HEADLINES

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/15/25

July 15th, 2025 at 8:17pm CST by Ben Levine

One minor move to pass along:

Buffalo Bills

The Bills made a bit of an unexpected move today when they placed rookie defensive end Landon Jackson on the physically unable to perform list. While the nature of the injury hasn’t been reported, a source told Ryan O’Halloran of The Buffalo News that the move was merely “precautionary” and Jackson “will be fine.”

The third-round pick finished his college career with a pair of standout seasons at Arkansas. The pass rusher compiled 13 sacks between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, earning him All-SEC honors in both campaigns. The Bills made him the 72nd pick in this year’s draft, and he’ll be joining a deep group of DEs that includes Joey Bosa, Greg Rousseau, Michael Hoecht, and A.J. Epenesa.

Ravens Received Trade Interest In Mark Andrews, Hope To Extend Isaiah Likely

July 15th, 2025 at 7:07pm CST by Ben Levine

Despite months of trade speculation, Mark Andrews remains on the Ravens roster and is expected to stick with the squad for the 2025 season. While the team held on to their long-time star tight end, the front office was clearly open to making a trade. As Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic writes, the Ravens indeed received trade inquiries on the veteran, but no team was able to meet Baltimore’s asking price.

Zrebiec still leaves the door open for a potential departure, with the writer wondering how the Ravens front office would proceed if a TE-needy team comes knocking during the preseason. GM Eric DeCosta, head coach John Harbaugh, and quarterback Lamar Jackson have all endorsed Andrews sticking with the organization for at least the 2025 campaign, although the tight end’s expiring contract (and his recent playoff failures) have led to the veteran being firmly on the trade block.

Andrews has struggled to replicate his first-team All-Pro performance from 2021, when he finished with 107 catches for 1,361 yards and nine touchdowns. The 2024 campaign actually represented one of his most productive recent performances, as the 29-year-old finished the year with a career-high 11 touchdowns. Of course, Andrews drew plenty of blame for his postseason showing, including a playoff loss to the Bills when the tight end fumbled the ball on a crucial drive and dropped a game-tying two-point conversion.

The former third-round pick is entering the final season of a four-year, $56MM extension, and he’s due to carry a lofty cap charge of $16.91MM in 2025. A trade would have provided the organization with some cap relief ($11MM), although those savings aren’t nearly as important now that the offseason is all but over.

While Andrews may be preparing for his final season in Baltimore, the team is apparently focused on retaining another impending free agent tight end. Zrebiec writes that the Ravens are expected to “make a push” to extend tight end Isaiah Likely. The former fourth-round pick is coming off his most productive NFL season, with the third-year player hauling in 42 catches for 477 yards and six touchdowns.

Considering Andrews’ precarious spot on the roster, Likely could be in line for an even bigger role in 2025. With a true breakout within the realm of possibilities, the Ravens may be hoping to extend the tight end before his value shoots up.

Patriots WR Stefon Diggs To Start Season On PUP?

July 15th, 2025 at 6:00pm CST by Ben Levine

Both the Patriots and Stefon Diggs have seemingly moved on from an early-summer video that had new head coach Mike Vrabel imploring his players to make “great decisions.” Soon, focus will turn to the practice field, but it’s still uncertain how much the veteran receiver will be involved in August workouts.

As Diggs continues to work his way back from a torn ACL, Chad Graff of The Athletic writes that the wideout will likely open camp by “working on the side.” Graff adds that Diggs has been expected to start the regular season on the physically unable to perform list, but the acquisition’s spring performance has sparked optimism that he could be ready to go for Week 1.

Despite a knee injury prematurely ending Diggs’ lone season with the Texans, the former All-Pro receiver still garnered a three-year, $63.5MM deal from the Patriots in free agency. While the 2025 campaign will represent Diggs’ age-32 season, the Patriots are expecting the addition to elevate both their receivers room and second-year QB Drake Maye.

As Graff writes, Diggs impressed during minicamp. The receiver was lauded for mentoring the team’s younger wideouts, and his performance hinted that he could be ahead of schedule in his rehab. A video from May showed the wideout flashing an “unidentified pink substance” while partying on a boat, leading to speculation that the Patriots could look to bail early from the partnership. Instead, the Patriots decided to hang on to their free agent signing.

A stint on the PUP list would mean Diggs is forced to miss at least the first four games of the upcoming season. That would buy the Patriots some time as they navigate their relatively deep receivers corps. Diggs, Mack Hollins, and rookie third-round pick Kyle Williams have been described as the only definitively safe players on the depth chart, although holdover DeMario Douglas is also expected to secure a roster spot.

