HEADLINES

Browns Discussed Re-Signing Nick Chubb Before Draft

June 12th, 2025 at 12:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

Once the 2025 draft had taken place, it was essentially guaranteed Nick Chubb would find himself on a new team this season. That is now officially the case, with his one-year Texans pact in place.

Chubb will collect a base value of $2.5MM, and incentives will allow him to double that figure. It comes as no surprise the four-time Pro Bowler was only able to land a pact of that nature given the uncertainty surrounding his health status. Chubb managed to briefly return from his massive knee injury in 2024, but his showing when on the field fell well short of his previous production.

That was a key factor in the expectation Cleveland would move on this offseason. Shortly after the draft, Browns general manager Andrew Berry all-but confirmed Chubb would not be back for an eighth season with the team. Few eyebrows were raised once it became clear the 29-year-old was headed to Houston as a result, but Cleveland did engage in talks about a new deal in this case.

The Browns discussed a re-signing with Chubb and his camp prior to the draft, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Team and player were unable to reach agreement, though, and in the wake of that development Cleveland’s attention turned to the highly-regarded pool of RBs in this year’s class. The team wound up adding Quinshon Judkins in the second round and then Dylan Sampson in the fourth. Both of them are now in place for the next four years as a result.

The Browns also have Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong as returnees from last year. Ford in particular should have a notable role in 2025, but a new Chubb agreement would have allowed him to continue operating as a key member of the backfield. Retaining the latter is something Myles Garrett lobbied for during his offseason talks with Berry, as Garrett recently noted (via ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi). Conversations related to the direction of the franchise were part of Garrett’s offseason, one in which his trade request was rescinded in the wake of a $40MM-per-year extension being worked out.

No agreement came to bear in Chubb’s case, however, leaving him to remain on the open market deep into free agency. The four-time 1,000-yard rusher will look to regain his previous form in Houston while the Browns attempt to find an effective short- and long-term replacement for him in the backfield.

LT Charles Cross Hoping For Long-Term Seahawks Tenure; No Extension Imminent

June 12th, 2025 at 12:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

Charles Cross has handled left tackle duties throughout his three seasons in Seattle. His performance in that role made it little surprise when his fifth-year option was exercised this spring.

That decision marked the first time the Seahawks picked up the option on a player they drafted. As a result, Cross is set to earn $17.56MM in 2026. That figure is guaranteed, but a long-term deal will cost more given the nature of the tackle market.

It remains to be seen if team and player will enter into negotiations on an extension as early as this offseason. The parties have plenty of time to work out an agreement, but Cross – who attended and took part in OTAs and minicamp – would welcome a long-term pact. Remaining in the Emerald City beyond 2026 is a stated goal of his.

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but Seattle,” Cross said when asked about his future (via Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic). “I love the fans here. I love the team. One of the greatest organizations in the NFL. I like it here a lot.”

Selected ninth overall in 2022, Cross has started each of his 48 appearances. Having missed only three games to date in his career, the 24-year-old has certainly enjoyed better luck on the health front than right tackle Abraham Lucas. The latter has missed double-digit games each of the past two years, making an extension commitment a difficult one for the Seahawks. Lucas is a pending 2026 free agent, so working out a new deal in his case could be seen as a more urgent matter if Seattle is content to wait until at least next offseason to negotiate with Cross.

The Mississippi State product has shown notable year-over-year improvement in terms of PFF grades. Cross posted an overall mark of 82.5 in 2024, good for ninth amongst qualifying tackles. Another strong outing this year would help his value on a long-term arrangement. A total of 15 offensive tackles (including 12 blindside blockers) are currently attached to a deal averaging $20MM or more per year, and Cross will no doubt look to join that group on his second NFL contract.

It will be interesting to see when serious talks on a long-term pact begin in this case (it should be noted Cross now has an agent for the first time in his career). Regardless, his preference would be a long-term stay in Seattle rather than a foray into free agency following the 2026 campaign.

Breece Hall: Jets HC Aaron Glenn Dispelled Trade Rumors

June 12th, 2025 at 9:00am CST by Adam La Rose

Breece Hall was the subject of trade speculation for a portion of the offseason, but he remains with the Jets. The pending 2026 free agent recently revealed details on how his short-term future was confirmed by the team’s new head coach.

Hall was never actively shopped prior to the draft, but leading up to the event the fourth-year running back was mentioned as a candidate to be moved. No deal was worked out, and the Jets did not add a rookie to their backfield. As Hall noted during his first public remarks on the matter, conversations with Aaron Glenn in late April assured him a trade would not take place.

