievance findings hidden as well as conflict of interest concerns. Tretter’s connections to Howell (and thus the scandals) made him a target for scrutiny over the past few days.

Tretter expressed regret during the interview about his remarks made about Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson with respect his lack of a fully guaranteed contract. The former NFL center also offered an apology for his comments suggesting running backs could feign injury as a negotiating tactic. That spurred a grievance against the NFLPA which the league won and which resulted in the union firing the arbitrator involved in the case.

In a sign of the growing consternation over his presence in the organization, Tretter added he feels many of the “attacks” he has received in recent weeks have come from within the NFLPA. With the union seeking a new leader, Tretter will not take part in the search process nor will he stay on in any capacity.

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