As a result, the likes of Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, 2024 second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk, and 2024 fourth-round pick Javon Baker would be fighting for at most two roster spots. A Diggs absence would allow the Patriots to temporarily retain another WR, although the team would surely prefer their new WR1 is ready for the start of the regular season.

Kyle Pitts Extension Not On Falcons’ Radar

July 15th, 2025 at 5:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

Earlier this decade, Kyle Pitts looked like a candidate to be the player who dragged the tight end market past $20MM per year. With Trey McBride and George Kittle not getting there with their respective extensions this offseason, a 2023 or ’24 draftee likely becomes the lead candidate.

Pitts has not delivered the kind of consistency necessary to warrant such a commitment, following his 2021 1,000-yard season with an injury-plagued 2022 and moderately productive 2023 and ’24 slates. Still, Pitts has proven to be a starter-level player — even if the return has not quite justified the Falcons’ No. 4 overall investment. But an extension does not appear on the radar ahead of training camp.

[RELATED: Kirk Cousins Felt Falcons Misled Him In 2024]

“No whispers” of a Falcons-Pitts accord have come out, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter. Pitts is set to play the season on a $10.88MM fifth-year option. An opportunity to cash in come 2026 would await the Florida product, though his path toward the tight end market’s upper reaches is murky.

Even if Pitts has not approached the heights of his 2021 season with Matt Ryan, he is among a small group of tight ends to clear 600 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons. Only Kittle, McBride, Travis Kelce, Sam LaPorta and Pitts have accomplished this. Pitts’ perfect attendance has helped in compiling yardage, and he said during the 2023 season he had not fully recovered from the MCL tear sustained in 2022. Nearly three years removed from that setback, the 6-foot-6 pass catcher should have a good chance at putting together a quality contract year.

The Falcons’ staff wanting to see more makes sense, as OC Zac Robinson was not in place when the team drafted Pitts or when his best season (the 1,066-yard rookie showing) occurred. Atlanta also did not give Pitts much to work with at quarterback during most of his rookie contract. Following the March 2022 Ryan trade, run-oriented offenses centered around Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder. Kirk Cousins elevated the team’s passing attack for a stretch, but poor play led Raheem Morris to bench the aging passer. As Cousins reluctantly settles into a backup role (for the time being), Pitts will be a key component in Michael Penix Jr.‘s development.

Penix making strides would stand to help Pitts as well, as he is only going into his age-25 season. Delivering this year will make Pitts an attractive free agent commodity, but the Falcons could also cuff him via the franchise tag. A few teams have unholstered the tag on a tight end in recent years. Since 2022, Evan Engram, David Njoku, Mike Gesicki and Dalton Schultz received tags. All four eventually scored an eight-figure-per-year deal — either with that team or in free agency down the road. Hunter Henry did as well after being tagged in 2020.

It cost $13.8MM to tag a tight end this year; a comparable 2026 price could be appealing to the Falcons, but their front office certainly has enjoyed plenty of time to evaluate Pitts by this point. Trade rumors circled Pitts for a bit, but no deal — Atlanta sought at least a Day 2 pick — appeared close. Should the Falcons start slowly, however, more trade buzz should be expected regarding the contract-year player. His summer foot injury will be something to monitor, however.

Next year could present a crowded TE market. Mark Andrews and Dallas Goedert are on track for free agency, after trade rumors followed both this offseason, while Kelce’s age-37 season would be available — though, the future Hall of Famer appears unlikely to leave Kansas City. Njoku and Noah Fant would also be available, barring extensions. Pitts’ age, however, would make him an appealing option were he to reach the market.

The Falcons have some time to make a decision here, but Pitts undoubtedly residing behind Drake London and Bijan Robinson in Atlanta’s extension queue come 2026 further complicates this situation.

Terry McLaurin Unlikely To Practice Without New Deal

July 15th, 2025 at 3:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Failing to develop a reliable Terry McLaurin sidekick for the first six years of the standout wide receiver’s career, the Commanders took on Deebo Samuel‘s salary in their most notable attempt to resolve the issue. As Samuel readies for training camp, Washington appears unlikely — based on how things are going, at least — to have McLaurin on the practice field to open its set of preseason workouts.

After a report last week indicated McLaurin is unhappy with the tone of extension talks, the Pro Bowl receiver confirmed as such Tuesday. McLaurin added (via ESPN.com’s John Keim) “without any progress in discussions it’s kind of hard to see how I step on the field.”