“At first, I just kind of like, OK, we’ll just see what happens,” Hall said (via the team’s website). “And then, [Glenn] called me and told me: ‘Breece, you think I want to trade you?’ And I was like, I don’t know. He’s like, ‘Breece, I don’t want to trade you. I want you to be here. You’re going to be here, you’re our running back.’ And so that felt really good.”

Unlike fellow 2022 draftees Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson, Hall is not seen as a clear extension priority for New York. As a result, questions about his future beyond the coming campaign will likely persist. The 24-year-old flashed potential during his rookie season before ACL and meniscus tears ended his it. Hall has been able to handle a starter’s workload in each of his two years since, but his yards per attempt averages (4.5, 4.2) have fallen short of the efficiency before the injury.

Hall is nevertheless in position to handle RB1 duties in 2025. The Iowa State product has topped 1,300 scrimmage yards in each of his two full seasons, scoring a total of 17 touchdowns during that time. Hall’s ability as a receiver was no doubt a factor in the Jets’ decision to turn their attention away from a potential trade following the draft. Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis remain in place as options in what Glenn has stated will be a committee approach in the backfield.

How Hall fares within that setup – which will include, the Jets hope, improved play up front in addition to a new offensive coordinator in the form of Tanner Engstrand – will be key in determining his value. By next offseason, Gardner and/or Wilson could have long-term deals near the top of their respective markets in hand. Whether or not Hall joins then in landing a new contract will be interesting to see. At a minimum, he can be assured of his place atop the depth chart for one more year.

Aaron Rodgers Addresses Steelers Signing; Rams Showed Interest

June 11th, 2025 at 10:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers were connected to one another well before a deal was actually signed. The future Hall of Famer will handle quarterback duties for 2025 after it remained unclear whether or not he would continue his career.

Rodgers was linked to a small number of potential landing spots while he contemplated retirement. Once Russell Wilson and Justin Fields departed in free agency, though, it became abundantly clear a commitment to the 41-year was a strong possibility for the Steelers. That held especially true with Matthew Stafford proving to be unavailable via trade.

“There was conversations with other organizations, for sure,” Rodgers said when speaking to the media following his first Pittsburgh practice (via Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio). “But, again, the rapport that fell in between me and [head coach] Mike [Tomlin] made it to where, as I was going through my personal stuff, there wasn’t any other option for me. It was here or not play.”

After Rodgers was released from the Jets, he spoke with both the Giants and Vikings. It was reported at one point during his free agency that Minnesota represented the 41-year-old’s preferred destination. Having seen Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones take starting gigs (or at least the chance of one, in the latter’s case), however, the Vikings are set for J.J. McCarthy to handle QB1 duties. New York, meanwhile, was leery of Rodgers’ age and injury history (including a 2023 Achilles tear) when contemplating a deal.

When speaking to the media, Rodgers confirmed (via Mark Maske of the Washington Post) he was in talks with the Vikings and Giants. He added the decision to play one more year was not “super clear-cut,” but ongoing conversations with Tomlin played a key role in his commitment to Pittsburgh. Team and player arranged for the signing to officially take place in time for mandatory minicamp, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer confirmed to little surprise during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show (video link).

Interestingly, the Rams were also a possibility at one point in Rodgers’ case. When appearing on Good Morning Football Wednesday morning (video link), head coach Sean McVay said the longtime Packers star was the subject of conversations in the organization as a Stafford contingency plan. In the end, Stafford worked out another short-term arrangement which will keep him in Los Angeles, allowing the team to continue with its preferred starter.

Rodgers will carry a $14.15MM cap hit in 2025 as the Steelers look for their first postseason win since 2016. Incentives are present to add to the four-time MVP’s $13.65MM in base pay, but even at its maximum this Pittsburgh agreement falls well short of his previous contracts. Rodgers is certainly not lacking in career earnings, and with a Super Bowl to his name already he could have easily chosen to hang up his cleats. Instead, Rodgers will look to enjoy a brief third chapter in his NFL career.

“For my ego, I don’t need it to keep playing,” he added (via Maske). “A lot of decisions that I’ve made over my career and life from strictly the ego — even if they turn out well — are always unfulfilling. But the decisions made from the soul are usually pretty fulfilling… I felt like being here with Coach T. and the guys they got here and the opportunity here was best for me. I’m excited to be here.”