McLaurin mentioned that talks between he and the Commanders have not transpired over the past month. While the perennial 1,000-yard target is not pushing for a trade, he appears ready to force the issue in some way fairly soon.

“I want to be here. I want to make that abundantly clear,” McLaurin said. “… I guess you can say there is a point of no return. I don’t think it’s at that now but … time is kind of ticking.

“When you have that type of production, when you know how people value you and see you have told you to your face and then you see how it’s progressing until this point, that’s very disappointing. I’m just trying to get some clarity. Shoot it to me straight.”

Skipping OTAs, McLaurin received a $104K fine for failing to report to Commanders minicamp last month. Were he to miss training camp workouts, he would face $50K-per-day penalties. This has generally deterred players from holding out, as teams can no longer — as of the 2020 CBA — waive the fines for players on veteran contracts. That said, a holdout uptick has occurred over the past two years. Chris Jones, Zack Martin and Nick Bosa stayed away from training camp in 2023; Trent Williams and Haason Reddick followed suit last year. The hold-in measure has brought a sweet spot for disgruntled players, and McLaurin certainly seems set to exercise that option while he angles for a new contract.

McLaurin’s dissatisfaction with the Commanders’ negotiations has come up a few times this offseason. He was surprised by the difficulties this process has brought, but two weeks later, no progress had been made. McLaurin is tied to the three-year, $69.6MM deal agreed to during the 2022 offseason. That year brought a sea change in the WR market, and McLaurin joined 2019 draft classmates A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf, Diontae Johnson and Samuel in cashing in. However, Brown and Metcalf have since inked third contracts. McLaurin has been more consistent than Samuel and Metcalf on their respective second contracts as well, not missing a game and earning two Pro Bowl nods on the deal. McLaurin’s $23.2MM AAV has fallen to 16th among receivers.

McLaurin has amassed a string of 1,000-yard seasons but without a 1,200-yard year, though his QB draw was rather poor before Jayden Daniels‘ arrival. He then posted a second-team All-Pro showing in Daniels’ rookie year. The former third-round find also is heading into an age-30 season, and our Ely Allen highlighted the issue — upon seeing what an extension might look like — that brings for the Commanders. Though, McLaurin’s durability stands to mitigate some concerns about him aging out of WR1 territory in the near future. Term length and guarantee structure likely represent issues here.

“I’m not dismissing [age] completely,” McLaurin said. “There are data points to support that, but how come it’s not OK to say this may be a different case and based on what he’s proven, showing no signs of deterioration, I feel that should be acknowledged as well.”

The Commanders also could frame part of a third McLaurin contract around Daniels’ rookie deal. The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year cannot sign an extension until 2027, giving the Commanders some time to pair that team-friendly agreement with another McLaurin pact. GM Adam Peters has not completed many extensions yet in Washington, but he did pay guard Sam Cosmi just before last season. The 49ers also developed a pattern — one that often produced unnecessary drama — of completing big-ticket extensions well into training camp during Peters’ time with the team.

If no deal is reached by Week 1, McLaurin will be attached to a $15.5MM base salary. Plenty of time, however, remains between now and Washington’s season opener. As the team has established rare modern-era momentum, it will naturally want to keep its top skill-position player happy before a Super Bowl push commences.

Three Teams Pursuing FA OLB Von Miller

July 15th, 2025 at 3:13pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Von Miller‘s Hall of Fame career is on pause after 14 seasons. The Bills moved on from his six-year contract after paying out the deal’s guarantees, swapping out the aging edge rusher for Joey Bosa. Miller has indicated he wants to play a 15th season, but he has remained in free agency for four months.

Some movement looks to have taken place in this market. Miller has “three very interested teams,” according to NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger (via Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams).

At least, that’s what Baldinger heard from his former Duke teammate and Miller’s agent, Joby Branion. Prior to this, there have been virtually no reports of interest from any specific teams. The only update has been Miller throwing cold water on a potential reunion with the Broncos due to the presence of younger edge rushers.

Part of the reason for the delay is likely Miller himself. Baldinger also said that the 36-year-old linebacker was not “too crazy about going to training camp…Most guys that age aren’t.” If Miller didn’t want to attend practices until later in the summer, he wouldn’t want to sign before mandatory minicamp and incur fines for not showing up.

However, it’s also possible that this game of telephone about Miller’s “very interested teams” is an attempt by Branion to improve the offers from those teams as training camp approaches. As it stands, Miller could be looking at one-year, incentive-laden offers for the lowest base APY and guarantees in his career. He’s missed 15 games in the last three years, though his four absences in 2024 were due to suspension, not injury. He had spurts of productivity in Buffalo, but he was a non-factor for virtually the entire 2023 season.

Baldinger expects Miller to decide on a team soon, but added that he did not know which specific teams Miller was considering. Miller is sitting on 129.5 career sacks. In the sack era (1982-present), that ranks 16th. Miller’s Broncos and Rams contributions all but assured him future Canton entry, but the former Super Bowl MVP can move into the top 12 with 6.5 more sacks. He can reach the top 10 with eight.

A role as a rotational rusher will likely be in the cards if/once Miller joins a new team. Other standout edge rushers have thrived in such late-career roles. A contending team bringing Miller in as a missing piece makes sense, and if the 36-year-old vet indeed waits until training camps wrap, injury situations could accelerate this market. But it sounds like Miller is willing to wait a bit longer before committing to a 2025 destination.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

PFR Originals: Panthers, Jackson, Smith, Jaguars, McLaurin, Texans, Ojabo, Sutton

July 15th, 2025 at 9:00am CST by Adam La Rose

Here is a roundup of PFR’s latest originals:

  • Recapping Panthers’ Offseason: The 2025 Offseason in Review series rolls on. Sam Robinson broke down the Panthers‘ moves on and off the field since the 2024 campaign came to an end. Bringing in needed help on defense was a major priority in free agency, and many thought a pass rush addition would be coming on Day 1 of the draft. Instead, Carolina opted to take a first-round receiver (Tetairoa McMillan) for the second year in a row while trying to add further to Bryce Young‘s supporting cast.
  • Previewing Jackson’s Second Extension: Three years remain on Lamar Jackson‘s current Ravens deal. Team and player have spoken about a new extension, though, and one could be in place by the start of the season. Ely Allen detailed what a third pact could look like for the two-time MVP, whose cap hit is currently scheduled to spike considerably ahead of the 2026 campaign. Working out a deal before then would be welcomed by all parties.
  • Detailing Smith‘s Extension Candidacy: Only one franchise tag recipient has yet to sign a long-term pact this offseason: Trey Smith. The Pro Bowl guard was given the one-year tender by the Chiefs to avoid reaching free agency despite the tag grouping all blockers together as one position. Ahead of today’s deadline for inking a new pact, I looked into what a long-term accord could turn out to be in this case. Smith’s age and durability should help him secure one of the NFL’s highest AAVs for guards but also lower his 2025 cap hit ($23.4MM, the value of the tag) in the process.
  • Reviewing Jaguars’ Changes: The past few months have seen sweeping changes made in Duval County. General manager Trent Baalke was belatedly dismissed in a move which paved the way for Liam Coen to take an unorthodox route to the head coaching position of the Jaguars. Sam recapped the process which resulted in Coen and new GM James Gladstone coming aboard. First-timers in their respective roles, their performances along with that of two-way player Travis Hunter will be central in determining Jacksonville’s success.
  • Breaking Down Potential McLaurin Extension: One of the more surprising contract standoffs of the offseason has been between Terry McLaurin and the Commanders. Both sides are seeking to continue their relationship beyond 2025, but valuation has proven to be challenging. Entering his age-30 season, McLaurin could experience a downturn in production but his consistency and chemistry with Jayden Daniels could land him in a higher tier regarding receiver compensation. Ely looked into the figures surrounding this situation, which all parties involved will hope comes to an end soon.
  • Summarizing Edge Rush Standoffs: 2025 has seen several key developments amongst edge rushers, and more is yet to come. Sam recapped where things stand regarding Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart (Bengals), Aidan Hutchinson (Lions), Micah Parsons (Cowboys) and T.J. Watt (Steelers). The pass rush market sits at $40MM per season for now, but that figure could move more than once before the start of the regular season.
  • Detailing Texans’ Offseason: The Texans entered the offseason once again looking to take a step toward genuine contender status in the AFC. As Sam wrote, changes at the offensive coordinator position (with Bobby Slowik being replaced by Nick Caley) along with a major overhaul of the O-line were aimed at bouncing back on that side of the ball. Houston’s defense – led by cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and his record-breaking extension – will again face high expectations in 2025. Favored to top the AFC South for a third straight year, the Texans will be an interesting team to follow as the conference’s pecking order takes shape this season.
  • Exploring Ojabo Release: While a number of edge rushers are set to cash in soon, others find themselves on the roster bubble. David Ojabo enters training camp as a Ravens cut candidate. I broke down the former second-rounder’s injury-plagued NFL tenure to date and how he could be waived ahead of the final year of his rookie contract. Baltimore’s starting edge rushers remain from 2024, and the team added Mike Green during this year’s draft. Ojabo – who has totaled just four sacks so far – could end up on the outside looking in when the Ravens make their final cuts after training camp.
  • Listing Past Decade’s Franchise-Tagged Performers: In light of the Chiefs’ approaching deadline on a Smith extension, Sam recalled each of the players who have played out a campaign on the franchise tag since 2015. As few as one player and as many as 12 (in 2020) have found themselves in the situation Smith will face in a given campaign unless he signs a long-term pact. It will be interesting to see if he does, and the league winds up not having any tagged players for the season as a result.
  • Tracking Unsigned Rookies: 33 members of this year’s draft class have yet to sign their rookie deals. That includes 30 second-round selections. Ely listed the players in question, including the Day 2 rookies who are aiming to follow in the footsteps of Carson Schwesinger and Jayden Higgins. Picks 33 and 34 received fully guaranteed contracts, which had previously only been the case for first-round picks. Tre Harris of the Chargers has elected not to attend training camp (at least for now) in a sign the wait for second-round selections to sign could last deep into the summer.
  • Looking Into New Sutton Deal: After plenty of time attached to trade rumors, Courtland Sutton is in position to continue his Broncos tenure in 2025. The team’s top receiver has one year left on his deal after a short-term financial compromise was reached last offseason. While Sutton is not Denver’s top extension priority, Sam detailed what a new pact could look like. His resume would not set Sutton up for a monster pact like other producers at his position, but a raise keeping him in Denver for years to come could prove to be a mutually beneficial move.