Irsay-Gordon Addresses Chris Ballard, Shane Steichen Statuses; Colts Part Ways With Morocco Brown

June 11th, 2025 at 10:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts will go through a difficult transition this year, as Carlie Irsay-Gordon will take over as principal owner after her father’s death. Jim Irsay‘s oldest daughter had been groomed for this role, and she takes center stage at a rather unstable point with regards to Indianapolis’ roster.

Anthony Richardson has not shown much to indicate he can be what the Colts had hoped, and the former No. 4 overall pick is now out until at least training camp due to another shoulder injury. Daniel Jones is in place as a stopgap, and the former Eli Manning Giants successor could be the Colts’ eighth Week 1 starting QB since 2017. The Colts have been unable to overcome Andrew Luck‘s August 2019 retirement, and Irsay-Gordon made it known Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen must improve the operation — perhaps quickly.

“Chris and Shane know that they have things they need to fix,” Irsay-Gordon said, via the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson. “We have a standard here, and it hasn’t been good enough. Winning is great, but I would even take it a step further and say we’re really committed to being the best. If we’re the best, we will win games. I think Chris and Shane are totally capable of doing that.”

Ownership transfers regularly lead to coaching and GM changes. The Commanders fired Ron Rivera and reassigned Martin Mayhew last year, while the Broncos canned George Paton hire Nathaniel Hackett months after new ownership took over. David Tepper booted Rivera and GM Marty Hurney barely a year after taking over in Carolina. Though, Indy’s change is obviously different from those power shifts, as Irsay-Gordon will attempt to carry on her father’s work. Jim Irsay backed Richardson in 2023 but signed off on a Jones stopgap effort as protection, as the Florida alum’s issues with injuries, accuracy and maturity have plagued him as a Colt.

The Colts have made one playoff appearance since Luck’s retirement, venturing to the wild-card round during Philip Rivers‘ one-and-done stay. They lost as two-touchdown favorites in Week 18 of the following season, having failed to win 10 games since that Rivers one-off. Indy is 17-17 under Steichen, Ballard’s second official HC hire (after Josh McDaniels backed out in 2018). Ballard being 2-for-8 in postseason trips as GM certainly has raised his seat temperature, and the duo will now need to convince Irsay-Gordon to stay with this mission. Richardson’s status remains paramount to this.

A key change has already come on that end, as Morocco Brown — who brought Richardson onto the Colts’ radar during the pre-draft process — is out as a senior personnel exec, Erickson adds. The Colts had employed Brown since Ballard’s first year on the job (2017). They promoted him from college scouting director to chief personnel exec during the 2022 offseason. He interviewed for the Bears and Steelers’ GM jobs that spring, also being in consideration for an Eagles position that year, and met about the Falcons’ GM gig in 2021.

Brown had made weekly trips to Gainesville during the 2022 season, championing Richardson, who was a one-year college starter. Richardson’s size-speed package intrigued many in 2023, but he completed less than 54% of his passes during his starter season at Florida. Those issues have followed him to the pros. Richardson’s became the seventh QB this century to throw at least 200 passes in a season and complete fewer than 50% of them, finishing at 47.7%. Jones is now taking first-string reps at minicamp.

Irsay-Gordon did not mandate a 2025 playoff appearance in order for Ballard and Steichen to retain their jobs, though she also did not indicate the HC-GM combo is a package deal. Splitting up the pair will be a storyline to monitor.

“I can’t answer that question right now,” Irsay-Gordon said when asked about Ballard and Steichen being tied together. “That relationship is really important, and I think that’s why, in a lot of ways, as I’ve been more involved in the football side over the last 8-10 years, it’s like in a marital argument, right? It takes two to tango, and they have a great relationship.”

Irsay regularly meddled in personnel during Ballard’s tenure, and Kalen Jackson — Irsay-Gordon’s younger sister, who is now a part-owner — insists the new ownership trio will let the GM and Steichen do their jobs without interference. If the Colts do not show progress after a step back last season, it may be difficult to envision this tandem having the chance to keep those jobs for much longer.

Raiders, LB Germaine Pratt Agree To Deal

June 11th, 2025 at 9:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

Germaine Pratt has managed to find his next opportunity rather quickly. Shortly after being released by the Bengals, the veteran linebacker has lined up a Raiders agreement.

Pratt will head to Vegas on a one-year deal, as first reported by Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. The pact has a maximum value of $4.78MM. Pratt will collect $4.25MM in base pay, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network adds.