49ers WR Jauan Jennings Seeking Extension Or Trade

July 14th, 2025 at 10:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

10:10pm: Despite his desire for a new contract, Jennings is expected to report for training camp on July 22, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. While he may seek a trade if the 49ers refuse to meet his contract demands, he still plans to show up next week to avoid a mandatory fine of $50K per day.

8:53am: Jauan Jennings has developed into a key figure in the 49ers’ passing attack during his tenure with the team. The veteran wideout is dissatisfied with his current arrangement in San Francisco, however.

Jennings is seeking either a 49ers extension or a trade to a new team, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Team and player worked out a two-year deal last spring which took the place of his second-round RFA tender. As a result, Jennings is currently a pending 2026 free agent.

The 28-year-old is scheduled to collect $3.28MM in salary guarantees in 2025 as things stand. Jennings is also on track to receive an option bonus of $1.12MM on September 1. A resolution to this situation will presumably take place prior to that date.

Selected in the seventh round of the 2020 draft, Jennings did not see any playing time as a rookie. Over the following three years, he operated as a complementary option in the passing game behind Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel on the depth chart. In the wake of signing his pact last offseason, Jennings took on an increased role. Aiyuk’s ACL tear opened the door to more targets for the Tennessee product, and he posted career highs across the board (77 catches, 975 yards, six touchdowns).

Samuel has since been traded, and Aiyuk is on course to miss at least some time to begin the 2025 campaign. Jennings is thus in position to once again serve as a central figure on offense, and his success in that capacity last year is driving efforts to land another new pact (and an accompanying raise, no doubt). Schefter adds Jennings plans to request a trade if no extension is worked out ahead of next week’s training camp.

That leaves a small window of opportunity for both parties to come to an agreement, although Schefter notes progress has been limited so far with respect to contract talks. Jennings is not expected to engage in a training camp holdout in any case, as remaining absent from the team would lead to mandatory fines. It would come as no surprise if Jennings opted for a hold-in and thus avoided participation in any on-field work, though.

The 49ers are certainly no stranger to contract drama, especially at the receiver spot. Samuel previously requested a trade before ultimately working out an extension. Aiyuk was the subject of a long-running saga last summer as he agreed to the terms of a Steelers contract but wound up remaining in San Francisco on a big-ticket deal. Jennings does not have the profile of those two based on his statistics to date, but he too is angling for a new commitment or a fresh start if one does not materialize.

Chiefs Pursuing Multi-Year Agreement With RG Trey Smith Before July 15 Deadline

July 14th, 2025 at 10:07pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Chiefs are hoping to reach an agreement with franchise-tagged right guard Trey Smith ahead of a July 15 deadline for him to sign a multi-year deal.

The team has been in touch with Smith’s representation in recent days, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, but negotiations are coming down to the wire. Smith already signed his non-exclusive franchise tag in March, locking in a fully guaranteed $23.4MM salary for the 2025 season if the two sides can’t come to multi-year terms before the deadline passes tomorrow.

An extension has obvious appeal for both sides. For Kansas City, it’s a chance to lock down one of their best players for the foreseeable future while reducing a 2025 cap hit that ranks third among all offensive lineman. (Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor ranks second, according to PFR’s Adam La Rose.)

For Smith, an extension would mean long-term financial security and a stronger up-front cash flow. He said last week that he is focused on football and leaves the contract talks to his agents at Creative Artists Agency.

The $23.4MM tag makes Smith the highest-paid guard in the league ahead of Landon Dickerson at $21MM per year and three others with an APY above $20MM. A multi-year agreement with the Chiefs would keep Smith in the top spot, per Rapoport, but the Chiefs may not want to reset the market by $2.4MM.

A second tag in 2026 would be unlikely with a price tag of $28.08MM, but it could establish a framework for a deal. Two straight tags for Smith would pay him $51.48MM in fully guaranteed money over the next two years, outpacing the previous high of $48.2MM set by Chris Lindstrom. The Chiefs could design a contract with a similar cash flow and guarantee structure in an attempt to convince Smith to take an overall APY below $23.4MM.

Such a deal would have to come together before tomorrow’s deadline. If not, Smith will play on the tag this year to set up another round of extension negotiations after the season.

Offseason In Review: Houston Texans

July 14th, 2025 at 10:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Texans showed their 2023 rebound was far from a fluke, DeMeco Ryans‘ second season saw the team plateau. C.J. Stroud did not take the second-year step many anticipated, and Houston finished with an even point differential despite playing in one of the NFL’s worst divisions. After a second straight 10-7 season, the Texans made widespread offensive changes while fortifying Ryans’ defense for the long term.

As Houston attempts to infiltrate the AFC’s upper crust and reach the first conference championship game in franchise history, some points of emphasis emerged between free agency and the draft.

Trades:

The Texans made the interesting decision to both label their offensive line a problem, the correct determination, while also trading away the best piece from it. Tunsil is out after six Texans seasons, having commanded two monster contracts since the 2019 blockbuster trade brought him in from Miami.

ESPN’s pass block win rate metric slotted Tunsil just outside the top 10 in 2023 and ’24, and the nine-year veteran had stayed mostly healthy since his injury-plagued 2021. Tunsil represented a key component in the Texans’ Stroud developmental effort, and they will pivot from a five-time Pro bowler (all five nods coming in Houston) to an eight-year vet (Cam Robinson) without any honors on his resume. Though, the Texans addressed this position early in the draft as well.

Tunsil is also weeks from his 31st birthday and would have been a candidate for an even higher-priced extension, as two seasons remain on his three-year, $75MM accord. Even though the Texans are light in terms of salary along their O-line — beyond Tytus Howard‘s three-year, $54MM deal — Tunsil said the team was prioritizing younger players over his fourth contract. That could have become a disruption along an O-line that had become a problem in 2024.

That said, this is a gamble due to the potential downgrade Tunsil to Robinson could bring. Still, the Texans fetched a nice haul for a player acquired before Nick Caserio‘s GM tenure began.

One of Caserio’s failed O-line projects is now in Philadelphia, being dealt for a proven safety. As Green did not pan out, the Texans will bet against the Eagles resurrecting his career a la their Mekhi Becton effort. Green struggled during his two seasons on the field while missing all of 2023 due to an offseason injury. A midseason IR trip ended Green’s starter run last season, as the Texas A&M product returned as a seldom-used backup by year’s end. One year remains on Green’s rookie deal; the Eagles declined his fifth-year option.

Gardner-Johnson is an interesting bet, especially in giving up an underperforming guard. Two years also remain on the two-time Super Bowl starter/renowned trash talker’s three-year, $27MM contract. No guaranteed money remains on Gardner-Johnson’s deal post-2025, giving the Texans flexibility if this fit does not work out. The Eagles have now ended both CJGJ’s stints at one season, letting him walk (to the Lions) in 2023 and trading him for a Becton replacement option after the second season.

Philly did see Gardner-Johnson prove an important piece. He tied for the NFL INT lead, with six, in 2022 despite missing five games. Although the Eagles had changed their defensive scheme yet again by the time Gardner-Johnson re-signed, he matched that six-INT season for a No. 1-ranked defense in 2024. Pro Football Focus graded Gardner-Johnson 14th among safety regulars last season, ranking him sixth in terms of coverage.