For most of his six-year career, Pratt operated as a full-time starter at the second level of Cincinnati’s defense. Multiple indications pointed to a parting of ways taking place this offseason, however. That became official when the 29-year-old was released earlier this week. Pratt clearly drew immediate interest on the open market.

Indeed, Schultz notes several teams reached out once he became a free agent. Pratt has 88 starts to his name, and he has increased his tackle figures every year of his career. The former third-rounder has totaled 261 stops across the past two seasons, adding four interceptions, four forced fumbles and nine pass deflections during that time. Another productive campaign with his latest team could help Pratt land a multi-year commitment in free agency next spring.

In the aftermath of the Bengals’ decision to move on, many pointed to the Colts as a logical Pratt suitor. Former Cincinnati defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is now Indianapolis’ DC, so a reunion would have provided the Colts with a first-team linebacker option familiar with the team’s scheme. Instead, Pratt will work with new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll and returning D-coordinator Patrick Graham.

The Raiders ranked 25th in points allowed last season, but the team finished 15th in total defense. Similarly, Vegas finished 13th against the run, and improvement in that regard will be a goal for the first year with Carrol at the helm. Pratt will look to provide the team with a veteran presence at the LB spot, and the base value of his late-offseason deal suggests a starting spot awaits him.

Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo departed in free agency. Vegas brought in a veteran in the form of Elandon Roberts while also taking a flier on former top-five pick Devin White (a familiar face to general manager John Spytek given their time together in Tampa Bay). Seventh-round rookie Cody Lindenberg will compete for a depth/special teams role, but the new-look linebacker setup leaves room for an established contributor. Pratt will look to fit that description in 2025.

Jaguars, Travis Hunter Deal Not Expected Soon

June 11th, 2025 at 9:51pm CST by Ely Allen

The Jaguars made maybe the biggest move in the draft when they traded up to take Colorado athlete Travis Hunter with the No. 2 overall pick. Now, they just need to get the move over the finish line, but Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tells us that a signed contract is not expected soon. Rapoport says that he expects “Hunter will probably be the last first-rounder to sign.”

There really isn’t much room for negotiation in rookie contracts, as Rapoport points out, and this makes them notoriously difficult to negotiate. Hunter will end up making around $46.6MM with an approximately $30MM signing bonus, and Hunter can’t really do anything about those numbers. What he can do is negotiate the structure of payments like the signing bonus. Whereas quarterbacks tend to receive a good amount of their signing bonus fairly early on in their initial deals, other players usually need to negotiate those early bonuses up as much as they can.

It sounds like Hunter is using every bit of leverage he has to try to maximize his deal. While it would make sense to try and receive as much money as you can as soon as possible, this process also includes the process of trying to set up the third and fourth years of his rookie deal in a way that makes the team consider giving him an extension sooner rather than allowing him to play out the whole contract.

While Rapoport sees this deal taking some time to get done, he doesn’t anticipate a holdout from Hunter, like we’re seeing in Cincinnati with Shemar Stewart. In fact, we’ve already seen plenty from Hunter at Organized Team Activities this summer, and if he plans on playing both cornerback and wide receiver as a rookie, he’ll need as much offseason practice as he can get, which will also extend contract proceedings.

That infamous two-way ability is, perhaps, his greatest bargaining chip, as the team is essentially getting two players for the price of one. In the early days following the draft, it was reported Hunter’s primary position in Jacksonville would be wide receiver, and we saw him work out there during rookie minicamp. But so far in OTAs, Hunter has been spending most of his time at cornerback.

Hunter is going to have to be one of the hardest working players in the NFL in order to play two ways on Sundays. At the moment, though, he’s making the Jaguars front office work hard to earn his signature. He’ll almost certainly be playing with a signed contract in September, but by the look of it, that signature will only be coming on his terms.

Eagles Sign First-Round LB Jihaad Campbell

June 11th, 2025 at 8:26pm CST by Ely Allen

One of the last seven unsigned first-round picks of the 2025 NFL Draft put pen to paper today. Alabama defender Jihaad Campbell signed his rookie contract with the Eagles today, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The four-year deal with a fifth-year option is reportedly worth $14.90MM. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 adds that Campbell’s deal includes a signing bonus of $7.48MM.