The former Saints draftee is also still just 27, creating upside in Ryans’ defense. Gardner-Johnson’s arrival could be much more important after Jimmie Ward‘s recent arrest, but he adds to an equation featuring Ward and emerging talent Calen Bullock at safety.

Capitalizing on Stroud’s rookie contract, the Texans parted with low-end compensation to add Kirk. This flier carries considerable upside, as the veteran slot receiver had been the Jaguars’ top Trevor Lawrence-era target. The retooling Jags were prepared to cut Kirk; the Texans made sure they would obtain his rights, picking up the final season of the 1,000-yard weapon’s four-year, $72MM contract.

The Jags’ 2023 freefall came just after Kirk’s season-ending core muscle malady. They went 1-5 without Kirk available down the stretch. The former Cardinals second-round pick had notched his first 1,000-yard season (1,108) in 2022 to justify a contract most labeled outlandish earlier that year. Kirk then beat that per-game yardage number by averaging a career-best 57.6 in 2023.

While Kirk was not as productive to start 2024, he drew trade interest before suffering a broken collarbone. A year after trading for Stefon Diggs, the Texans made a lower-stakes move with a younger cog; Kirk will not turn 29 until November. Given Diggs’ departure and Tank Dell‘s uncertain future, Kirk is probably a low-cost bet worth making.

Ingram is a true flier, having been benched by the Vikings last season. A former second-round pick out of LSU, Ingram made 41 starts with Minnesota. He factors into a crowded Houston guard mix. PFF ranked Ingram 66th among guard regulars last season, and while the advanced metrics site did slot him inside the top 40 in 2023, the Texans are attempting to revive a depressed asset.

Extensions and restructures:

This offseason featured the first batch of highly drafted Caserio players become extension-eligible, marking a turning point for an organization that had bottomed out earlier this decade. Once deploying rosters chock full of average or subaverage veterans, Caserio restocked it with several extension-worthy performers. The fifth-year GM operated proactively, potentially establishing a blueprint for when Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. are up for new deals in 2026.

After an abbreviated rookie season, Stingley has become one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks. Caserio’s initial first-round pick as a GM hit big, intercepting five passes in back-to-back seasons and reaching the first-team All-Pro level. The Texans chose Stingley one spot over Sauce Gardner in 2022, and while the LSU product initially trailed the physical Jets cover man, a changing of the guard occurred — as the No. 1 contender for Patrick Surtain‘s belt, if you will — in 2024.

Pro Football Focus rated Stingley fifth among CB regulars last season, after placing him ninth in 2024, while Gardner struggled. Stingley, 24, already established himself by 2023, though, as his coverage metrics from last season closely resemble his second-year work. After allowing a 47.9% completion rate as the closest defender in 2023, Stingley posted a 47.1 number last year. His passer rating allowed only climbed from 41.3 to a still-elite 51.2, and the boundary defender’s yards-per-target number dropped significantly — from 12.5 to 9.6. A natural in Ryans’ defense, Stingley has become the Texans’ top player. Houston paid him as such.

Despite Surtain’s Defensive Player of the Year season, he now trails Stingley by $6MM in terms of AAV. Both players are signed through 2029, as the Texans still had two years of control on Stingley’s rookie deal (via a fifth-year option that would have been exercised), and the extension includes no full guarantees beyond 2026. Though, a rolling guarantee structure makes this a more player-friendly agreement. Stingley’s 2027 base salary locks in by March 2026; that pattern recurs a year later for his 2028 paragraph 5 number.

Although Stingley does not have a runaway lead in terms of two- and three-year cash flows like he does in CB AAV, it was still surprising to see the Texans agree to make him the NFL’s first $30MM-per-year DB on just a three-year contract. The corner market did not move between May 2022 and September 2024, needing Surtain to break through a $21MM-per-year ceiling — one that had fallen behind safeties by spring 2024. Seeing Surtain and Jalen Ramsey set the table, Stingley collected the final piece of leverage when Jaycee Horn scored a then-market-setting $25MM-per-year deal in early March.

Is Hunter quietly building a Hall of Fame resume? No first-team All-Pro accolades hurt that potential case, but the consistent sack artist’s prime has gone against those of Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Nick Bosa and Micah Parsons. The youngest player to reach 50 sacks also saw his prime interrupted by injury, as he missed 26 games between the 2020 and ’21 seasons. Despite this sizable chunk of missed time, Hunter ranks 11th in career sacks through an age-30 season (99.5) in NFL history. Houston could be ground zero for a back-door Canton ascent, and Caserio ensured the Hunter-Anderson duo would last longer.