Campbell comes out of Alabama, where he originally committed to the Crimson Tide as a five-star edge rushing prospect out of IMG Academy (FL). Injuries to the team’s defense forced Campbell out of his natural spot as he filled in as an off-ball linebacker and excelled there. He spent the team’s 2023 campaign almost exclusively playing linebacker but was able to get some playing time back at his old position last year as Alabama utilized his versatility.

There were rumors in the weeks after the draft that Campbell could be the latest in the mold of former Penn State linebackers Micah Parsons and Abdul Carter, who both became eventual pass rushers in the NFL, with thoughts that Campbell could have a chance to return to his old position after all. It doesn’t quite look like that will come to pass, though. Campbell hasn’t been working out, as he continues to rehab a shoulder injury from his last season with the Tide, but defensive coordinator Vic Fangio told the media last week that, once he returned to the field, Campbell would be working out with the linebackers.

Part of his current assignment could be due to the assumption that Nakobe Dean will start the 2025 NFL season on the physically unable to perform list as he continues to recover from a torn patellar tendon suffered late last season. With only last year’s fifth-round linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. to fill in if Dean and Campbell aren’t there, Campbell’s talents are likely needed more at linebacker to start his career. There’s always a chance, though, that Philadelphia ends up cross training him and giving him more freedom and flexibility across the defense.

With Campbell signing his name on the dotted line, the Eagles only have one more rookie to sign to finish up their class. Second-round Texas safety Andrew Mukuba is the lone remaining un-signed rookie in Philadelphia. Here’s a look at the Eagles’ rookie class:

NFL Minor Transactions: 6/11/25

June 11th, 2025 at 6:36pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the midweek minor moves from around the NFL:

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Signed: TE Kevin Foelsch
  • Waived: DT Siaki Ika

Ika’s struggles in the NFL continue. A member of LSU’s 2019 National Championship squad, Ika was a third-round pick four years later for the Browns in 2023. After appearing in four games as a rookie, Ika failed to make the roster in his second year in Cleveland. Since October, Ika has signed with and been cut from the practice squads of the Browns, Eagles, and now the Chiefs, with whom he signed a reserve/futures deal at the end of this past season.

Jonnu Smith, Jalen Ramsey Absent From Dolphins Minicamp

June 11th, 2025 at 4:15pm CST by Ben Levine

JUNE 11: Despite McDaniel’s Tuesday remarks, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on NFL Live (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald) that Smith’s absence is actually excused given the ongoing trade talks in his case. McDaniel declined to say whether or not Smith will be subject to fines (valued at a three-day total of roughly $104K) for his absence, but a decision on that front could help indicate whether or not he will remain in Miami for 2025.

JUNE 10: A pair of Dolphins veterans won’t be in attendance during mandatory minicamp this week. Coach Mike McDaniel told reporters that tight end Jonnu Smith and cornerback Jalen Ramsey will be absent from upcoming practices, per NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe.

Smith continues to seek a new contract and will be sitting out in apparent protest. The veteran’s absence is unexcused, so he’ll be subject to fines if/when he returns. Ramsey’s absence is excused as the two sides work to find a new home for the cornerback, according to McDaniel (via Wolfe).

Smith has been included in trade talks for several weeks now, although the tight end has made it clear that he wants to stick in Miami. The veteran is entering the second season of a two-year, $8.4MM deal and has been pushing for an extension, although it sounds like the Dolphins aren’t in any rush to ink the 29-year-old to a new deal.

To Smith’s credit, the tight end is rightfully looking to capitalize on a career season. After showing flashes in stops with the Titans, Patriots, and Falcons, Smith emerged as one of Miami’s most reliable pass catchers in 2025. The tight end finished the year with career-highs in receptions (88), receiving yards (884), and touchdowns (eight). The Dolphins don’t have much of a solution behind their starter, but it’s uncertain if that would be enough for the organization to blink during extension talks. Smith, meanwhile, would be subject to more than $100K in fines if he sits out all of mandatory minicamp.

We heard recently that Ramsey wouldn’t be in the building for mandatory minicamp. The two sides continue to look for a new team for the veteran cornerback, although the player’s contract remains a sticking point. An acquiring team would have to pick up at least $2.02MM in 2025 (Ramsey’s salary and per game roster bonus) with $65.7MM of non-guaranteed money due over the following three years.

There were recent rumblings that there was genuine interest in the cornerback, although suitors would be looking for some salary relief in a potential trade. The Dolphins are surely preparing for this scenario, although the front office has every reason to wait out the process in pursuit of the best possible deal.

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