The Texans gave the 2024 free agent signee a deal that narrowly eclipsed Maxx Crosby‘s $35.5MM AAV number, though this obviously differs from the Raiders’ three-year extension. After griping about his Vikings extension — a deal that was team-friendly at the time and only swung further in that direction — for years, Hunter has done well for himself in Houston. He scored a near-fully guaranteed first Texans contract (two years, $49MM; $48MM guaranteed), and the team effectively gave him a $6.1MM raise for 2025. More importantly, Hunter’s re-up secured a near-fully guaranteed 2026.

Hunter, 30, tacked a fifth Pro Bowl onto his resume with a 12.5-sack season. The Texans-Vikings’ Hunter-Jonathan Greenard free agency switch proved a win-win, as the latter earned Pro Bowl recognition as part of a top-five Minnesota defense. Since returning from a 2021 chest injury, Hunter has not missed a game and has displayed consistency by staying between 22 and 23 QB hits in each of those three seasons. Being paired with Anderson will allow a good chance at a seventh double-digit sack season, while his presence helped the younger rusher make strides forward.

Houston moved Pitre from safety to the slot last year, and the early extension reflects a belief that change worked. Shortly after making Stingley the NFL’s highest-paid perimeter corner, the Texans moved Pitre to the top of the slot salary list. This set the bar for Kyler Gordon‘s Bears extension to raise the ceiling to $13.3MM per year.

The slot market keeps growing, as teams are taking advantage of a bargain rate attached to this underrated position. As recently as March 2024, no pure slot had crossed the eight-figure-per-year barrier; after historic cap spikes in 2024 and ’25, six pure slot CBs are there now.

This came after Pitre’s season-ending pectoral injury, which required surgery. The contract certainly renders that a nonissue, as the Texans have the makings of a long-term CB trio. These two deals pair well with Kamari Lassiter‘s rookie pact. The 2024 second-rounder’s rookie deal runs through 2027.

Free agency additions:

Having a biannual look at Robinson through his AFC South past, the Texans decided to add one of this market’s top players days into free agency. While it appeared Robinson’s market — thanks to Ronnie Stanley and Alaric Jackson taking themselves off the table via pre-free agency agreements — would rival Dan Moore Jr.‘s, the longtime Jags LT-turned-Vikings stopgap took a one-year accord with an eye on 2026. Based on the Texans’ offseason, this looks set to be a one-year partnership.

The pure left tackle carrying 101 career starts divided some entering free agency, as no Pro Bowls are on his resume. Then again, Pro Bowl LTs entering age-30 seasons rarely hit the market barring noteworthy injury concerns. PFF slotted Robinson outside the top 50 among tackles last season, and his 88.2% pass block win rate did not wow. But the Texans will add the twice-franchise-tagged blocker as a stopgap while second-round pick Aireontae Ersery develops.

The Hall of Fame will need to adjust its criteria if modern running backs are to be enshrined, as workloads plummeted compared to prior eras. Chubb looked to be one of the players who could create a case, provided the goalposts are moved to accommodate some of this period’s best ballcarriers, but the injuries he sustained in 2023 and ’24 altered that path. The former Browns dynamo missed 15 games in 2023 due to a severe knee injury, one that kept him from debuting until late October of 2024. He then saw a broken foot shelve him after eight games last season. As a result, Chubb’s free agency predictably tanked.

Chubb, 29, had taken a steep Browns pay cut after his 2023 knee injuries — a partially torn ACL, a fully torn MCL along with medial capsule and meniscus damage — and is certainly at a make-or-break point. The former second-round pick had zoomed to four straight Pro Bowls, running behind a well-built Browns O-line. This included two 1,400-plus-yard rushing seasons (2019, 2022), the first of which coming before the team rebuilt its O-line.

One of the NFL’s top pure runners of the past several years, Chubb now joins Joe Mixon — who is nearly a year younger despite being drafted a year earlier — in Houston’s backfield. After not seeing Dameon Pierce pan out, the Texans have one of the more experienced backfields in recent NFL history.

Chubb did not look himself before going down with the foot injury last season. He averaged 3.3 yards per carry, after topping 5.0 in each of his first five seasons, and is likely done as a regular starter. Still, the Texans have a former top-tier RB on a low-cost contract; they will hope the eighth-year vet being nearly two years removed from the major knee injury can spark a resurgence.

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